19-08-2023, 11:40 AM
Obviously it would be hugely encouraging to win some of these games and pick up a haul of points. I would say thought that it isn't necessarily these matches that define the season. It is largely about relentlessly beating the teams you should be beating week in week out home or away.
Last season we lost fewer games than the four teams above us but 17 wins was never likely to be enough to go up. Our record against the promoted/playoff sides last season could have been better. A point each off of Plymouth, Sheff Wed and Ipswich and Barnsley, three off Bolton and Peterborough and two off of Derby who narrowly missed the playoffs. That wasn't fantastic but it was too many draws and some dreadful defeats against teams we should have been better against that really did for us.
One point off of MK Don's, nothing off of Charlton, two draws against Shrewsbury, Fleetwood at home being 1-1, Port Vale 2-2 etc etc. That said I would take 4 draws from those 4 league games. We'll need north of 26 or so wins to go up automatically so that would still leave plenty of opportunities to get those.
Last season we lost fewer games than the four teams above us but 17 wins was never likely to be enough to go up. Our record against the promoted/playoff sides last season could have been better. A point each off of Plymouth, Sheff Wed and Ipswich and Barnsley, three off Bolton and Peterborough and two off of Derby who narrowly missed the playoffs. That wasn't fantastic but it was too many draws and some dreadful defeats against teams we should have been better against that really did for us.
One point off of MK Don's, nothing off of Charlton, two draws against Shrewsbury, Fleetwood at home being 1-1, Port Vale 2-2 etc etc. That said I would take 4 draws from those 4 league games. We'll need north of 26 or so wins to go up automatically so that would still leave plenty of opportunities to get those.