Let's talk about the Notts County game

[selby]

  Two down and one to go in our third game against top sides around us to win the divisional title,
  Just a couple of years ago on Boxing day I left their ground actually thinking we could be going into non league football after being completely hammered and outclassed by what was one of the best displays of football I have seen at this level, quite a turn around to our position currently.
  One of our oldest  foes that bring back many old memories, Albert Broadbent scoring a penalty in a cup replay win, and the Needham and Coleman incident resulting in the referee being assaulted just two of many games between the clubs over the years I have watched.
  So history between the clubs going way back even my first game and dad taking me to sit on his knee to watch Tommy Lawton play as a four year old and 74 years later here we are again and still hooked on the club, and still a very important game to play,
   Today Notts County got the result they needed to still be in the mix for automatic promotion much to my dismay as I was hoping they would not be that bothered if only the play offs were their only route to promotion, which probably shows the  coward side of me, winning now would be the right way.
   In McGoldrick, Palmer, Grant, and Jatta they have some of the  best players in the division on their day and we will once again have to be at the top of our game to get our rewards from the match.
  With a big crowd, and lots of eyes in the home contingent on the Bradford City game the atmosphere is going to be electric and once again we need to play the game not the occasion as Bradford found out to their cost, losing your heads get's you nowhere, all the pressure on them to make the running.
  Apart from injury we seem to have settled on a group of players the defence especially doing well Anderson and the Keeper my two MOM's today, who would you go for?
  Grant seems to have got the rotation just right and any sign of players running out of steam being replaced and planned multiple substitutions keeping up the pace of the side especially in midfield.
  It will be a great end to the season if we pull this one off, and no great disaster if we don't, nice to do so, but now not the end of the world as the main mission has been achieved, and if we don't win I hope Notts County get the third place as being no big lover of Bradford City.
   As ever lot's to talk about and now lot's to look forward to many thanks to Grant and the management, not forgetting the players for an unforgettable season including a nice cup run only brought to an end by a team that has reached the final so no disgrace and to the shadow board and Terry Bramall who give a lot to the club some with their time and of course Terry with time and finance and lastly but not least all of you for reading a season full of my drivel and taking part in the discussion's all season, your comments always insightful, thanks a lot and please have your say.

[Chris Black come back]

They have won once in their last six home league games and that was against the very poor MK 'Dons'.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Party time, whatever the result. Be nice to go on and win the league but lets get fancy dressed up and sing and chant our way through the afternoon. Beach balls, balloons, the works.

[IDM]

No pressure on us.  County still can make the autos other results depending, but I don’t think that would happen.

We can play with freedom and the title is a bonus. 

[Pancho Regan]

I’m so glad I bought a ticket for this one.

At last, after this extraordinary season, I can attend an away game feeling relaxed.

The job is done, but this manager and these players want to be the best and take the title.

What a time to hit top spot and put the pedal to the floor.
Let’s enjoy.

[selby]

  The league places at least ensure that the game is hardly likely to be taken lightly by either team, and our season will be competitive to the last minute.
  Both sets of supporters will also have an eye on what is happening at games involving Bradford City and Port Vale as both games will have a say in how the final positions pan out at the top of the table even though ourselves and Port vale have cemented promotion.
  It is a great end to the regular season with play off places as well as the championship team to be decided and shows that the division has been particularly competitive at the top end all season, who could have forecast Walsall's spectacular demise in December.
  Two down one to go in a high class finish against top sides to get where we want to be, play the game not the occasion, a lesson Bradford would do well to heed when two minutes of losing ones head could affect their whole season of effort, just go for it, play with passion and effort and flair, win it the right way.

[Dutch Uncle]

BTW Selby, I think the Yogi Broadbent penalty you are referring to was against Barnsley at Oakwell to win a league cup replay, and which earned us the Burnley home match with the 25K crowd. Yogi put it down the middle when that was hardly ever done. A few weeks later we won a flattering 5-1 at Oakwell in a match that reignited our successful promotion and title campaign. 

