We beat Bristol City and Brentford, since my last preview blog, so we must be doing something right. We are sitting pretty in fourth, despite the odds suggesting Huddersfield would’ve overtaken us by beating Wigan at home! Thankfully, Wigan had other ideas!
We have 18 points remaining, before 2016 is up. Enough to take us to the summit of the table, but not enough to drag us to the bottom. That’s a great start to the season by anybody’s standards. Whether we actually manage to attain those 18 points of course, is another matter! Let’s see if we can start by picking up what ought to be the joint easiest three points, on Saturday…why the joint easiest you ask? Because we’re playing the Tykes again, away, on New Year’s Eve!
Our preferred keeper at this stage? According to the stats, it’s clearly Kuszczak, solidly back after his injury and hasn’t it told! Defence? Grounds, Shotton, Spector (though Cogley has given a good account of himself in his league starting debut) and Morrison. Midfield? Maghoma, Davis, Kieftenbeld and Cotterill with an attack of Donaldson and Adams. Jutkiewicz is continuing to put a strong case for a permanent contract forward, isn’t he? If he can chip in with two or three more goals before January, I think it will be impossible to turn him down.
Our results are totally brought about off the back of a consistent defence. It’s great seeing the goals raining in from all over the pitch though, with Shotton and Adams grabbing goals to complement Donaldson’s penalty resurgence.
The Tykes are presently fourteen places behind us, in eighteenth, nine points behind us, and five goals worse off, without a win in four. Interestingly, their last win was also away at Brentford, where – perhaps worryingly – they also kept a clean sheet after scoring two goals…their last home match was a 5-2 demolition by Nottingham Forest, so you would hope we could fancy ourselves for this one. Blimey, sat in fourth, we should be able to fancy ourselves for any match, these days. And I include the recently beaten top-of-the-table Newcastle too.
Nick Townsend, the goalkeeper, is the only former Blues player on their books, but he’s not their first choice between the sticks, so we may choose to keep a look out for Tom Bradshaw, the ex-Walsall player, who many Blues fans suggested we should have signed in preseason. It’s worth noting he’s scored only two goals at this stage…but I won’t accept the blame if he adds to that tally against us 🙂
I’m going to predict a confident 3-0 win as we try to cement our top six placing. Goals from Donaldson, Adams and Jutkiewicz will hopefully lift our performance towards the 4-1 aggregate win over them in the 13/14 season (we drew 1-1 at home, mind you)…
Win this and we could rise to the dizzy heights of third. If we lose, we could drop as low as sixth, barring a 5 goal swing with Sheffield Wednesday. All the more incentive, if it were needed, to get three points in the bag.
Just a side note – have you read the rumour that we’re offering Fabbrini to Rangers? If it’s true, I don’t quite understand it. I don’t think he’d be too keen on a move North of the border, though I suppose a ‘top flight team’ would be tempting to any player. I also think he was brought in to fulfill a role for us, and he’s yet to do that. Perhaps our tactics have had to evolve, but is there a reason he can’t evolve as a player, too? I hope he does stick around, and isn’t simply remembered as the ‘expensive luxury’, but more the flair player we remember when he played for Millwall against us!
Enjoy the Match and Keep Right On!
Russell Dempsey
If Fulham beat reading we could even move into 3rd having stuffed Barnsley
Very true Bob. Newcastle coming up could bring the top two within reach IF we can win too. KRO!
Never underestimate Yorkshire grit. The blues must have been as complacent as Russ. The Forest result was a total one off and not a stuffing – we outplayed them but gave them 3 goals and the penalty decision was ridiculous. The only stuffing Bobclancey is getting is sage and onion with is turkey!!
Touche David. One thing Blues are always good at, is losing the matches they seem dead certs to win. No Blues fans worth their salt would knock Barnsley today so I can only say well done, and say I hope we gain some sense of self worth at your place on the 31st! I hope Brummie spirit can outplay Yorkshire grit…hopefully fuelled by some of Bobclancey’s Christmas turkey 😉