Paullow

Wolves have given the ball away so many times.

Yeah, had a bad feeling about that as soon as it went it. I instantly said they'll be checking it, so didn't fully commit to celebrate, as you can't fully these days if there's any tiny bit of doubt.

We've had a fair bit build up so far to be fair. Obviously it'll dry up now with focus on Wolves, but must have had about 75% of the focus up until now. I thought there would be more focus on Man City vs Liverpool.

https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/alan-shearer-back-at-st-james-park/?isfromsocial=true

We're in at 14/1 to go down at 4 bookies at the moment - still a healthy position, but a lot different to what it was only 3 games ago when it was in and around 100/1. Burnley are generally 5/6, Everton 6/5. It will come in further if we lose to Wolves on Friday.

Yep, probably knocks the magic figure up by a couple of points as well. We have winnable games in the next 4, but we need to make sure that we actually do win some. Definitely the result I wanted least tonight.

I swear there's been so many late goals for struggling sides recently. Leeds against Norwich and Wolves. Everton vs us, Burnley here. Don't like the fact we play Burnley on the last day.

Hopefully it just stays as it is. Fuck sake!

Just for a bit of balance, get in.

Didn't realise these were playing today, but that's cheered me up a little. It was unlikely anyway, but that's pretty much ended any tiny hope they had of making the top 6. So his record is P10 W2 D3 L5 PTS 9 - there were obviously problems before he came in, hence coming in in the first place, but that's not great at all for a team who were pretty much in the top 3 all season until very recently and were a PL team last year.

At least there's a bit of reality setting back in now. It was a hell of a run, but a lot of the fixtures were bread and butter matches, and I think all bar Southampton (and that was pretty close) were bottom half sides. Game changed massively in our favour vs Brentford early on, Brighton haven't won for years. It would almost have been unjust if we had finished in the top half, and would probably have papered over a few cracks, but hopefully it's abundantly clear to the owners that significant investment is needed for the XI, and yeah, it will be great just to get the season over and done with. There's a lot of players who have done well over the past couple of months who do still deserve their place in the squad next season, but maybe not so much in the first team.

If Burnley beat Everton in midweek then it will be getting twitchy again. While I'd have loved to see Everton go down, needs must, they are 4 points clear of Burnley, so definitely hoping they either win or draw. Not too worried at the moment, but I'd still take 17th, and just want the season over with to be honest and hopefully get some big additions in over the summer. Thread title could probably be done with being changed again mind, especially with Liverpool and Man City among our remaining fixtures, and even CL chasing Arsenal.

We can still win this lads...

I was typing this up at 2-1, and obviously going 3-1 down it would get lost in the match thread so will repost here. We've had a great run, and it looks like the ultimate objective will be achieved this season (although still a little bit more work to do there), but while there are some hard workers and cult hero's in the side, realistically how many XI signings do you think we need in the summer to be a solid 8/9/10 side, one that won't have any real danger of relegation throughout the season, like say a Wolves or Leicester type season? Obviously Trippier and Wilson coming back will help, but I do think there's a lot of work needed in the summer. We did so well to win those 6 games, and will probably save the season, but a lot of the players are still pretty limited.

We've had a great run, and it looks like the ultimate objective will be achieved this season (although still a little bit more work to do there), but while there are some hard workers and cult hero's in the side, realistically how many XI signings do you think we need in the summer to be a solid 8/9/10 side, one that won't have any real danger of relegation throughout the season, like say a Wolves or Leicester type season? Obviously Trippier and Wilson coming back will help, but I do think there's a lot of work needed in the summer. We did so well to win those 6 games, and will probably save the season, but a lot of the players are still pretty limited.

Get in!

It was coming.

It's just annoying. You see them at home to a struggler who are like 17/2 or something, and you just assume it'll probably be a routine 2-0. It then gets to 0-0 after about 77 mins and you're thinking hold on a minute, and that becomes one of your main focuses on GSS in the time remaining, and then boom, 96th minute winner. I guess in some ways they fight until the end and probably have to give a bit of credit, but still annoying all the same, ha. Interesting set of fixtures remaining. Oxford away next is huge - I think if they win there then they will be very likely to make the POs. They've got midtable Cambridge and Shrewsbury at home who apart from a 'scalp', have nothing really to play for, they also have Plymouth away and Rotherham home, and it's too early to say what those sides will be playing for at that stage - Plymouth play Wycombe before they play Sunderland, and if they don't win that one, then their auto hopes will be all but gone. They end their campaign at Morecombe who could be safe (unlikely), already down, or still fighting at that stage. Had they not won today then they would have been 4 points behind Sheff Wed in 5th and that gap would have been hard to overcome, and they would probably have been battling with Oxford and Wycombe for that final slot. Disappointing.

Fuck sake. It seems to happen all the time that. Crewe the other week, Burton the week before. Grim.

Any particularly reason why you missed Spennymoor out, or just forgot? Certainly far more local than York. They drew 1-1 with 2nd place Brackley which helps Gateshead a bit after they too dropped points today.

He had a couple of shots in the first half - the first the keeper kind of scooped it clear low down, and the second was a save at a decent height for him after a burst through, and available on the official highlights - https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12575714/carlisle-1-0-bristol-rovers-league-two-highlights He was demanding the ball a lot in the first half and looked lively, but was less involved in the second half. He did create a very good chance with pretty much the last kick of the match, but nobody could convert his low cross. He also had a wild shot that flew out of the stadium, haha. The 'Mad Mistake' from the Sunderland thread was also there and did a vlog for the match. All in all a decent day. I was hoping Rovers would win, but obviously nothing like as invested in the result as our Gas friends on here. We also won £185 from a £15 combined accumulator thanks to Mansfield's 90+5 minute winner (another result which won't go down too well with our visitors on here).

At the ground now. Rovers warming up in front of me. Elliot starts.

So is anybody else actually making the journey west along the A69? Lovely day, no Newcastle match on, a big match for Rovers, and a glimpse of young Elliot? I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be setting off soon, put some bets on, grab a Nando's or something, and hopefully watch a decent match between 2 in form sides. Both managers have Newcastle links as well. I'll be sitting in the main East Stand WBCP.

I am still going to the Carlisle vs Rovers match on Saturday, but a massive shame Elliot won't be involved. I saw on the gaschat forum a week or so ago that someone heard he won't be involved for Scotland U21's, and that England talk the other day fuelled the hope, but seems to still be included - Scotland U21s play tomorrow on BBC Scotland, so will be good to at least watch him there, assuming he plays. Not sure who I want to win the match now that Anderson won't be there - I will be in the home end, and do like Carlisle, and 3 months ago it wouldn't even be a question, but I have been following Rovers progress since Elliot joined, and it's obviously now a much bigger game for the away side since Carlisle have won 5 of their last 6 games and are all but safe. It's been a good few years since I went to Brunton, and will be my first match of any sort since Covid. The last match I went to was the dour 0-0 with Oxford in the FA Cup, just prior to the first lockdown.