8 point gap

[cricketfieldclarets]

Still to play Fulham twice.

Still to play Brighton, West Brom and Newcastle at home and have a game in hand on all those sides.

Losing 2-0 last night wasnt ideal but Fulham lost the same score and one less game to catch us.

Yes Brighton won 1-0 at Anfield but that only matches our result.

Some of the reactions on here show how knee jerk so many fans are. Last week we were champions league material. This season going down.

Would anyone swap fulhams position with ours? They need to win three games in a row and us lose three in a row. To give some context they have not won one in their last ten games. We have won four.

We could have done with some extra bodies. For this season and next. But we should have more than enough to at least keep Fulham at arms length.

[Steve1956]

Still to play Fulham twice.

Still to play Brighton, West Brom and Newcastle at home and have a game in hand on all those sides.

Losing 2-0 last night wasnt ideal but Fulham lost the same score and one less game to catch us.

Yes Brighton won 1-0 at Anfield but that only matches our result.

Some of the reactions on here show how knee jerk so many fans are. Last week we were champions league material. This season going down.

Would anyone swap fulhams position with ours? They need to win three games in a row and us lose three in a row. To give some context they have not won one in their last ten games. We have won four.

We could have done with some extra bodies. For this season and next. But we should have more than enough to at least keep Fulham at arms length.

We will be reyt...the bottom three are already down....chill boys

[Goddy]

Exactly as cfc says.

After this round of matches, despite our defeat, things have actually improved for us in terms of avoiding relegation.

None of the bottom 3 have reduced that 8 point gap i.e. and I know Sheff U won, before the pedants pitch in but they're still miles behind, and we've had another round of matches go by (with us getting our, arguably, most difficult remaining game out of the way).

Agree with Steve1956 - we'll be fine.

[claretcarrot93]

The key thing is that apart from Sheff Utd, who are way behind we are the only other team that can grind out 1-0 wins. The best defense of the relegation battles stays up and thats easily us.

Got the best keeper and the the two best central defenders.

[MACCA]

4 wins and a couple of draws off safety for this season, and to be fair if we cant manage that with the games we have left then we dont deserve to be here.

We say it every February and September, the next window is massive and a big rebuilding job is needed.

I just hope SD is here to do it as if he isnt, I dont think another manager could keep us up with this squad.

[Marney&Mee]

Have to agree chaps. We play 4 of those around us at home. Win 3 of those and we're on 31 points. Even if we only win 2 (v Fulham and WBA) you'd have to say we're safe.
Worst case, 3 of the last 4 fixtures look very winnable

[Dyched]

We’ve got enough points on the board and enough about us to stay up. But I certainly don’t think it’s going to be as comfortable as people think. Sheffield United are right back in the mix now. Fulham may be 3 wins a drift of us but play us twice which can play into their or our hands. I can’t see them beating us twice which they’ll probably have to do.

Looking at the fixtures, Sheffield United v Newcastle on the last day certainly looks interesting, I’ll punt for Sheffield United staying up with a win at Newcastles expense.

[Devils_Advocate]

To give some perspective when we were at our lowest after the Everton defeat 2 years ago and a lot of people thought we were down and out we was in 18th and only 3 pts behind the two teams above us.

Today we are a few games further on and have an 8pts buffer which is massive and whilst its possible we could go down it would take one hell of a collapse plus one of the other teams to improve massively

[DomBFC1882]

I don't think we'll go down this season but don't kid yourself that IF Fulham were to beat us both home and away that gap is down to 2 straight away. Fwiw I don't think we'll lose both but we are by no means a certainty to stay up. An injury to Tarky or Mee would also prove catastrophic.

[jojomk1]

We’ve got enough points on the board and enough about us to stay up. But I certainly don’t think it’s going to be as comfortable as people think. Sheffield United are right back in the mix now. Fulham may be 3 wins a drift of us but play us twice which can play into their or our hands. I can’t see them beating us twice which they’ll probably have to do.

