If someone told me we'd be going into this break one point of 12th in exchange for a bollock, I'd have absolutely taken the deal.
Bloody hell Matty surely even you must be feeling a little more positive now.my birthday! please blue boys
Not bad given we’ve played Arsenal, RS and Chelsea in those six games8th in the form table based on our last 6 games.
Don’t forget PalaceDyche is clearly working the oracle.
The last three games, Forest (A), Brentford (H), and Chelsea (A) and he has squeezed 5 points out of those with liabilities like Alex Iwobi effectively playing for the opposition.
On this round of fixures:
FOREST - home to Newcastle was a far more accommodating game than away to Chelsea. But it is Advantage Everton as we gain a point and now clamber above them. Critical - as we surely need to finish above them if we are to stay up. A huge psychological blow as just 13 days ago they were targeting their home match with us as the game that effectively got them safe.
LEICESTER - away to Brentford or away to Chelsea. Which one would you prefer? Brentford are arguably the better side these days, but a point at Stamford Bridge will seem like a bigger prize to us than a draw at Thomas Frank's place will - admirable as he and his team are.
WOLVES - a disastrous weekend for them. They are now well within our reach.
LEEDS - a great win for Leeds and they gain two points on us. But we mitigated the damage with an unexpected point of our own. So, we staunched the flow here. And Leeds are only above us on goal difference, which could shrivel further if they lose that game in hand...
BOURNEMOUTH - Advantage Everton. A point at Chelsea is far better than a defeat at Villa. It may only be a one-point gain, but there feels like a gap between them and us now, even if it is only 2 points...
SOUTHAMPTON - Another home game goes by without a win. They rescued a point, but we've now done likewise and an away draw is definitely a more impressive return than a home one. Advantage Everton.