Your FIVE significant league games of the season so far

[jdrobbo]

Which five matches, out of the 40 played so far, do you deem to have been the most significant, for whatever reason, in terms of where we are and where we’re trying to get to?

I suspect there will be some crossover, but will be interesting to see which group of games you select and read of your different reasons behind the choices.

I’ll go with…

HUDDERSFIELD (a) - Opening night, clean sheet, new side, new system… new everything… We blew them away and got a significant taster as to what we could be in for.

SUNDERLAND (a) - deserve to be to GOALS behind at half-time, but freshen things up, change the system and went for it… four second-half goals, which showed us at our ruthless best.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (a) - despite going ahead twice in the game, we were completely bossed by a very well organised side, and our weaknesses were highlighted… Weaknesses that we would instantly aim to address

BLACKBURN ROVERS (h) - the ultimate test for us against our big rivals and following an attritional first half, we let our quality shine through. Ashley, Barnes further rubberstamped himself as a Burnley legend, and Blackburn were dealt as significant blow in their automatic promotion bid.

WATFORD (h) - a 92nd minute Obafemi equaliser insured that we remained undefeated at home and extended our unbeaten run to eleven games.

[Cleveleys_claret]

Fully agree although maybe swap Watford for Rotherham

[Swizzlestick]

Good list but maybe Rotherham or West Brom instead of Watford.

[RVclaret]

Same as you but swap Watford for

Coventry A - ahead of this one we’d kept conceding late goals, 4 of the previous 5 games finished 1-1, including 2 in the week leading up to it, it was massive grinding this one out

[Devils_Advocate]

The four game run from the comeback against Sunderland to the two injury time wins against Reading and Rotherham with the Norwich win in between was where the season changed for me.

Up until then we looked like we might just have a soft centre and be vulnerable to a late goal but those comebacks and especially the win against Rotherham really showed we hadn't lost our strong jaw

I think the mental and physical strength those games took out of us played a big part in us hitting the wall against Sheff Utd but we haven't really looked back since

[HitchinClaret]

Agree about the comments regarding Rotherham, thats the one when I knew for sure we had something very very special brewing.

[CoolClaret]

Good list and post!

Huddersfield away definitely - there is an argument to be made that we may not have gotten some of our loan/permanent signings over the line if we didn’t put on such a display.

I do recall Beyer & Tella alluding to being seriously impressed from watching us on TV on their interviews after signing.

Sunderland away I agree with - showed we can overcome adversity and keep going.

Blackburn I agree with as well for more than the obvious reasons - going into the World Cup break on a massive win against your fierce rivals after that terrible loss at Sheffield United, couldn’t imagine losing that the hangover would have been massive! The win totally brought the feel good factor back.


For me as well the Rotherham game at home that showed that if we can keep to task and keep probing that eventually we will get our just rewards and that we won’t go down without a fight!

I think the West Brom game at home as well - it kept our winning streak going and was just a brilliant moment for Scott Twine and everyone at the ground. Again reaffirmed the belief that we can really overcome any adversity and win a game

[TheFamilyCat]

QPR away. Flying out of the blocks after the WC break really set the tone for the rest of that 10 game winning run which put us well clear of the pack.

[Oshkoshclaret]

Huddersfield was unbelievable. To see the sheer transformation. I was just giggling with excitement and pinching myself.

[Woodleyclaret]

QPR away a place we have struggled in the past
Rotherham home an exciting finish
Sunderland away best comeback
Reading home often a banana skin fixture
Huddersfield home no new manager bounce here!

[Lancasterclaret]

I think everyone will have Huddersfield (A), Sunderland (A), Blackburn (H) on

I'd at Rotherham (H) and Reading (H) as well, simply because we showed that we would keep going right to the end and be very confident about scoring

Massive confidence boost for both us and a fairly depressing look if you were our rivals

[123EasyasBFC]

Huddersfield (A)
Sunderland (A)
Rotherham (H)
Sheff united (A)
Rovers (H)

After the World Cup break
QPR (A)
Coventry (H)
West Brom (H)
Luton (A)
Boro (A)

[boatshed bill]

Watford (A)
Sunderland (A)
Sheffield Utd (A)
Blackburn (H)
Rotherham (H)

[wilks_bfc]

I’d probably find a place for Wigan away in there

Yes they weren’t the most taxing of opponents, but I think that was the first game that you could really see what was going to happen when everything clicked into place

[Roosterbooster]

Huddersfield (A)
Sunderland (A)
Rotherham (H)
Rovers (H)
WBA (H)

[ElectroClaret]

1) Rovers
2) Rovers
3) Rovers
4) Rovers
5) Rovers

[Barry_Chuckle]

I'm surprised Swansea at home and Norwich away are yet to be mentioned. Both games made a BIG statement to me.
Swansea were in great form playing lovely football and Norwich early ish in the season was seen as a difficult place to go and one of the fancied teams.

[gandhisflipflop]

Which five matches, out of the 40 played so far, do you deem to have been the most significant, for whatever reason, in terms of where we are and where we’re trying to get to?

I suspect there will be some crossover, but will be interesting to see which group of games you select and read of your different reasons behind the choices.

I’ll go with…

HUDDERSFIELD (a) - Opening night, clean sheet, new side, new system… new everything… We blew them away and got a significant taster as to what we could be in for.

