The Championship

[Joe Baker Legend]

Result Huddersfield 2-0 sheep
Result Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff
Barnsley scored in the last minute of stoppage time, But it was ruled out for offside.

[Joe Baker Legend]

Table after tonights games.

[Strawberry Avenger]

sheep losing 2-0 now

DIE, DERBY, DIIIIIIIIE!  

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Table after tonights games.

A win off 6th.  And with that game in hand can close the gap to Huddersfield to 2 points.

SA.

[Tricky]

Table after tonights games.

A win off 6th.  And with that game in hand can close the gap to Huddersfield to 2 points.

SA.

Positive outlook SA.

However, if we look at the teams around us with games in hand, potentially, we could drop down as far as 10th if they all win those games and we have got some real difficult games coming up, so Steve has got to get the lads firing on all cylinders again to avoid any further banana skins derailing our progress

[Strawberry Avenger]

Table after tonights games.

A win off 6th.  And with that game in hand can close the gap to Huddersfield to 2 points.

SA.

Positive outlook SA.

However, if we look at the teams around us with games in hand, potentially, we could drop down as far as 10th if they all win those games and we have got some real difficult games coming up, so Steve has got to get the lads firing on all cylinders again to avoid any further banana skins derailing our progress

That's the sunny side up.

Forest may lose a bit of league traction not playing because of the FA Cup game.  But that may be a blessing in disguise.  It buys more time for Grabban, Mighten, Lolley, Worrall and Cook to come back.  It gives Forest two weeks.  That's alot of time to help in recovery.  If we can sneak a Cup win and get a game postponed, even better.

Luton and Huddersfield show what can be done if you win a few games. And they're nothing special.

We've had the Cooper bounce.  (And a long bounce it was.)  Now the hard grind of closing the gap with the higher quality teams in the top 6 is the next challenge.  The 'low hanging' fruit has been picked in terms of getting into the top 10.

The next phase (from such a low base) was always going to be more difficult.  And a season defining Feb' with games against the top 6 is upon us.  That will tell us where Forest are.

Forest have gotten away with it alot in some of the 'long run' with sluggish starts and 'last minute' comebacks.  The run can't mask that.  Or the fact that this is a band aided squad (with a lot of interim loans) that was facing relegation after 7 games.

We ran out of luck vs Cardiff (they got lucky with 4 players thrown in, Hugil gifted a goal from Mckenna's slack pass) and for me, Cooper got it wrong tactically that game with the back line oceans apart.  Not for the 1st time Forest have started a game on the back foot tactically.  But he was slow to change this time.  Cardiff scored in the 1st 5 minutes in a game where they missed Worrall and maybe should have played a '3' to compensate.

We're still 2 points off the play offs.  We do have a game in hand against Huddersfield who are nothing special. Two games in hand by the time we play Leicester? Hope Judders lose their next game.

I fancy Boro' to over turn them and WBA.  But with Bruce in charge of WBA, I don't see them out of the play offs.

It's not going to be easy for Forest to break into the play offs.  I hope they prove me wrong.  We don't quite have enough goals in 'us', the fire power or assists outside of the right side of the team. That's why getting a winger for the left side was important. We couldn't get it over the line. So it goes.  Maybe the new signing of Surridge will help change that or putting Konate on the left 'wing'/forward position may surprise me.

We're at least a top 8 or 10 team.  That's still enough to mount a mid to late March push if Forest can get all players back fit.

SA.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

We're at least a top 8 or 10 team.  That's still enough to mount a mid to late March push if Forest can get all players back fit.

SA.

Is this last line for me. Of course the same applies to probably 7 other teams. Get their best players on the pitch and a run of form, 3 of those 7 will end up in the play offs (assuming the current top 3 are nailed on). Its going to be tough but back in September who seriously thought we would be in with a decent shout.

[Plymouth red]

Realistic about our season chances. If we are going anywhere then we must win against teams in top six. Our record has been so poor regardless of manager. 

You'll always get the odd cardiff result and every side will. But you can't expect top six if you can't beat anyone in the top six.

For me, its still a case of building for next season and hopefully the summer will give cooper a warchest (with probable sales of bj and jw) in which to build a side capable of top 6.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Realistic about our season chances. If we are going anywhere then we must win against teams in top six. Our record has been so poor regardless of manager. 

You'll always get the odd cardiff result and every side will. But you can't expect top six if you can't beat anyone in the top six.

For me, its still a case of building for next season and hopefully the summer will give cooper a warchest (with probable sales of bj and jw) in which to build a side capable of top 6.

:cool:

I agree.  (We had our chance to beat Cardiff to get amongst WBA and we failed.  Let's call it a one off.  Hopefully the recruitment in January gives Forest a chance against top 6 clubs.)

With the caveat that if Huddersfield are in the top 6, there is no reason Forest can't. 

But a Steve Bruce powered WBA and a Wilder's Boro' may squeeze them out.

We need to put a run together and then keep some consistency.

SA.

[stefanduma]

Once upon a time we would beat the good teams and get spanked by the worst teams.

If someone was on the longest loosing streak in their history we would turn up and spoil the party.

[zicorice]

Steve Bruce appointment means West Brom might stop their downward spiral.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Steve Bruce appointment means West Brom might stop their downward spiral.

Dear me.  That means there is one spot left for the play offs.

It'w Boro.  Huddersfield.  Or us.

SA.