Five Points Clear

[Corway]

“I don't think Watford fans would like being called a London Club ”

Oops that’s me getting the What for!

[JR1882]

We need to focus on winning the league, not on if we are going to mess it up. I'm pretty confident the lads think the same

This is the difference between players and fans, they will be fully focused on winning the league and we are thinking up all the ways we could bottle it

[BabylonClaret]

I think anyone writing Sheffield United off at this stage is decidedly unwise. Certainly we have a clear advantage both in points and in form. But it's a bit like a two nil lead in a single match - it can feel comfortable but then become uncomfortable very quickly. Sheffield United are suddenly in the position of having nothing to lose and the expectation is all on us.

On Friday, on paper we have the tougher game and play first. If we wobble then that will lift Sheffield United and their crowd and if they win then suddenly we'll be protecting a 2 or 3 point lead going into our clash with them and all the obvious permutations apply. Best to keep that one game at a time focus and not get carried away. I'm sure that will be Parker's approach.

Its a fair point Spice but I think our results over the last 4 games have shown how strong the resolve of this side is. Its very much like the 2nd Dyche promotion. The onus was on us to beat Norwich on Friday and we did that.

Those Sheffield players were devastated on Saturday. That's not a good place to be in when the pressure is on. They're very 'emotional' and a kind of uo and down team that way. Against Leeds they took the lead on adrenaline and effort but it was obvious there would only be one winner provided Leeds could get the goal back.

It's possible they could rekindle and your 2-0 analogy is a really good one. But this Burnley side aren't giving up 2-0 leads (like under Dyche the 2nd time).

Not counting chickens but confident this group can get over the line

[Roosterbooster]

If we beat Watford and they lose to Cardiff the Easter Monday game becomes almost irrelevant regarding promotion. 8 points clear with nine to play for would be a fairly safe bet for us. I have said all season we would be promoted as Champions and I still think we will. Leeds might just have got over their ‘wobble’ but we are still the most consistent side in the division. We need to forget the Blades and just make sure we win our remaining games. And yes I am fully aware that we can’t totally forget them with having to play them but I think most people will get my gist.

If we beat Watford and SU lose at Cardiff, then we will be 8pts ahead with 3 to play. Of the then beat us. We will be 5 pts ahead. Meaning we need at least a point from the last 2 games to guarantee promotion. We play QPR sway, then Millwall at home. Normally you'd say a point from those 2 is a given. But it isn't. In this league anything can happen. Especially at this stage. Just ask Wilder...

[jlup1980]

I usually think that once you get more points ahead than there are games remaining, you're up. So by that logic 5 points ahead, 4 games remaining... we should have enough, BUT I fluctuate between glass half full and glass half empty

Our last 4 games are tough. Vicarage Road isn't an easy place to go, Sheff Utd will be a nervy affair, QPR are a bit of a bogey side, and Millwall beat us earlier in the season. All in all, its still in the balance.

I've no reason to doubt the players. They've been consistent all season. That said, who would have put money on Sheff U losing three in a week? It's a funny league and anything can happen. Fingers crossed we get the job done over Easter.

[andyh]

All the stats in the world stop working when you are down to so few games. It doesn’t matter if we’ve only lost 2 in 42. We could lose the next two very easily. Having said that character does matter. I couldn’t have hoped for a calmer manager and a more together squad. Those things matter at this point. Concede in the first minute vs Sheff U having lost against Watford and I still think we would bounce back. That is because of the mentality of the squad not because of the stats you could wheel out.

[warksclaret]

I usually think that once you get more points ahead than there are games remaining, you're up. So by that logic 5 points ahead, 4 games remaining... we should have enough, BUT I fluctuate between glass half full and glass half empty

Our last 4 games are tough. Vicarage Road isn't an easy place to go, Sheff Utd will be a nervy affair, QPR are a bit of a bogey side, and Millwall beat us earlier in the season. All in all, its still in the balance.

I've no reason to doubt the players. They've been consistent all season. That said, who would have put money on Sheff U losing three in a week? It's a funny league and anything can happen. Fingers crossed we get the job done over Easter.

....and we have goal difference on our side-technically that makes us as good as 6 points ahead right now, but not counting my chickens yet

[houseboy]

If we beat Watford and SU lose at Cardiff, then we will be 8pts ahead with 3 to play. Of the then beat us. We will be 5 pts ahead. Meaning we need at least a point from the last 2 games to guarantee promotion. We play QPR sway, then Millwall at home. Normally you'd say a point from those 2 is a given. But it isn't. In this league anything can happen. Especially at this stage. Just ask Wilder...

