Rival Watch

[WestYorksRoyal]

More recently, Peterborough were relegated from the Championship with 54 points in 2013. I think Blackburn went down with 52 points in 2017. And that was in a league where 21st survives.

I think we could be looking at a high total this year, with a bunch from 14th to 21st battling it out. Of course, one team could go on a horrific run, but so far teams have found a few results when it matters. Exeter, Wigan and Wycombe have all recently picked up some good results after dropping like a stone, now the challenge is for Charlton and Port Vale to do the same.

One thing for sure is that we will have infuriated the bottom half of the league. In November it looked like the 4 relegation spots were tied up, but we've dragged half the league into it.

[Stranded]

The Division is beginning to concertina somewhat, with teams who - at Christmas were looking up at the Play-Offs - are now looking down; Bristol Rovers being one to watch....when I have time I will check out what the highest points total in League 1 that still resulted in relegation was, and the mean for the last 20 Years to give us an indication as to what total we are aiming at in order to survive.

Since the 99/00 season - 2 teams have gone down with 51 and 5 with 50. So 52 should absolutely see you safe.

Unless I've miscalculated on average 50 points are needed.

Lowest ever needed to survive the drop was just 41.

So to be sure (and with no more deductions) we need to pick up the equivalent of 7 wins in 16 games. On current form over the past 14 games, we are on target to get to 58.

I know its 40 years ago, but we were relegated with 53 points from this league

Southend went down in 88/89 on 54 points - which is the most ever and only happened that once. 53 saw us Relegated as you say and Wimbledon the season before but never happened since.

[skipper]

3 of our next 4 games are beneath us.

Charlton are above us on GD but 2 of the next 4 and 3 of the next 6 are against teams in the relegation zone.

Thank you, I was overlooking Charlton for some reason.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Port Vale's 98th min penalty https://twitter.com/StevenageFC/status/ ... DFRgw&s=19 bet Steve Evans took it well.

[Sutekh]

More recently, Peterborough were relegated from the Championship with 54 points in 2013. I think Blackburn went down with 52 points in 2017. And that was in a league where 21st survives.

Peterborough were 22nd with 54 in 2013, Barnsley finished 21st with 55 so would have gone down if there had been 4 relegation places in the Championship. Blackburn went down on 51 points in 2017 and Forest would have gone with them, if it was 4 down. Forest only survived on GD that season.

[Sutekh]

Port Vale's 98th min penalty https://twitter.com/StevenageFC/status/ ... DFRgw&s=19 bet Steve Evans took it well.

Guinness-Walker made his debut for Stevenage. Bet he's sick of Vale Park now.

[From Despair To Where?]

Port Vale's 98th min penalty https://twitter.com/StevenageFC/status/ ... DFRgw&s=19 bet Steve Evans took it well.

Are you suggesting it's not a penalty because what I see is the defender bringing his arm up and stopping it with his hand.

Anyway, if you scroll down the link, you'll see an incident in the return game where the Stevenage player scythes down the Port Vale attacker and the ref gives a goal kick.

[windermereROYAL]

Peterborough have shipped seven goals in two games, four of which have been OGs, who needs strikers?

[WestYorksRoyal]

Darren Moore at Port Vale . Great appointment imo, and harshly sacked in his last 2 jobs.

[Hendo]

Darren Moore at Port Vale . Great appointment imo, and harshly sacked in his last 2 jobs.

Yeah, very decent appointment that.

Although saying he was harshly sacked from Huddersfield might be a bit much - they are only 2 points above the relegation zone.

[windermereROYAL]

Darren Moore at Port Vale . Great appointment imo, and harshly sacked in his last 2 jobs.

Facing another new manager bounce next week, lets hope it`s the same result.

[NathStPaul]

Darren Moore at Port Vale . Great appointment imo, and harshly sacked in his last 2 jobs.

Yeah, very decent appointment that.

Although saying he was harshly sacked from Huddersfield might be a bit much - they are only 2 points above the relegation zone.

Yeah he was really crap at Huddersfield. Really crap.

[Stranded]

Darren Moore at Port Vale . Great appointment imo, and harshly sacked in his last 2 jobs.

Yeah, very decent appointment that.

Although saying he was harshly sacked from Huddersfield might be a bit much - they are only 2 points above the relegation zone.

5 and a half year contract seems crazily long for a managers deal, and probably the main reason he signed. If it works out, then having him tied down for so long is fantastic but, unless there are clauses in his deal about pay-outs, could be very expensive if it goes tits up like it did at Huddersfield.

After last night's postponement Vale now have to play 17 games in 70 days. They will be playing Sat-Tues-Sat pretty much through Feb/Mar. That will be a tough schedule.

