The Auto(s) Charge

[Devon Red]

We had a magnificent run earlier in the season, if we can do something similar again we will be right amongst it.

 

[SEA Grecian]

Seven points from the next three games looks achievable and will get us back in the mix for the play-offs. The problem is then we would still need to average nearly 2 points a game for the last 20 points to get close to 80 points. The other issue is that we have no chance of catching Forest Green and Tranmere are starting to look very strong and could well be soon nailed on for second place which leaves us amongst a large group of teams competing for third.

 

[grecian-near-hell]

My intention in this thread was similar to a discussion thread but to bring in the other matches of teams challenging for promotion, which are occurring at the same time and anticipate (pointlessly) where we could be on Saturday at 5.00 p.pm., should results go as anticipated.

Yes there will be teams that will come into the promotion/play off fray that are currently no where near it, we are currently in a transfer window and deals will be struck that will benefit teams and others that won't, as it stands The Vegans look odds on for the Championship, Tranmere are going great guns and looking likely to join them leaving only one place open to a host of clubs, some like Mansfield are currently putting a run together. However the season is only half done, and our report card is despite an impressive unbeaten run "could/should have done better", too many draws too many goals conceded late or from outside the box, and not enough quality cover up top have all cost us points. We now have half a season and half a transfer window left to mount a challenge (charge). Agree pointless thread but to me interesting!

 

[grecian-near-hell]

Well has our 'charge' started? 2-0 win, a debut goal for our new signing and moving up one space in the table, now lying in eighth spot on 38 points, one point behind current form side Mansfield Town and Newport County, with Port Vale dropping below us after their home defeat to Swindon. Forgetting the position we are now 4 points off the third auto spot, but with the Vegans drawing at Northampton we are two points closer to them (ever the optimist).

One interesting fact to come out of Saturday night's quest show was that of the remaining 22 matches left for Mansfield 14 of them are away from home, starting tomorrow away to the Vegans where a draw would suit us best or even a win for the Stags (their run will end shortly and the Vegans are due a defeat soon). Other matches tomorrow night of interest to the chasing pack are Port Vale at home to Salford, and Sutton at home to Colchester so unless a miracle happens after tomorrow night we will be 6 points of the Autos, but still a lot of games to go.

On Saturday it's the Matt Taylor derby part deux and we are away to Walsall who currently lie in fifteenth position on 29 points having won 7 drawn 8 and lost 9, their current home form is won 1 drawn 4 and lost 1, so hopefully with a new found belief and a furthe week of training three points very much a possibility.

Of the teams around us their matches are (and my predictions (not that that matters too much looking at my previous attempt 4out of 6)

Home Side ​	Position​	Current Home Form Position​	Away Side​	Position​	Current Away Form Position​	Prediction​	Home Side Points After Prediction​	Away Side Points After prediction​
Swindon Town	4th​	11th​	Bristol Rovers	16th​	5th​	Draw	41​	30​
Barrow	19th​	21st​	Mansfield Town	7th​	16th​	Away win	26​	42​
Crawley Town	11th​	23rd​	Tranmere Rovers	2nd​	6th​	Away win	33​	48​
The Vegans	1st​	2nd​	Colchester Utd	22nd​	24th​	Home Win	56​	22​
Leyton Orient	12th​	8th​	Port Vale	9th​	12th​	Home Win	34​	38​
Scunthorpe Utd	23rd​	20th​	Newport County	6th​	4th​	Away Win	19​	41​
Sutton Utd	5th (potentially 3rd)​	7th​	Northampton Town	3rd (potentially 4th)​	3rd​	Draw​	44​	42​

So after another week it doesn't look like we shall be back in the playoffs come Saturday, in fact with midweek matches we might actually drop down a space. The important thing at this stage it is about starting to put a run together and not letting our target get too far out of sight If results go as predicted we shall still be 4 points off Autos. We shall start to believe whether we are starting a run or just flattering to deceive at the moment as the results reel in and hopefully they will be favourable. We don't want to peek too soon!

We are still in a transfer window and there is likely to be significant movement among our rivals as everybody postures for position, including ourselves if Matty is to be believed.

Couple of outsiders to consider are Salford with their money and connections and Leyton Orient whose game on Saturday against Oldham was postponed due to the 'vid and they now have two games in hand on most, again over the course of the remaining matches the Covid position could always have an impact.

 

[grecian-near-hell]

After last Night's results Sutton have moved into third spot (shame as Colchester pushed them to the 92nd minute) on 43 points and with Port Vale losing to Salford we remain in eighth but now 6 points of the Autos but with a game in hand (which counts for nothing) on Tranmere and Sutton.

 

[Grecian in Cumbria]

... Tranmere are starting to look very strong and could well be soon nailed on for second place...

Looking closer at Tranmere's results I don't think they are necessarily uncatchable. Their recent run of 7 wins and 2 draws included no games against the current top 7 (and they've lost cup games to Orient and Harrogate during that spell). Their home record is impressive but they've lost all 3 games against the current top 9 they have played.

 

[grecian-near-hell]

Two matches down of our 'Charge', four goals scored, none conceded, 6 points gained and still in eighth spot, but we are 4 points off the autos with a game in hand on Sutton who currently lie in third spot. The Vegans and Tranmere continue to harvest three points a match and this coming weekend one of them won't as the Vegans are away to the lilywhites, a nice little 0-0 draw hopefully. Despite Port Vale picking up a point at Leyton Orient they have started to drift away from the pack although they have got a game in hand which if they win would put them a point behind us, they are at home to struggling (or should I just say crappy old) Scunthorpe on Saturday.