Agreed but I’m just basing my assumptions on the fact that I find it hard to imagine that a team that has lost only two games all season are going to lose all their last three. That would be a collapse of biblical proportions.

[NewClaret]

....and we have goal difference on our side-technically that makes us as good as 6 points ahead right now, but not counting my chickens yet

It really is a ‘one game at a time’ scenario now and I fully trust Parker to keep our young group focused on that.

Two losses in the final four games isn’t inconceivable, however unlikely given we’ve only had two all season, when you consider the fixtures and the end of season nerves.

Watford is a huge game. On the plus side, playoffs is pretty unlikely for them now but only a win will do which hopefully means they don’t sit in a low block because I’m far more confident teams will get out of shape and we’ll create good scoring opportunities when they actually attack us.

[Roosterbooster]

Agreed but I’m just basing my assumptions on the fact that I find it hard to imagine that a team that has lost only two games all season are going to lose all their last three. That would be a collapse of biblical proportions.

Indeed. But these things happen. Sheff Utd have lost 3 in a row. Leeds had a really dodgy patch just after everyone thought they would begin to run away with it. All I'm saying is that we really have to be careful to assume. As people are saying, one game at a time. Although I really struggle to not look ahead

[HurstGrangeClaret]

Although I’m a glass half full person, I’m with you here RB. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves and come across as a Billy Big B0llocks.
Having said that, it is difficult not to start getting excited but all should be much clearer after the SU game.

[Tribesmen]

Let's be honest , we have to feck this up in a major way to lose out on promotion

[Corway]

Let's be honest , we have to feck this up in a major way to lose out on promotion

We’d still have a good shot at the play offs if we did.

[KateR]

Thank goodness no one has said the dreaded words, please don't

[LS7]

Sheff U game on Monday must be odds-on a nil nil

[dibraidio]

Watford are 9 points off the play-offs with 4 to go. They're 14 points above the drop so they're guaranteed Championship football for next season.
They're as close as we can get to a club with nothing to play for.

If we avoid defeat at Watford it makes things really difficult for Sheffield United. Even if they win both games and we get 1 point we'll still be above them on goal difference with 2 games to go. A win at Watford and a draw against SU and we only need a point from our last two games.

The game at Turf Moor is going to be a must win for Sheffield United whatever happens in the other games. Parker is usually pretty good at managing those sorts of occasions.

I'm hoping for at least 1 clean sheet before the end of the season or is it two to set a new record? Less than 17 goals conceded to set a new record. 1 more goal scorer to set a new record. 2 more games undefeated would be a bonus to get us to 31. Could be a record breaking few weeks.

[dsr]

I'm hoping for at least 1 clean sheet before the end of the season or is it two to set a new record? Less than 17 goals conceded to set a new record. 1 more goal scorer to set a new record. 2 more games undefeated would be a bonus to get us to 31. Could be a record breaking few weeks.

And another 0-0 draw or two?

One new club record we could set. If - and I mean IF or even IF - we were to win the league, there is every chance it could be clinched at Turf Moor. We've won 8 league titles at varying levels, never clinched one at Turf Moor. Could this be the one? Because if we do win the title, it's highly unlikely to be before the last game.

[wilks_bfc]

And another 0-0 draw or two?

One new club record we could set. If - and I mean IF or even IF - we were to win the league, there is every chance it could be clinched at Turf Moor. We've won 8 league titles at varying levels, never clinched one at Turf Moor. Could this be the one? Because if we do win the title, it's highly unlikely to be before the last game.

Never thought about that tbh
I’ve seen 1 of the 3 title wins that we’ve had since supporting, live and that was we didn’t even get the trophy at Charlton

[alwaysaclaret]

Just been looking at the fixtures, fair chance Millwall could still be needing a result come final day, hope we're not in the same position.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Strange all the focus is on the clean sheet record and not the unbeaten run record which if we manage to keep it by Monday night would break the all time club record set in 1920’s title season and would be the 2nd best of all time behind Arsenal’s Invincibles.

For now though it is all about a win at Watford, nothing else will do, a draw really has to be the last resort because defeat is unthinkable. Putting it back in Sheffield’s hands.

[Tall Paul]

Sheff U game on Monday must be odds-on a nil nil

I'll give you evens.

