Now we've passed 50 points

[The 12th Devine 0]

Since we have passed the 50 point mark I thought it worth trawling the past five years of League One tables for how many points has typically secured automatic promotion. As you will see from the list below, 90 points has always been enough to secure second spot, although Leeds’ fans will point out that if they hadn’t been deducted 15 points in 07/08 they would have ended up 2nd on 91 points. That apart, 90 points has been a certainty for promotion.

Taking that as the target, we need just 39 points from 21 games to get there, a mere 13 wins and allowing us a whopping eight defeats. Even if we assume 92 points (eclipsing Leeds’ tally) then it still leaves plenty of leeway considering we’ve only lost four games to date.

The possible caveat is that Charlton, Norwich, Leeds and Colchester are arguably significantly better than the rest of the division and can therefore expect to take more points out of the table than the top four might normally manage, though this is certainly debateable. Also, of course, until Charlton and Colchester lose their games in hand we haven’t yet got any real distance from the chasing pack – though the points on the board are everything and there is real pressure on those two now.

All in all, very positive (maybe too positive, so will cross fingers and touch wood etc), and actually bloody amazing compared with four and a half months ago.

PAST FIVE YEAR’S RESULTS:

2004/05

1. Luton 98

2. Hull 86

2005/06

1. Southend 82

2. Colchester 79

2006/07

1. Scunthorpe 91

2. Bristol City 85

2007/08

1. Swansea 98

2. Notts Forest 82

* Leeds deducted 15 points and would have finished 2nd on 91 points

2008/09

1. Leicester 98

2. Peterboro 89

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

Looking back is a dangerous game. The League is very competitive this year with Charlton and Colchester both looking like they can go the distance until the end of the season. We just have to keep matching or bettering the results of the teams chasing us.It''s good to have Leeds ahead of us in a way, as it is often seen as easier to chase a team than be chased. Keep looking up rather than over our shoulders, we may not be in the top two for the rest of the season, but we need to make sure we are come the last game of the season.

[paul moy 235]

16 wins out of 21 would pretty much assure us of the title. Let''s go for that !!

[Gingerpele 0]

I don''t think it would Paul.....

what if Leeds win 15, or 14, then we don''t win the title.....

[paul moy 235]

[quote user="Gingerpele"]I don''t think it would Paul..... what if Leeds win 15, or 14, then we don''t win the title.....[/quote]

I think that Leeds will slip up by drawing too many games, just as they did today, whereas we have the goalscoring potential to win more games. Nine consecutive wins at home and 11 more home games remaining looks promising for 33 points for a starter. [;)] 

[Gingerpele 0]

That could happen, but i''m slightly wary, i used to think that Leeds would defiantly slip up, but often, they seem to get results out of nothing, or poor performances (e.g against us....), and i don''t think they would let a slip up, last more than 4/5 games this season, which would still give them breathing space, if we don''t win all of our games........

[......and Smith must score. 1,600]

More than we managed the whole of last season.I think we can put any relegation fears to bed.

[AJ 1,359]

[quote user="......and Smith must score."]More than we managed the whole of last season.I think we can put any relegation fears to bed.[/quote]Phew!!

[claud 0]

[quote user="AJ"][quote user="......and Smith must score."]More than we managed the whole of last season.I think we can put any relegation fears to bed.[/quote]Phew!![/quote]First time that''s been the case for quite a few years.