February

[Gullscorer]

No good run lasts for ever, and we are on a great one. Can we keep it going during February? Since we don't have a huge squad so much will depend on avoiding injuries and suspensions. But of course the same can be said of most clubs in this division. We have five games in the coming month:

Sat 4 Feb: Rotherham (A)
Sat 11th : Shrewsbury (H)
Tues 14 : Cheltenham (A)
Sat 18th : Bradford (H)
Sat 25th : Gillingham (A)

The toughest game is probably the Shrewsbury one, but all of them are winnable. After all, Cheltenham were beaten at home by Bristol Rovers a week ago! We should get off to a good start against Rotherham. They began the season with high expectations but are currently drifting in mid-table and going through a lean spell. Morale is low and many of their fans are calling for the sacking of manager Andy Scott.

No game is going to be easy. But I have a feeling we'll maintain our position, perhaps even improve it, ending the month a point or two outside the automatic promotion places. Certainly it's going to be an exciting end to the season. How do you see it all developing during the coming month?

[knh31667]

if we could 8 points i think that would be a good return for a potentially very difficult month

[AustrianAndyGull]

I disagree, our toughest game will be Cheltenham away. Rotherham we can beat, although we haven't yet won at the Don Valley - saturday will give us our last opportunity to do so before the Millers relocate next season. I fully expect us to go there and win. Shrewsbury at home will be tough but we can get a draw, Bradford are just atrocious despite having many good players and Gillingham are jekyll and hide so we could get battered or we could batter them.

8 points would be a great return and one which isn't unreasonable to expect.

[Richinns]

On recent form I think they will be fearing us - not us fearing them.

[Gullscorer]

On recent form I think they will be fearing us - not us fearing them.

Agreed, and it's interesting to see the views of these teams' fans on other forums. Cheltenham supporters, for example, are expecting a draw, Bradford and Gillingham fans can see only defeats for their teams (though Gillingham could be a difficult game for us), while Rotherham are split between victory and defeat. But the more games we win, the more they're going to fear us. Our good run won't last for ever, but on the other hand we're also due a very big win. Could be against Rotherham next weekend..

[Jeff]

7 points would do for me. Draws all round except for a win against Bradford. At least that way, it will stop Shrews, Gills and Chelt all gaining ground on us if we draw with them. On the strength of that, if we have to lose one I'd accept Rotherham, providing that we pick up a win at say Gillingham to put more distance between us and them.

[popside_yidlad]

I reckon will get 10 points from these.
Win at rotherham, draw with gills then both home wins against shrews and bradford. Obv not in that order

[usagullmichigan]

If we are still in the play offs after Feb then I would be more than happy. All games are winnable but also they are drawable and loseable.

[AustrianAndyGull]

If we are still in the play offs after Feb then I would be more than happy. All games are winnable but also they are drawable and loseable.

what a profound prediction usa! Where is Nostradamus when you need him?! Only kidding, no malice intended. You are right though, if we are still in the mix come March it is squeaky bum time!

[usagullmichigan]

what a profound prediction usa! Where is Nostradamus when you need him?! Only kidding, no malice intended. You are right though, if we are still in the mix come March it is squeaky bum time!

well the world will end on Feb 1st. Well we seem to be getting carried away.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Well if the world DOES end on Feb the 1st then at least we secure a play-off spot!

[Wisconsin_gull]

Our first 18 games this season yielded 27pts and included the darkest hours of the Ling Dynasty to date
Think we will keep going ok, we have got into the habit of winning, and may shock ourselves with an auto spot
If we could get a loanee with shooting boots that would make things very interesting on the run in and could win us a Ling vase

[ferrarilover]

I think the first line of your post is the key, Wisconsin (your mum had a sense of humour, giving you a name like that).
Realistically, we're not going to do any worse in the last 18 games than we did in the first 18. This will leave us with a minimum of 77 points, which was good enough for an auto place last year. I'd like to see us take 36 points (an average of 2/game), which'll give us the same number (86) as Champions Chesterfield got last year.
Make no mistake kids, an automatic promotion is WELL within our grasp.

Matt.

NB, I've not checked the numbers, I'm going from memory, but they're close enough.

[Gulliball]

Between Swindon, Crawley, Cheltenham and Southend I think an automatic place is a very tough ask. We've had a nice run of fixtures and have taken full advantage of them, but maintaining that for another 4 months is another matter.

7th would be a dream really, and much better than any of us hoped for.

[tufcbrett]

We have tough fixtures, but theres no reason why we cant do well in them. We shouldnt fear anyone and we are where we are on merit. If im honest i think Swindon and Crawley have the top two. The last Automatic spot is wide open in my eyes. I dont think our side is much different to Southend, Cheltenham and Shrewsbury. No reason why we cant challenge, we have made it so far already no reason why not.

But.... On the other hand our current form has put bigger expectations on us. The two games last week we didnt play to badly and everyone got fustrated, this is down to the new big expectations on ourselfs. Everyone is proud of where we are but this will be an exciting few months ahead.

Where ever we finish; Autos, play offs or out of the play offs we can be proud of our side. We have come a long way this season and lets enjoy the rest of the season. If we finish with promotion then happy days.