Assuming the City are a realistic candidate for an automatic promotion slot (1 Viewer)

Otis said:

Who do we now fear the most as a threat to one of those positions, and will any team come up on the rails late on?

For biggest threats I would say;

Luton (obviously)

Notts County (though they may have possibly shot their bolt)

Mansfield (most definitely). 1 defeat in 15 and favourites at the start of the season. Think they are going to be close.

Swindon (one of the best teams we have seen up here this season). Fully expect them to threaten for the top 3.

Not sure on Lincoln and Wycombe and I do expect Accrington and Newport to maybe make a playoff place, but not be challenging right at the very top.

Not sure on Exeter either. They were flying at the start of the season, but have now faltered somewhat.

So for me, if the City are right up there, I see the main competition from Mansfield, Luton and Swindon, possibly Notts County too. That would be 5 teams fighting for 3 slots, as long as we can continue a rich vein of form.

Late challenge? Maybe Colchester or Stevenage. There's usually one team have a great run coming up to the final hurdles, but that might just be to threaten for top 7 and not top 3.

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Liquid Gold said:

Yeah, Luton already won it unless something goes drastically wrong, then it's us, Swindon and Mansfield for the other two sports with Notts and Exeter in the playoffs with one of Wycombe Accrington Lincoln and Newport.

If you pushed me now I'd go for final standings of

Luton
Swindon
Cov
Mansfield
Notts
Exeter
Wycombe

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Otis said:

Weirdly, I am the opposite.

First time today when I am a bit worried. Am usually very optimistic, but we have now been on a very, very good run at home and keep winning. You would therefore expect us to maybe have put a little bit of distance at least from a few clubs, but when you look at the table there are so many clubs right there breathing down our necks. We could still drop several places with a single defeat.

I still think Luton are enough points ahead and will gain one of the top three places and probably the top spot. They are having a bit of a wobble, but are enough points ahead for them to easily turn that round.

I am very concerned about Mansfield. I get the feeling they will be top 3 too.

I do think we need to up our game and have a winning run, a consistent winning run and completely turn our away form around.

At the moment I am a little worried, cos I am not convinced we can keep winning just in order to keep neck and neck with everyone else.

After we went third I thought we could maintain that and put a bit of a cushion between other clubs, but the likes of Mansfield and Swindon have come up on the rails and right into the mix.

I wonder what the state of play was this time last season in the league table. Was it as close a run thing then?

Not saying we cannot get top 3, cos I do think we can, but if it stays this right right up to the wire one defeat could send us plummeting and if that was in the final match we could possibly drop from 3rd to playoffs or even outside.

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Otis said:

Who do we now fear the most as a threat to one of those positions, and will any team come up on the rails late on?

For biggest threats I would say;

Luton (obviously)

Notts County (though they may have possibly shot their bolt)

Mansfield (most definitely). 1 defeat in 15 and favourites at the start of the season. Think they are going to be close.

Swindon (one of the best teams we have seen up here this season). Fully expect them to threaten for the top 3.

Not sure on Lincoln and Wycombe and I do expect Accrington and Newport to maybe make a playoff place, but not be challenging right at the very top.

Not sure on Exeter either. They were flying at the start of the season, but have now faltered somewhat.

So for me, if the City are right up there, I see the main competition from Mansfield, Luton and Swindon, possibly Notts County too. That would be 5 teams fighting for 3 slots, as long as we can continue a rich vein of form.

Late challenge? Maybe Colchester or Stevenage. There's usually one team have a great run coming up to the final hurdles, but that might just be to threaten for top 7 and not top 3.

Click to expand...

Otis said:

Who do we now fear the most as a threat to one of those positions, and will any team come up on the rails late on?

For biggest threats I would say;

Luton (obviously)

Notts County (though they may have possibly shot their bolt)

Mansfield (most definitely). 1 defeat in 15 and favourites at the start of the season. Think they are going to be close.

Swindon (one of the best teams we have seen up here this season). Fully expect them to threaten for the top 3.

Not sure on Lincoln and Wycombe and I do expect Accrington and Newport to maybe make a playoff place, but not be challenging right at the very top.

Not sure on Exeter either. They were flying at the start of the season, but have now faltered somewhat.

So for me, if the City are right up there, I see the main competition from Mansfield, Luton and Swindon, possibly Notts County too. That would be 5 teams fighting for 3 slots, as long as we can continue a rich vein of form.

Late challenge? Maybe Colchester or Stevenage. There's usually one team have a great run coming up to the final hurdles, but that might just be to threaten for top 7 and not top 3.

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Otis said:

It is. Last season's table at this point is a lot more clearer though with more daylight between the top teams.

This season between 2nd and 8th the gap is just 3 points. This time last season the gap between 2nd and 8th was 13 points.

So much closer this season.

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Otis said:

Exeter play tonight too, against the City's Saturday opponents, Forest Green.

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Otis said:

Exeter play tonight too, against the City's Saturday opponents, Forest Green.

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