Last Midweek Preview Of The Season
Last weekend’s game of the week was settled by a first half goal from Yann Kermogant…
….however, the real drama came at Huddersfield, when Jackson Irvine’s winner for Burton came deep into stoppage time, some of which was due to the furore over Dean Whitehead’s second yellow card after 88 minutes.
Huddersfield’s recent poor form couldn’t have come at a worse time and they’ve now got a battle to preserve home advantage in the first leg of the playoffs on their hands rather than chasing automatic promotion. Fulham moved into the last playoff place after winning at Rotherham, who were relegated.
There’ll be a more detailed look at the bottom of the table on Friday, but realistically the situation is who is going to join Rotherham next season. Wigan look doomed, but there are currently three likely contenders: Blackburn, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest, but the results of a couple of games over the couple of days might add some clarity to the situation:
THIS EVENING
Reading v Blackburn Rovers (this evening, 7:45pm)
The Royals have suffered one defeat in the last ten at the Mad House and have a very easy run in at home. As I’ve written over the last few weeks, it’s their away form that will probably let them down in the playoffs. Blackburn’s narrow defeat at Brighton last weekend was their first defeat in the league since Valentine’s Day, but Rovers haven’t actually won on the road since November. They have a decent record at Reading though: only one defeat in their last five visits.
Sheffield Wednesday v Rotherham is live on Sky Sports 1 (7:45pm kickoff) – Wednesday can move back into the playoff positions if they win and Fulham fail to win at Derby, but I have a hunch that now that Rotherham have succumbed the inevitable, they could be a match for their Yorkshire neighbours.
TOMORROW
Newcastle v Burton Albion (tomorrow, 7:45pm)
Fun fact: Newcastle don’t have any more 3:00pm kick offs at St. James’ Park this season, but that probably doesn’t matter. After picking up their first home win since February and establishing a ten point lead over Huddersfield with seven games to play, it’s fair to say that Newcastle’s return to the top flight is almost inevitable.
That’s not to say that Burton will be pushovers. One defeat in their last six has left the Brewers in charge of their own destiny (as our American friends like to say) and although this will be their toughest away game before the end of the season, if they can reproduce their recent form against Leeds and Reading at the Pirelli Stadium they’ll be featuring in our pre-season preview over the summer.
Huddersfield v Norwich is live on Sky Sports 1 at 7:45pm – which might have made more sense in November, which is the last time both teams were in the top six.
Back on Friday with the Run In Special.
Source: http://www.buzzinchampionshipfootball.co.uk/last-midweek-preview-of-the-season/3980