SUNDERLAND (a) - deserve to be to GOALS behind at half-time, but freshen things up, change the system and went for it… four second-half goals, which showed us at our ruthless best.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (a) - despite going ahead twice in the game, we were completely bossed by a very well organised side, and our weaknesses were highlighted… Weaknesses that we would instantly aim to address

BLACKBURN ROVERS (h) - the ultimate test for us against our big rivals and following an attritional first half, we let our quality shine through. Ashley, Barnes further rubberstamped himself as a Burnley legend, and Blackburn were dealt as significant blow in their automatic promotion bid.

WATFORD (h) - a 92nd minute Obafemi equaliser insured that we remained undefeated at home and extended our unbeaten run to eleven games.

In no particular order

Blackburn- obvious reasons and cemented top spot
QPR - how would the break affect us?
Rotherham- never say die attitude. Those results are what champions do
Watford (h) - never say die attitude again
Middlesbrough- obvious reasons.

Edit - forgot Sunderland (a)

Notable mentions

Coventry (h) - turning 1 point into 3
Wigan (a) - statement result
Stoke (a) - another game ground out
Huddersfield (a) - great performance

[bfcjg]

Preston at home, they tried the same tactics as they did at their place but we had improved so much we just played round and through them.

[Pickles]

We'll be talking about that Huddersfield game for decades and decades.

[Vegas Claret]

Wigan away, first time we saw this team blow someone away and gave them belief
Rotherham home, just galvanized everyone
Sunderland away, strong jaw well on show
Luton away, never knew we could play football on a trampoline
Middlsebrough away, obvious

[Culmclaret]

Another vote for Norwich (A) They had just scored 4 in two away games against decent sides and really had their tails up. We just flattened them and I think at that point everyone else realised that we were not going to blow up

[MrTechno]

I'm surprised Swansea at home and Norwich away are yet to be mentioned. Both games made a BIG statement to me.
Swansea were in great form playing lovely football and Norwich early ish in the season was seen as a difficult place to go and one of the fancied teams.

Yes agree, Swansea was the first time we really clicked and were totally dominant, while scoring goals. I know we’d beaten Wigan but this was different, a sign of things to come.

[Vintage Claret]

Huddersfield away - (First half especially) setting the tone for the rest of the season

Blackpool home - a warning not to get too complacent when seemingly cruising to victory.

Blackburn home -not only because we beat them but because Ashley Barnes played out of his skin and has looked a different and much better player since to the one struggling to make any impact earlier in the season.

Sunderland away - what a 2nd half comeback- showed the team had the spirit and ability to step up a gear when the chips were down.

Norwich away - Norwich were lucky to get nil we were that good!

Sheffield home - revenge for our poor performance and deserved defeat at Bramhall Lane and virtually assured the Championship title would be ours (if there were any lingering doubts)

[Nonayforever]

There are a number of games where everyone will agree, but im going to go with the following,

Huddersfield - it set the tone, absolutely brilliant.
Blackburn - obviously
Bournemouth - I think it made all the players believe they were just as good
Rotherham - gave them the never say die attitude
Millwall - showed they could battle against an inform side.

Many others spring to mind for various reasons, but not in the top 5.

[Tricky Trevor]

As the above nominations prove there are far more than 5 but number 1 has to be the season opener. I don’t think anybody can honestly say they were expecting the total ball domination over last years play off losers.
The 4 points away to Luton and Millwall were hard won against two in form sides.
The 6 points from Boro and SheffU cement the title for me.

[Hipper]

I'm surprised Swansea at home and Norwich away are yet to be mentioned. Both games made a BIG statement to me.
Swansea were in great form playing lovely football and Norwich early ish in the season was seen as a difficult place to go and one of the fancied teams.

Huddersfield, of course.

Blackburn - another good if inconsistant team destroyed.

Agree with Swansea at home. It was a statement of how good we were even against an apparently top side.

But I'd go Norwich at home. Even though we needed a bit of luck to get the goal needed (Hanley's stupid handball penalty incident) the way we dominated them so much in the first half that I think there was a stat that they hadn't had any touches in our penalty area, or maybe just one. Quite incredible when play another apparent top side.

As I've only used half a game for the Norwich home game I'm going to say the second half home against Sheff United and all of the Middlesbrough away match (Middlesbrough, another top side made to look ordinary at Turf Moor). Here we won both matches at the business end of the season. We clearly are 'the business'.

[Silkyskills1]

Huddersfield away
Bristol City home( was it our first home win after draws?)
Sunderland away
West Brom home
Luton away
All for very different reasons and all very satisfying wins.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Blackpool home - a warning not to get too complacent when seemingly cruising to victory.

Was going to say the same! I think this fed into how relentless we have become, and probably had our attacking dept asking some questions of their defensive colleagues, having scored 3 but only got a point

[claptrappers_union]

After thrashing Wigan I knew we were going to win the league. Despite being a bit rocky results wise, I'd seen enough in the performances that the team just needed to gel.

[tiger76]

Blackpool (H) We learnt a harsh lesson that day not to rest on our laurels when we think the game is won.
Millwall (H) our first home win and it settled a few nerves.
Sheff Utd (a) We may have been on the end of a hiding, but it sure did us a world of good subsequently.
Rovers (H) Vital we bounced back from the previous weeks humbling, and we did in style which meant we headed into the World Cup break top, and we haven't remotely looked like being knocked off our lofty perch since.
West Brom (H) This was a big win against a side who were then in form, and we had to graft after going behind early, but once again we showed patience and the ability to strike late.

Could have been several more that could have made the cut, the Reading and Rotherham injury time wins in the space of 4 days felt like the point we started asserting ourselves over this division.