Looking at the fixtures, Sheffield United v Newcastle on the last day certainly looks interesting, I’ll punt for Sheffield United staying up with a win at Newcastles expense.

Don't we play Sheff Utd away last game of season ?

[Dyched]

Don't we play Sheff Utd away last game of season ?

Yes we do, I didn’t scroll long enough down on my phone .

Second to last game then the one I mentioned. Could be an exciting end to the season.

Fulham v Newcastle on the last day too.

[Stalbansclaret]

The worry is our abysmal scoring record...13 goals all season. It's testimony to our defence that we've accumulated 22 points on the back of this but it feels unsustainable. The Brighton game this Saturday suddenly looks very difficult and I think the two against Fulham will be absolutely critical to our fate. I'm a worrier when it comes to BFC but that goals scored statistic is a cold hard fact and 0.6 goals a game doesn't give you much margin for error.

[jojomk1]

Am I missing something

Can't see our postponed home game v fulham anywhere

[Top Claret]

We have far too much experience in our squad to get relegated.

WBA, Fulham and Sheffield United in that order will go down

[HunterST_BFC]

This won't be a thread good to revisit........... possibly...

Face facts.
We are short regards players.
We are not scoring.
We are very light regards being able to make chances to actually score, especially in open play.

Are there 3 teams worse?
We can't depend on others being worse at not giving goals away.

I think we will scrape it - but can we expect better in the future?

[warksclaret]

The key thing is that apart from Sheff Utd, who are way behind we are the only other team that can grind out 1-0 wins. The best defense of the relegation battles stays up and thats easily us.

Got the best keeper and the the two best central defenders.

Granted but lets pray none of these three get injured in the next 16 or so games. Thats something out of our hands

[jojomk1]

The worry is our abysmal scoring record...13 goals all season. It's testimony to our defence that we've accumulated 22 points on the back of this but it feels unsustainable. The Brighton game this Saturday suddenly looks very difficult and I think the two against Fulham will be absolutely critical to our fate. I'm a worrier when it comes to BFC but that goals scored statistic is a cold hard fact and 0.6 goals a game doesn't give you much margin for error.

As I said last night

The worst goals per game ratio across all English leagues, and only one team with a lower ratio across Europe's top leagues

And three of our goals were in one game

17 games to play and on current rates 11 goals to score

Still, eleven 1-0 wins will make us safe

[Top Claret]

I not looking below. I am looking above with my sites on catching Southampton, for a 12th spot finish

[Dyched]

It’s only fair to mention our GA record alongside our GF record.

We’ve the 39th best defensive record from the Top 5 league in Europe (PL, Seria A, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1). Take into account the big sides make up around half of that 39. To say our goalscoring is poor with out saying our defensive record is impressive is very unfair.

[ClaretTony]

Some of the reactions on here show how knee jerk so many fans are. Last week we were champions league material. This season going down.

Reason I keep away now after a defeat - some of the overreaction is beyond pathetic.

[nyclaret]

This won't be a thread good to revisit........... possibly...

Face facts.
We are short regards players.
We are not scoring.
We are very light regards being able to make chances to actually score, especially in open play.

Are there 3 teams worse?
We can't depend on others being worse at not giving goals away.

I think we will scrape it - but can we expect better in the future?

we’ve just taken 6 points from a possible 12 against liverpool, villa, chelsea and city - chill out

[Safron]

Pathetic or just concerned supporters ct

[Claretforshaw]

My concern is that, at times, the teams around us seem to play better football than we do, certainly create more chances and score more goals. Saturday will be a stern test for us even if we get some injured players back and may be a measure of the odds on our survival in the premier league.

[Conroy92]

Still to play Fulham twice.

Still to play Brighton, West Brom and Newcastle at home and have a game in hand on all those sides.

Losing 2-0 last night wasnt ideal but Fulham lost the same score and one less game to catch us.