There is only one midweek match that affects the 'pack' this week and that is Leyton Orient at home to Newport County, if Newport win they will push Sutton out of that elusive auto spot on goal difference heading into the weekend. Money bags City are also playing but they are already 6 points behind us having played one more match, and although they have 20 gams left the pressure to catch us up is on them.
Saturday matches for the pack are with my predictions of end result (last week only got one wrong which wouldn't have won me anything but..). bit more difficult this week with clubs changing situations i.e. Colchester sacking their manager and recording a 3-0 win last week

Home Side​	Position ​	Current Home Form Position​	Away Side​	Position ​	Current Away Form Position​	Prediction​	Home Side Points after Prediction​	Awat Side Points after Prediction​
Carlisle Utd	20th	13th	Sutton	3rd possibly 4th	11th	Draw	28	45
Colchester	22nd	14th	Swindon	6th	6th	Away Win	25	44
Mansfield	7th	1st	Leyton Orient	13th	20th	Home Win	44	32
Newport County	5 or potentially 3rd	6th	Barrow	21st	17th	Home win	47	26
Northampton	4th or potentially 5th	5th	Salford	10th	4th	Draw	43	35
Port Vale	9th	16th	Scunthorpe	21st	19th	Home Win	39	19
Tranmere Rovers	2nd	3rd	Vegan Rovers	1st	3rd	Draw	49	56

So a victory over Hartlepool could see us jump into the playoffs ahead of Northampton on goal difference if results go to plan , we will still be 4 points off of the play offs still but with a game in hand as we enter the final days of this transfer window. The following week there are more midweek games not involving us but could see us drop out of the playoffs again time will tell.

 

[grecian-near-hell]

A stumble in our canter, prior to the full blown charge which needs to happen in February and March (13 matches in total in 8 weeks). Not ideal and got to be thankful for 9 man Colchester to limit us to only being currently a point off the play offs after our 0-0 on Saturday. Positives - clean sheet again and unbeaten run continues.

Eight matches tomorrow, only one of which could affect our 8th spot Port Vale against the Vegans. If PV win they would jump above us having played the same number of games. Other matches involving Mansfield away to Harrogate, Northampton home to Barrow, Tranmere home to Tissy's Stevenage, and Saturday's opponents, Swindon home to Crawley, as well as Moneybags City home to Carlisle, so quite a few which could affect our points requirements and needs. Will update after these results and assess Saturdays expectations then. Could be 4 points off play offs and seven off Autos.

February going to be a very important month for our challenge

 

[grecian-near-hell]

With the transfer window now closed, the cards have been dealt for the run-in.

After last night's results we didn't appear to lose too much ground on the play off places and Autos. With us now being 2 points off our opponents on Saturday Swindon who occupy the last play off place and still only six points off the Autos with two games in hand. With several of the pack playing each other this Saturday could show the position getting tighter within the top 10. The important fixtures are:-

Home Side	Position	Current Home Form Position	Away Side	Position	Current Away Form Position	Prediction	Home side Points after Prediction	Away Side Points after prediction
Barrow	20th	22nd	Tranmere Rovers	2nd	3rd	Away win	29	54
Vegans	1st	2nd	Newport County	3rd	7th	Home Win	62	47
Salford City	10th	8th	Port Vale	9th	8th	Draw	41	41
Sutton Utd	4th	3rd	Bristol Rovers	12th	6th	Draw	48	37
Walsall	19th	18th	Northampton	5th	12th	Away Win	29	48
Harrogate Town	14th	21st	Bradford City	11th	11th	Away Win	34	40

A win on Saturday against Swindon, who currently lie 10th on current home form, winning 2 and drawing 4 of their last 6 fixtures, would see us leapfrog them into seventh place and if results go as anticipated see us lie four points off the Autos.

So not a must win match at this stage of the season but, a be good to win match, for a number of reasons including extending our current unbeaten run, and hopefully keeping a clean sheet as well, to help build momentum for these two important months 13 matches in eight weeks

 

[malcolms]

With the transfer window now closed, the cards have been dealt for the run-in.

After last night's results we didn't appear to lose too much ground on the play off places and Autos. With us now being 2 points off our opponents on Saturday Swindon who occupy the last play off place and still only six points off the Autos with two games in hand. With several of the pack playing each other this Saturday could show the position getting tighter within the top 10. The important fixtures are:-

Home Side	Position	Current Home Form Position	Away Side	Position	Current Away Form Position	Prediction	Home side Points after Prediction	Away Side Points after prediction
Barrow	20th	22nd	Tranmere Rovers	2nd	3rd	Away win	29	54
Vegans	1st	2nd	Newport County	3rd	7th	Home Win	62	47
Salford City	10th	8th	Port Vale	9th	8th	Draw	41	41
Sutton Utd	4th	3rd	Bristol Rovers	12th	6th	Draw	48	37
Walsall	19th	18th	Northampton	5th	12th	Away Win	29	48
Harrogate Town	14th	21st	Bradford City	11th	11th	Away Win	34	40

A win on Saturday against Swindon, who currently lie 10th on current home form, winning 2 and drawing 4 of their last 6 fixtures, would see us leapfrog them into seventh place and if results go as anticipated see us lie four points off the Autos.

So not a must win match at this stage of the season but, a be good to win match, for a number of reasons including extending our current unbeaten run, and hopefully keeping a clean sheet as well, to help build momentum for these two important months 13 matches in eight weeks

Sutton now have three home games in a week..Bristol Rovers, Salford and then a top of the table clash against Forest Green..I think they will get at least 7 points from these three games which makes the run for third place autos even tighter