[Darnhill Claret]

I'll give you 6/4

[Darnhill Claret]

As we play first, we'll exert a lot of pressure on Sheff U, who play after us and then Leeds, who play after SU.
IF SU win it puts added pressure on Leeds and if SU don't win, Leeds could take their foot off it.

Anyway you look at it, a win at Watford will be massive.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Sheff U game on Monday must be odds-on a nil nil

Ignore them 2 acting like a tight bookie, I will give you 3/1 on 0-0

[IPAclaret]

Strange all the focus is on the clean sheet record and not the unbeaten run record which if we manage to keep it by Monday night would break the all time club record set in 1920’s title season and would be the 2nd best of all time behind Arsenal’s Invincibles.

For now though it is all about a win at Watford, nothing else will do, a draw really has to be the last resort because defeat is unthinkable. Putting it back in Sheffield’s hands.

Yup I agree, the unbeaten run is incredible. If it were Leeds, the world and his mum wouldn't stop hearing about it.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Watford are 9 points off the play-offs with 4 to go. They're 14 points above the drop so they're guaranteed Championship football for next season.
They're as close as we can get to a club with nothing to play for.

If we avoid defeat at Watford it makes things really difficult for Sheffield United. Even if they win both games and we get 1 point we'll still be above them on goal difference with 2 games to go. A win at Watford and a draw against SU and we only need a point from our last two games.

The game at Turf Moor is going to be a must win for Sheffield United whatever happens in the other games. Parker is usually pretty good at managing those sorts of occasions.

I'm hoping for at least 1 clean sheet before the end of the season or is it two to set a new record? Less than 17 goals conceded to set a new record. 1 more goal scorer to set a new record. 2 more games undefeated would be a bonus to get us to 31. Could be a record breaking few weeks.

I think you're underestimating the psychology of a run in. If we lose at Watford it's back in Sheffield United's hands which is a major incentive for them, and heaps pressure on us. If we draw at Watford, Sheffield United could win all 3 and still not win the league, but still piles pressure on us to have to win the last 2 having had a 5 point advantage (in the scenario that Sheff Utd beat us on Monday). Ending the Easter weekend with the points gap less than it is now, puts a hell of a lot of pressure on our young squad.

All of this is why Parker has been telling the players not to get on the emotional rollercoaster. At this stage though it's a lot easier said than done.

[Sheedyclaret]

Bookies seem to think top 2 is done not often they are wrong will be one hell of a mess up if us and Leeds bottled it from here

[FCBurnley]

I hope the 29 without defeat doesn’t add to the pressure at Watford. We need to win. A draw will be in Sheff Utd favor

[dibraidio]

I think you're underestimating the psychology of a run in. If we lose at Watford it's back in Sheffield United's hands which is a major incentive for them, and heaps pressure on us. If we draw at Watford, Sheffield United could win all 3 and still not win the league, but still piles pressure on us to have to win the last 2 having had a 5 point advantage (in the scenario that Sheff Utd beat us on Monday). Ending the Easter weekend with the points gap less than it is now, puts a hell of a lot of pressure on our young squad.

All of this is why Parker has been telling the players not to get on the emotional rollercoaster. At this stage though it's a lot easier said than done.

I don't think there will be an emotional rollercoaster. Parker and team seem to be extremely level headed unlike a lot of our fans. One game at a time, take a point if necessary. No need to panic.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Sheffield United have been on the floor this week after their recent results. The last thing we want to be doing is lifting their spirits. Keeping level headed if tomorrow doesn't go to plan is fine, but our players need to approach the game as if its must win. I think Sheff Utd win tomorrow evening, but I reckon there's much more chance they drop points if news filters through before kick off that we've won again.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Sheffield United have been on the floor this week after their recent results. The last thing we want to be doing is lifting their spirits. Keeping level headed if tomorrow doesn't go to plan is fine, but our players need to approach the game as if its must win. I think Sheff Utd win tomorrow evening, but I reckon there's much more chance they drop points if news filters through before kick off that we've won again.

Since we beat Bristol City, me and my 2 lads have every round of fixtures chucked £10 each into the same bet Leeds and Sheff Utd win double.

£30 down each so far and it is the best £30 we have spent, same again tomorrow. If it wins it buys a drink.

[Carport]

Let’s hope tomorrow evening we’re all singing 30,30,30,30 undefeated 30,30,30,30 I say, 30,30,30,30 undefeated, playing football Scott Parker’s way