Yes Brighton won 1-0 at Anfield but that only matches our result.

Some of the reactions on here show how knee jerk so many fans are. Last week we were champions league material. This season going down.

Would anyone swap fulhams position with ours? They need to win three games in a row and us lose three in a row. To give some context they have not won one in their last ten games. We have won four.

We could have done with some extra bodies. For this season and next. But we should have more than enough to at least keep Fulham at arms length.

People seen to think Fulham will roll over. They have picked up some very modest points over the past month or two and in the league they are a very different side to the one we faced in the cup. They have slowly turned loses into draws and if they can get on the right side of the fine margins, they are capable of picking some wins up. West Brom will improve under Allardyce, no doubt about that, so It's still all to play for.
Our record against the lower positioned sides in the league suggest we should be ok however all it takes is an injury to one of Tarks, Mee, McNeil or Pope and we could be in trouble.

[diamondpocket]

My concern is that, at times, the teams around us seem to play better football than we do, certainly create more chances and score more goals. Saturday will be a stern test for us even if we get some injured players back and may be a measure of the odds on our survival in the premier league.

It's done WBA well hasnt it scoring those 5 extra goals so far! And Fulham and Newcastle, Norwich last year played some good football & they even beat City!
What is it with this notion that you have to create more chances and play better football to survive. It's nonsense. It's just as important keeping them out and apart from our 7th placed position, what we're doing now is exactly what we've done to stay up the other years.

[diamondpocket]

People are talking as if we're never gonna pick up another point! How the hell have we got 22 up to now then?

[tiger76]

Still to play Fulham twice.

Still to play Brighton, West Brom and Newcastle at home and have a game in hand on all those sides.

Losing 2-0 last night wasnt ideal but Fulham lost the same score and one less game to catch us.

Yes Brighton won 1-0 at Anfield but that only matches our result.

Some of the reactions on here show how knee jerk so many fans are. Last week we were champions league material. This season going down.

Would anyone swap fulhams position with ours? They need to win three games in a row and us lose three in a row. To give some context they have not won one in their last ten games. We have won four.

We could have done with some extra bodies. For this season and next. But we should have more than enough to at least keep Fulham at arms length.

I'm glad someone can see the bigger picture, even a point a game from here will give us 39, and that will be more than enough to easily survive.

Just a minor correction it's now 11 games without a win for Fulham, and for all the talk about them playing well, they aren't picking up many points.

Yes we still have to play Fulham twice, and we also have several games against the teams around us, and that's where you'd expect to pick up the points needed, plus we already have a healthy advantage over all the bottom 3, people need to get a reality check on here, we.ve lost to Chelsea and Man City in our last 2 matches, and in the 2 matches prior we beat Liverpool & Villa, and the gap has widened between the bottom 3 and the rest, so why all the panic, a win against Brighton, and we'll be close to mid-table again, we won't go down this year that's for sure.

[Marney&Mee]

Fair chance it'll be a bit 'after the lord mayors show' for BHA on Saturday. Huge effort and high after that win. Dragged back to reality at TM...

[Conroy92]

Reason I keep away now after a defeat - some of the overreaction is beyond pathetic.

I support my team through thick and thin! I'll be there for the good times and I'll certainly be there for the bad too. You can call some of the "over reactions" pathetic if you want but I see most of them for what they are, opinions from supporters that want the best for the club. Unfortunately you just seem to see them as opinions that are different to your own and therefore wrong or pathetic. It does nothing to help this as a messageboard. Nobody wants to debate on here anymore, it's just a case of your pathetic or a happy clapper or whatever other names people want to chuck around when someone doesn't share the same view point.

