Paullow

They might have a point like...

Scunthorpe admin not happy.

Stunning turnaround. From 4 points above the drop zone and 17 off the playoffs, to now being only out on goal difference. Banbury are still on 37 points 9 games later

Spenny beat Scunthorpe 1-0 to make it 7 in a row, or 9 wins and a draw in their last 10 matches. South Shields win 3-0 to make it 4 wins in a row. They play each other on Friday and I'm so tempted to go, but will likely have to go by myself, and I'm a shit / nervy driver (coming from Hexham area), so would probably have to get the metro. I'ts MUCH easier driving to Spennymoor, so would have definitely gone if Spenny were at home. They play Farsley at home on Monday, so might go to that instead, but Shields vs Spenny is the much bigger match with the local edge and both in and around the playoffs.

It would be 9 defeats in a row for them. Don't know if there's any context, but their record was OK about 6 weeks ago, and this seems to have come from nowhere. They were above Spennymoor about 6 weeks ago, and could now be 27 points behind, given the two teams huge change of fortunes out of nowhere.

Obviously teams can have good and bad spells and rocket up and down the league, like Yeovil, Stockport, Oldham etc. but it's mad that this time 14 years ago we were in the same league as Scunthorpe and lost to them at the back end of 2009, yet, they are now in tier 6, playing the likes of Shields and currently losing to Spennymoor. They won't win the league this year, so the almost certainly the lottery of the 6 team playoffs for them.

Spennymoor have just taken the lead!!!! Looking for a magnificent 7.

3-1 Gateshead now. They should be fine as there's so many teams below them, and they may just need another 3 points in their final 6 matches, but Pools are bound to be looking over their shoulder a bit. Only 2 points from their last 5 if they lose this one, and 5 clear of the drop zone.

Didn't realise it was Gateshead vs Hartlepool today, 1-1 at half time. Shields (South) 1-0 up away at Banbury (who have lost like 8 in a row), and Spennymoor currently 0-0 at home to Scunthorpe. The 2 local sides meet at Shields on Friday.

Yeah, you just can't really look at any remaining games this season and think yeah, should definitely be 3 points there. Start of the season, or start of December, you look at the follow successive home fixtures: Forest Man City Luton Bournemouth And you'd think there would be half a chance for 10 points. Or if we lost to Man City, as most do, win the rest, or at the very worst, win 2 and draw 1, to pick up a minimum of 7 points. We couldn't win any of them and ended up with 2 points. 2 of the easiest games on paper of the 38 (in Luton and Forest at home), certainly both in the top 6 if you were putting all 38 fixtures in a list and ranking them. Now we have picked up some decent wins in that period, like Villa away, and you could perhaps argue the Forest away win almost negates the home loss, but with our injuries and inconsistency, there's literally no matches that look like bankers, perhaps Sheff U apart, as someone mentioned earlier.

It finished 5-3 to Sunderland. Quite entertaining tbh. Durham got it back to 3-3, and hit the post at 4-3, but were never ahead. Palace and Birmingham both won, but Southampton and Charlton both lost - the latter were a goal up after 89 mins, but conceded twice to London.

It's actually 2-2 now. I checked the score at half time and it was 2-1, so went back to having it on, and Durham have just equalised a moment ago.

They couldn't have officially secured the title next week with those permutations as they would have still needed Forest to drop more points against Derby next week to make it 100% official, but Forest's match with Halifax has been postponed, so that will affect things, unless it's rescheduled in the week, although I see Halifax already have a match in the week. It's crazy how in a 22 games season, WBA have played 19 matches, and 86.3% of their matches, whereas Halifax has only played 13 and 59% of theirs. Going to be a serious backlog for Halifax to get their remaining 9 games in, especially if there's a good women's match on TV that they want to watch instead Burnley are 1-0 down, but they are too far behind to be a threat IMO, but I guess would at least contribute to getting the title quicker, if they drop more points.

2-0 Sunderland Women now, so that's pretty much over and won't watch the rest. Still can't believe how close it is, they only play 22 matches, and plenty of '6 pointers' coming up. I'm not actively wanting them to lose, like I would with the men's team, but I do hope that they don't go up, as it would at least be a couple of big occasions next season, even if they would be the favourites. Newcastle vs Sunderland at SJP would be class. I'd like Durham to stay up as that would be another local derby, and 4 of the 22 league matches.

Not sure whether it would be more appropriate in the NUFC Women thread, or here, obviously not directly NUFC related, but may affect them next year, and is women's football, but Sunderland still 0-0 with Durham in their match after 30 mins. Charlton, Palace, and now Birmingham are all winning, Sputhampton losing though. Crazy table 'as it stands' Edit - Sunderland have just taken the lead as I was posting, so they lead 1-0, and would go back to top of the league. Possibly against the run of play, although I haven't fully been watching it.

Yep, I think this might be the worst Sunday of TV football that I've ever seen, like ever. In most International breaks there would be some matches on Sunday, and Viaplay Xtra would have had a game or two, but that free channel has been scrapped with them soon to exit the UK market. I'm actually going to watch Sunderland vs Durham in the women's 2nd tier.

Sunderland vs Durham is on The FA Player tomorrow at 2pm. I might actually watch it. Sunderland top of the 2nd tier, but it's extremely close, and Durham are starting to look over their shoulder at the other end after no win since Dec 17th. Obviously a local derby, and a massive lack of other live matches tomorrow.

Gordon barely had a kick for the first 20 mins, but has done really well the past 10 mins.

Not great at the other end though. Rushall beat Darlington 3-2, so they are right back in a dogfight, whereas they could have gone 8 points clear. Doesn't help Blyth much either, who let in a 90+9 equaliser down at Peterbrough, who had 10 men at the time. Blyth probably just need 2 or 3 more points to be fair, as the bottom 3 look down, and I can't see all of Farsley, Rushall, and Darlington all getting past 52/53 points, but still a kick in the teeth for them.

Huge match between them and Spennymoor on Friday, at Shields. If it was at Spenny, I would have gone. Spennymoor won their 6th match in a row and have completely turned their season around and also have a chance for the playoffs. Looking like 7 teams going for the last 3 spots.

Cup tied I'd imagine. She wasn't in the squad vs Portsmouth either.

Yeah, interesting call with Bridget and Paige. PBG started off her NUFC career really well, but hasn't been amazing these past few games, and has lost her place a couple of times now. Her first touch never seems the best. I'd imagine she would have been brought in with an eye on next season, but they may now not think she's the answer. Still early days though, she's only been here like 6 or 7 matches. Cataldo, who also came from Palace, has looked really good though IMO, and I'm sure she will be fine to start next season.

Kind of, but it's obviously just a 22 game league season, rather than 46 + potentially 3 more, and no actual EFL Cup equivalent as well, so it will generally be deemed more important to the average team, plus no development sides either (I don't think).

It will be an interesting summer for sure, and I do expect a fair few changes. I can see 4-6 coming in, most of who would be expected to start. Some of the starters now will likely become squad players, and the current squad players, especially those at a certain age, will likely move on. The standard will clearly be a lot higher next year and they will certainly at least want to comfortably stay in it, and they will have the resources to give it as good a go as they can, so would be shocked if there wasn't at least 4 quality additions who are deemed above average at Championship level.

Yes, it's on iPlayer and BBC website, just me being greedy