[LukeMaso]

Just curious, if Notts County end up securing promotion and we still end up winning the league would this be the first time this has happened? Can’t seem to find anything online. If so what would the post match celebrations look like?

[Alan Southstand]

Well, now that Accrington have come to the rescue for Bradford, it will be absolutely calamitous if the chickens balls it up in their last game (at home, in front of a sell-out home end and led by the EFL’s manager of the season). No pressure?

The thing is, they showed signs of the pressure getting them against us, to which Mr Baldwin can testify!

So, Bradford should be joining us in L1. However, Notts County will not be aware what’s happening in Bradford until half time. So, I think they’ll go hammer and tongs at us, at least for the first 45mins. Hopefully, our lads will have sobered up by Saturday!

[steve@dcfd]

Bradford have to win to ensure third place. Notts County and Walsall both need to win to put pressure on Bradford. We go there no pressure yes GM wants the top spot as we all would like. So it should be a good game for all supporters. Notts will want to come out fast Bradford wanted to that on Saturday and we controlled the first half. So we go there hopefully score first and then it will be in our control. Come halftime we will all know what is required by all the teams in the mix. Gillingham have lost once in their last 11 games so it won’t be easy for Port Vale.

[ravenrover]

It had better be a better performance than last time at Notts. The fans were incensed, "you're not fit to wear the shirt" rang out loud and clear even when Grant and the players came over at the end of the game.
Just equal Port Vale and it's ours

[pib]

It had better be a better performance than last time at Notts. The fans were incensed, "you're not fit to wear the shirt" rang out loud and clear even when Grant and the players came over at the end of the game.
Just equal Port Vale and it's ours

That was the turning point last season I thought. Although it took us another month or so to start putting consistent results together, I thought the performances and mood at the club bottomed out in that Notts County game. What a contrast to next Saturday.

[IDM]

Well, now that Accrington have come to the rescue for Bradford, it will be absolutely calamitous if the chickens balls it up in their last game (at home, in front of a sell-out home end and led by the EFL’s manager of the season). No pressure?

The thing is, they showed signs of the pressure getting them against us, to which Mr Baldwin can testify!

So, Bradford should be joining us in L1. However, Notts County will not be aware what’s happening in Bradford until half time. So, I think they’ll go hammer and tongs at us, at least for the first 45mins. Hopefully, our lads will have sobered up by Saturday!

Everyone will be aware of what’s happening in the other games well before half time.  All the fans will, and the coaching staff too.  Even if they don’t tell the players during play, the random cheers (or groans) from the crowd will be huge clues.

I imagine the away end will start going mental if news comes through that Vale were behind..

[Dutch Uncle]

This won't happen, but the weird thing is that if we were to win, and Walsall lose we would end up winning promotion by being 10 points clear of 4th place - absolutely unthinkable at any other stage of the season. Anyone looking back at the table 20 years later would not think of it as being close.

[drfchound]

Incredible indeed Dutch.
Also, we were fifteen points behind Walsall earlier in the year and now are seven points ahead of them.
A twenty two point swing in a few weeks.

[mushRTID]

Any news on Moly and why he came off?

Got a decent bet running on us to win the league and half tempted to cash out after seeing our boys on the piss for 2 days!

A moly injury would probably decide it for me.

[Upton Rover]

We will be relaxed with no pressure on us at all, they will have all the pressure on them, aswell as them keeping an eye out on how Bradford are doing, it’s got to be a distraction, it’s in our own hands, so come on lads take it, I will say 2-1 to us, they will lose it once they know Bradford are winning comfortably

[Superspy]

Any news on Moly and why he came off?

Got a decent bet running on us to win the league and half tempted to cash out after seeing our boys on the piss for 2 days!

A moly injury would probably decide it for me.

Similar scenario for me but the cashout was slightly less than just putting a cover bet on for Port Vale to do it, so I get about 200 profit whatever happens now. Party at the weekend!

[jmt23]

I’m fascinated with how we will play this, Grants way is always to go on the attack, I wonder will he just say “sod it lads were up, go out and attack them, and put a show on for our fans”.

