Paullow

Get in Hudds

Howay Huddersfield

It's effectively the battle for 21st and 22nd in English football, in a couple of days / weeks most won't really care, whereas relegation for any of those 3 big clubs will be devastating so it is 100% the correct decision to focus on the relegation battle. Had we have been 1 point clear of Huddersfield (or behind) in the race for 2nd then of course both would have been shown, but this is largely insignificant, especially to fans outside of Newcastle and Brighton. We've been shown 19 times this season and even if we were guaranteed to finish exactly 1st or 2nd then there would still be a demand to see our game due to the size of our fanbase and Sky could easily have shown us for ratings, but they've gone for the games which they think will be most relevant to the neutrals. I'd like to see our game and hope we win the title but they have definitely gone for the much more significant games.

Spennymoor through to the playoff final where they have a home game with Stourbridge to determine who plays in the National North next season.

Spennymoor need just a point on Saturday in their final match to finish 2nd and secure home advantage in the playoffs.

Oh dear 0-1

I'm not too fussed either. I'd obviously like us to win the title but it's not that important, 2nd place would do me fine. Had Huddersfield beaten Bristol and Burton and had an extra 6 points then i'd obviously have much rather Brighton had lost. We do have 2 tough games coming up so if we do well in those then it will be all about the title, but or now, this 10 point lead could quite easily become just a 4 or 5 point lead with them having a game in hand so still much more bothered about Hudd for now.

Huddersfield ahead.

What if you were told the only realistic challenger to prevent us finishing in the top 2 had already lost at home to Wigan?

Huddersfield's 3rd choice centre back Stankovic has done his ACL on U21 duty for Slovenia and looks like he'll be out for 6-8 months. You never like to see those type of injuries but it is a bit of a blow for them. He and Hefele one of their regular CBs were both ill for the recent Bristol City game so 4th choice Hudson had to come in who the fans don't seem to rate. With 9 games for them in April and Hogg and Brown also out, their squad will be pretty stretched. Stankovic could have also covered Hogg in DCM for them as well if needed.

Toney starting for Scunthorpe against Bradford on Sky. Been on the bench for most of his spell there so can't see him having much of a future with us, but good to see the lad get a game.

15 points from their last 9 isn't that impressive. Certainly can't see them passing us, despite having to play us. We are 9 clear of them with a +22 goal difference (which might get narrowed but definitely not overturned - unless we lost to them by 5 or so at SJP), so we can basically afford to lose 3 of our games and then match them over 5 games. That's not going to happen. I still have my doubts over Huddersfield, but that's assuming they win their game in hand over those at the top. Potentially 4 behind is much closer than 9 at this stage so I'm not worried about Leeds at all. I'd be very surprised if they made up the 8 points on Brighton as well. They could end the season strongly and pip Huddersfield to 3rd, that's not beyond them (still unlikely IMO) but the top 2 are just too out of reach for me.

1 win in 10 since selling the likes of Winnall and Hourihane clearly won't have helped fans opinions, but doesn't look to be having too great a time of late: http://barnsleyfc.org.uk/threads/adam-armstrong-cant-hit-a-barn-door.254897/

Looks like Huddersfield's Izzy Brown is now injured and has pulled out of the England U21 games. Looking like a very costly game that Bristol one with the heavy defeat and losing Hogg for the season.

There is Middlesbrough away to be added to that list, but obviously won't make any real difference if you're just seeing 7 points. One way they can look at it is they are 7 behind Swansea with a game in hand and they still have to play them at home. Plus their goal difference is better. They have 3 'big' clubs and Leicester away which are tough, but they should be looking at getting points from the other games, particularly West Ham (who have lost to 2 strugglers in a row now), Swansea and Bournemouth at home. However, this was arguably their easiest game on paper and they didn't take advantage. You can get 9/1 on them to stay up now so it is clearly unlikely.

Massive result!

He is one of their better players and has just come back from another injury Mind, that Billing was impressive against Man City in the cup the other day and he scored their winner against Reading the other week so a decent enough replacement to bring on.

Awful scenes. The odd pulled hamstring you wouldn't mind seeing, a routine 2-3 week out, but this doesn't look good at all. At least there is movement from him now

They do have a game in hand though. Before yesterday we could afford to lose 2 games and then match their results, now we just have that 1 game buffer. You'd obviously still prefer to be in our position but they aren't going to go away easily and yesterdays result hasn't just come out of the blue, we may have been unbeaten in 10, but we were pretty poor in a few of those games, that first 40 mins vs Villa in particular. Massively important that we win next week to take us into the international break.

http://www.killiefc.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2292-goalkeeper-situation/& He's started every game since his loan move, but the Killie fans don't seem too convinced reading that.

Yep, that's kind of how I see it. I know they can be the most dangerous, but in our last 4 games none of the opposition will have anything to play for. Cardiff have been in form (although no wins in 3) but their fans will see that as a big game and it probably will be tough. With Barnsley, Preston, Wigan, Burton at home and Ipswich and Birmingham away you'd like to think we'd win most of those. So if we do get something like 19 or 20 points, say 6W 1D 3L or 6,2,2 or 5,4,1 etc then that will be a total of 96 / 97 points and would then mean that Huddersfield would have to win 9 and draw 2 or win 10 and lose 1 of their last 11 games to pip us and that will be very unlikely. We can basically lose 2 of our final 10 and then just match Huddersfield in their run in to gain promotion. Very strong position.

Yep, that's kind of how I see it. I know they can be the most dangerous, but in our last 4 games none of the opposition will have anything to play for. Cardiff have been in form (although no wins in 3) but their fans will see that as a big game and it probably will be tough. With Barnsley, Preston, Wigan, Burton at home and Ipswich and Birmingham away you'd like to think we'd win most of those. So if we do get something like 19 or 20 points, say 6W 1D 3L or 6,2,2 or 5,4,1 etc then that will be 96 / 97 and would mean Huddersfield would have to win 9 and draw 2 or win 10 and lose 1 of their last 11 games to pip us and that will be very unlikely. We can basically lose 2 of our final 10 and then just match Huddersfield in their run in to gain promotion. Very strong position.

Bit of a disadvantage that we'll likely lose a few of our players in the forthcoming international games, most of our rivals players will have 2 weeks off, yet we are expected to lose: Ciaran Clark - Ireland vs Wales Daryl Murphy - Ireland vs Wales Paul Dummett - Ireland vs Wales Grant Hanley - Scotland vs Slovenia Matt Ritchie - Scotland vs Slovania Aleksandar Mitrovic - Georgia vs Serbia Mats Sels - Belgium vs Greece Senegal (Diame) and DR Congo (Mbemba) both have friendly matches. Senegal have 2 but both are in Europe. Doesn't look like Ghana have any games announced. Not sure if Anita or Elliot will be in their respective squads. Yedlin and Hayden would have been on duty as well but I assume injury will rule them out of their respective matches. Quite a core of the team gone there which would have been better resting / training together for 2 weeks.

My mate had a fiver on every game to have at least 1 goal, returned over £200. He won't be pleased

Huddersfield lead now