[Burnley1989]

Amazed that people think Sheff Utd have any sort of chance

[Burnley1989]

I support my team through thick and thin! I'll be there for the good times and I'll certainly be there for the bad too. You can call some of the "over reactions" pathetic if you want but I see most of them for what they are, opinions from supporters that want the best for the club. Unfortunately you just seem to see them as opinions that are different to your own and therefore wrong or pathetic. It does nothing to help this as a messageboard. Nobody wants to debate on here anymore, it's just a case of your pathetic or a happy clapper or whatever other names people want to chuck around when someone doesn't share the same view point.

Says something when I want to agree with you but know I shouldn’t

[dsr]

I'm glad someone can see the bigger picture, even a point a game from here will give us 39, and that will be more than enough to easily survive.

Just a minor correction it's now 11 games without a win for Fulham, and for all the talk about them playing well, they aren't picking up many points.

Yes we still have to play Fulham twice, and we also have several games against the teams around us, and that's where you'd expect to pick up the points needed, plus we already have a healthy advantage over all the bottom 3, people need to get a reality check on here, we.ve lost to Chelsea and Man City in our last 2 matches, and in the 2 matches prior we beat Liverpool & Villa, and the gap has widened between the bottom 3 and the rest, so why all the panic, a win against Brighton, and we'll be close to mid-table again, we won't go down this year that's for sure.

And just to reinforce your point about Fulham, it could be mentioned that in those 11 matches (7 points) they have scored 6 goals.

[ClaretTony]

I support my team through thick and thin! I'll be there for the good times and I'll certainly be there for the bad too. You can call some of the "over reactions" pathetic if you want but I see most of them for what they are, opinions from supporters that want the best for the club. Unfortunately you just seem to see them as opinions that are different to your own and therefore wrong or pathetic. It does nothing to help this as a messageboard. Nobody wants to debate on here anymore, it's just a case of your pathetic or a happy clapper or whatever other names people want to chuck around when someone doesn't share the same view point.

Sorry but that's absolute nonsense.

[Jimmymaccer]

Tell you something, I’m finding it all much harder just watching it on the magic lantern rather than being on The Turf.......a completely different perspective on everything.......

[joey13]

Still to play Fulham twice.

Still to play Brighton, West Brom and Newcastle at home and have a game in hand on all those sides.

Losing 2-0 last night wasnt ideal but Fulham lost the same score and one less game to catch us.

Yes Brighton won 1-0 at Anfield but that only matches our result.

Some of the reactions on here show how knee jerk so many fans are. Last week we were champions league material. This season going down.

Would anyone swap fulhams position with ours? They need to win three games in a row and us lose three in a row. To give some context they have not won one in their last ten games. We have won four.

We could have done with some extra bodies. For this season and next. But we should have more than enough to at least keep Fulham at arms length.

Can you point me to the posts stating we were champions league material, I could do with a laugh , thanks

[jojomk1]

Tell you something, I’m finding it all much harder just watching it on the magic lantern rather than being on The Turf.......a completely different perspective on everything.......

So true

The fact that we are in a battle close to the bottom of the league and watching from the sofa rather than a seat in the ground makes it an almost helpless situation that I have little or no control over

At the ground you would see and hear the crowd noisily urging the side on but all I get at the moment is the wife telling me to stop shouting and swearing before she then storms out of the room and I have to make my own halftime brew

Once City scored last night I turned over to watch the Fulham/Leicester game with the perverse idea that I would hopefully enjoy watching Fulham lose more than us

Going to need to take some blood pressure before ko on Sat

[ClaretTony]

Tell you something, I’m finding it all much harder just watching it on the magic lantern rather than being on The Turf.......a completely different perspective on everything.......

It was almost a novelty at first and the relief that you could at least still watch the games. But it has got harder and I couldn’t agree more with you. That’s 35 consecutive matches and counting that I’ve watched on the magic lantern.

[leightonjameslegend]

Screenshot (284).png (594.47 KiB) Viewed 3049 times

Form table for last 8 games, Brighton have improved but Newcastle on downward trend.