[ravenrover]

Any news on Moly and why he came off?

Got a decent bet running on us to win the league and half tempted to cash out after seeing our boys on the piss for 2 days!

A moly injury would probably decide it for me.

I heard it was a hamstring tweak

[Alan Southstand]

Patrick Kelly also out with a hamstring problem. That heavy 4 match load has proven too much for some lads.

[Chris Black come back]

Kelly, Senior and Olowu are obviously out, and it looks like Ironside is none too certain either.

If Molyneux was only a precautionary substitute then it look like we will have the exact same squad, unless Ironside is back in which case perhaps Westbrooke stands down?

[Nudga]

Dropping Westbrooke for Ironside would be an insane thing to do.

[Butchers Red]

Lots of factors affecting my decision on whether or not to cash out on 4 decent bets placed early season for Rovers to win the league.

Our 11 game unbeaten run
The form we have displayed, home and away over that time
the team spirit and bonding which some of us have seen on and off the pitch
BIG players all clicking towards the end of season
Grant McCann
Grant's unabashed comments about winning the league in the immediate aftermath of the Crewe loss
The massive influence of the senior pros and out talisman Luke Molyneaux.

PLUS it's a dead rubber for Notts and with potentially 3 massive games coming up in heat, why would you risk the likes of McGoldrick and Jatta ??

On the other hand of course, as we all know football always throws up surprises so god knows, I'll leave it till Saturday.....

RTID

[philsky]

I have to be honest and say I’m not fussed now; we’re up and that’s all I hoped for. I’ll be in fancy dress and we’ll have a wonderful day.Able to relax for once this season

[Chris Black come back]

Lots of factors affecting my decision on whether or not to cash out on 4 decent bets placed early season for Rovers to win the league.

Our 11 game unbeaten run
The form we have displayed, home and away over that time
the team spirit and bonding which some of us have seen on and off the pitch
BIG players all clicking towards the end of season
Grant McCann
Grant's unabashed comments about winning the league in the immediate aftermath of the Crewe loss
The massive influence of the senior pros and out talisman Luke Molyneaux.

PLUS it's a dead rubber for Notts and with potentially 3 massive games coming up in heat, why would you risk the likes of McGoldrick and Jatta ??

On the other hand of course, as we all know football always throws up surprises so god knows, I'll leave it till Saturday.....

RTID

Sadly not a dead rubber for Notts County, which is annoying. If they win, then they only need to rely on Walsall drawing or losing, and Bradford City also drawing or losing, and then Notts County go up automatically. It probably isn't the most likely of outcomes but unless Walsall and / or Bradford City are 9-0 up at half time, then Notts County are going to be playing at full intensity all game in the hope of automatic promotion.

[Pintolager]

To everyone who is going on Saturday, have a great day for what will be a great occasion in a party atmosphere. I wish I was going, but will watch the match in the Sal!
If we win the title, then great, but even if we don't, we know that we will be playing in league 1 next season.

[Barmby Rover]

Enjoy yourselves on Saturday. Rovers are going to play without any fear of losing and will steamroller County in the first half. 0-3 at HT, 1-3 at FT.

[Pancho Regan]

I have to be honest and say I’m not fussed now; we’re up and that’s all I hoped for. I’ll be in fancy dress and we’ll have a wonderful day.Able to relax for once this season

Agreed philsky.
This will be the first game of the season I'll be attending and feeling excited, but relaxed rather than nervous.
So I'm with you on this (minus the fancy dress!).

[drfchound]

I have to be honest and say I’m not fussed now; we’re up and that’s all I hoped for. I’ll be in fancy dress and we’ll have a wonderful day.Able to relax for once this season

Agreed philsky.
This will be the first game of the season I'll be attending and feeling excited, but relaxed rather than nervous.
So I'm with you on this (minus the fancy dress!).

It’s different for some of the fans though isn’t it.
I’m in no doubt that the players and staff will be wanting to secure the title on Saturday.
Lower league players don’t get too many chances to pick up a medal.