The Reds dip in form

Around about the end of November and start of December we were 6 points clear at the top with Scunthorpe trying to chase us. Now it`s the other way round and we have a much tougher task with the Reds being a massive 10 points behind Scunthorpe and 4 points behind Bristol City in 2nd place who also have a game in hand on us so they could increase it to 7.

Where did it all go wrong? Well I think we all know we didn`t have a good Christmas period, picking up only 4 points from a maximum of 12 including a 5-0 thumping at Oldham on New Years Day. That enabled Scunthorpe to catch up on us and the rest. Hardly form that a promotion chasing team should be on.

People started saying “it`s only a little blip” but it looked obvious that we was going to get found out and our luck was going to run out. We didn`t exactly have an excellent game where we were in control throughout the whole game and if we did it was very rare. I for one thought we had a good enough team to go up at the start of the season but now my opinion has changed slightly and some teams around us are better than us.

The form of the team hasn`t been good since the start of November with us only recently picking up back to back wins for the first time since November. We have only had 5 wins from our last 16 league games and only picking up 19 points from 48 points. I didn`t think it was that bad and I am sure some fans would think it isn`t too bad but when you look at the statistics it is mid table form and not top 6 form. Somehow we are still fourth place and have been very fortunate that other teams in the play offs around us haven`t been able to take advantage. If they had been able to and if our lead at the top above other teams wasn`t so big then we could have been find ourselves outside the play offs. But we still have a very good chance of going up but if its automatic promotion it would be some achievement.

I don`t understand how we can win 5-1 and then lose 1-0 a few days later. The team has no consistency and you cannot expect to go up if you don`t have that. Scunthorpe had won 7 games in a row before the game against Forest and Bristol City have now won 5 games in a row, that is promotion form so if we don`t get our act together in the last 9 games we only deserve to get in the play offs and that is now looking more likely.

Other teams are now finishing off strongly including Tranmere, Swansea and Doncaster I cant see us losing a play off spot but its something to think about.

Colin is now saying that the title hopes are still not over. I don`t understand why he is saying that because it will just make him look silly because I cannot see it happening.

The purpose of this article isn`t to have a dig at the team but it is just something to think about. It`s now or never for the Reds and if they want to get automatic promotion they will need to go unbeaten, winning at least seven of the last nine games. I think they could do it if they can find some form and get some consistency. If not then we will have to go through the torture of the play offs. None of us cant go through another season in this league and we need to get out of it and I am not bothered how to be honest.

COME ON YOU REDS!!