We are 8th in the league at HOME and 16th AWAY (But still ahead of West Brom, Newcastle and Sheff Utd & same form as Fulham)
If we keep our average points per game for the rest of the season we stay up. Even with the improvement from Sheff Utd we would still have the same points gap. The team with the most to worry about on form currently is Newcastle. They are .50 point down on normal form. If this continues they will be in real danger.
Of course not an exact science. But for any of the bottom 3 to catch us their form would have to drastically improve.

Still tight but the games against Fulham and Villa show we can create and score goals, so here's hoping for home wins against all those around us starting with Brighton on Saturday! UTC

[diamondpocket]

It was almost a novelty at first and the relief that you could at least still watch the games. But it has got harder and I couldn’t agree more with you. That’s 35 consecutive matches and counting that I’ve watched on the magic lantern.

Think of us poor sods living abroad!

[Longsidelenny1882]

If we get everybody fit which will be a bigask no problem staying in the premiership don’t know if that’s a good thingor not said many times mr dyche is the best manager ever in the premiership history Upthe clarets

[Conroy92]

Sorry but that's absolute nonsense.

It's not though is it. There's a serious side to my post and you've been pulled up on 2 threads I know of in the last month or two for doing the same.

All I'm asking for is for posters to actually offer some debate instead of just offering snide remarks. Don't think this is a personal attack CT because you are not alone.

[MT03ALG]

I think we will finish on 55 points, 1 more than last season. That should see us in the top 10 again.

[ClaretTony]

Think of us poor sods living abroad!

Understand that but going to games, being with the people I want to be with, is so much part of it for me.

[ClaretTony]

I think we will finish on 55 points, 1 more than last season. That should see us in the top 10 again.

Bloody hell. And I thought I was a glass half full man.

[MT03ALG]

Points worked out from predicted results, Tony ! 17 more home points, 16 more away points = 33 + 22 = 55 !!

[DCWat]

33 points from 17 games - that’d be some going. I’d be whacking a bit of cash on that, if you’re confident.

[Claretforshaw]

It's done WBA well hasnt it scoring those 5 extra goals so far! And Fulham and Newcastle, Norwich last year played some good football & they even beat City!
What is it with this notion that you have to create more chances and play better football to survive. It's nonsense. It's just as important keeping them out and apart from our 7th placed position, what we're doing now is exactly what we've done to stay up the other years.

You may be right, I guess I would be happy with four more 1-0 wins, even though it doesn't always look good and is hard work to watch. Wasn't being negative but I wouldn't mind if we created more chances, scored more goals and played some football that was easier on the eye on our way to securing another season in the premier league.

[dsr]

Form table for last 8 games, Brighton have improved but Newcastle on downward trend.

We are 8th in the league at HOME and 16th AWAY (But still ahead of West Brom, Newcastle and Sheff Utd & same form as Fulham)
If we keep our average points per game for the rest of the season we stay up. Even with the improvement from Sheff Utd we would still have the same points gap. The team with the most to worry about on form currently is Newcastle. They are .50 point down on normal form. If this continues they will be in real danger.
Of course not an exact science. But for any of the bottom 3 to catch us their form would have to drastically improve.

Still tight but the games against Fulham and Villa show we can create and score goals, so here's hoping for home wins against all those around us starting with Brighton on Saturday! UTC

Good chart. It might be worth adding that our last games have included Man U, Man C, Liverpol and Chelsea. In fact those 8 games include matches against the team currently in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 20th. Not many gimmes.

[Quicknick]

I think we will finish on 55 points, 1 more than last season. That should see us in the top 10 again.

Even more optimistic than I am. Well said that man.

[kentonclaret]

In my opinion the next home match against Brighton will be extremely difficult given the fact that they are playing well and will be full of confidence. In their last 4 PL fixtures they have yet to concede a goal and have gained wins over Liverpool (a), Leeds (a) and beaten Tottenham at home. No gimmes there either.