In comparison, after our game against Vale on Tues, we only have the trip to Derby left midweek*

*though Bristol Rovers (a) will probably get postponed for international call-ups.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Darren Moore at Port Vale . Great appointment imo, and harshly sacked in his last 2 jobs.

Yeah, very decent appointment that.

Although saying he was harshly sacked from Huddersfield might be a bit much - they are only 2 points above the relegation zone.

5 and a half year contract seems crazily long for a managers deal, and probably the main reason he signed. If it works out, then having him tied down for so long is fantastic but, unless there are clauses in his deal about pay-outs, could be very expensive if it goes tits up like it did at Huddersfield.

After last night's postponement Vale now have to play 17 games in 70 days. They will be playing Sat-Tues-Sat pretty much through Feb/Mar. That will be a tough schedule.

In comparison, after our game against Vale on Tues, we only have the trip to Derby left midweek*

*though Bristol Rovers (a) will probably get postponed for international call-ups.

His first game is a massive one away at Cheltenham on Saturday, who won last night and stubbornly refuse to die. Whenever it looks like they'll join Fleetwood and Carlisle in getting cut adrift they string together some form, but they never finish the job and climb out of the bottom 4. Huge game at the bottom anyhow.

[Stranded]

Yeah, very decent appointment that.

Although saying he was harshly sacked from Huddersfield might be a bit much - they are only 2 points above the relegation zone.

5 and a half year contract seems crazily long for a managers deal, and probably the main reason he signed. If it works out, then having him tied down for so long is fantastic but, unless there are clauses in his deal about pay-outs, could be very expensive if it goes tits up like it did at Huddersfield.

After last night's postponement Vale now have to play 17 games in 70 days. They will be playing Sat-Tues-Sat pretty much through Feb/Mar. That will be a tough schedule.

In comparison, after our game against Vale on Tues, we only have the trip to Derby left midweek*

*though Bristol Rovers (a) will probably get postponed for international call-ups.

His first game is a massive one away at Cheltenham on Saturday, who won last night and stubbornly refuse to die. Whenever it looks like they'll join Fleetwood and Carlisle in getting cut adrift they string together some form, but they never finish the job and climb out of the bottom 4. Huge game at the bottom anyhow.

Charlton must be getting nervous - no win in 15 now and their next 3 are Bolton (a), Pompey (H) and Derby (a) - would be a brave man to bet on them winning one of those. Both Vale and Cheltenham have at least 2 games in hand on them so if Charlton do fail to win any of those then (likely) then they will almost definitely be in the bottom 4 by the end of the month.

One of Vales games in hand is naturally against us next week.

Interesting* to note that Cheltenham play Charlton on 5th March whilst we have a blank week, so after that game we will have played 1 less than them & only 1 more than Cheltenham. Draw there will probably be very helpful.

[Stranded]

Games in hand for those around us (current league position):

Wycombe (15th)

27th Feb - Cheltenham (H)

Cambridge (17th)

27th Feb - Stevenage (a)

Burton (18th)

TBA - Carlisle (H)

Port Vale (21st)

27th Feb - Fleetwood (H)
TBA - Wycombe (H), Peterborough (a)

Cheltenham (22nd)

27th Feb - Wycombe (a)
5th Mar - Charlton (H)

Carlisle (24th)

TBA - Burton (a)

[Wycombe Royal]

One of Vales games in hand is naturally against us next week.

There's a flaw in that statement.

[Stranded]

One of Vales games in hand is naturally against us next week.

There's a flaw in that statement.

No, because that post was specifically about Charlton - and Vale's GiH over them.

[windermereROYAL]

Just took a look at our remaining games, still need to travel to the current top 4 , but our home fixtures look very decent with nobody higher than 9th.

Port vale 21st
Shrewsbury 19th
Wycombe 15th
Cambridge 17th
Northampton 12th
Lincoln 11th
Blackpool 9th.

Apart from the top 4 away we have.
Carlisle 24th
Bristol rovers 10th
Burton 18th

Those fixtures don`t scream relegation to me, but this is Reading , anything can happen.

[NathStPaul]

Just took a look at our remaining games, still need to travel to the current top 4 , but our home fixtures look very decent with nobody higher than 9th.

Port vale 21st
Shrewsbury 19th
Wycombe 15th
Cambridge 17th
Northampton 12th
Lincoln 11th
Blackpool 9th.

Apart from the top 4 away we have.
Carlisle 24th
Bristol rovers 10th
Burton 18th

Those fixtures don`t scream relegation to me, but this is Reading , anything can happen.

What does scream relegation to you?