Thank your god (if you have one) for Philippe Clement, who wasted no time in stopping the rot.
Good job too. He had no time to waste.
With no thanks to those who steered the ship up until mid-November, but with thanks abound to Clement, Stephan van der Heyden and the coaching team, daylight now exists between ourselves and the bottom three.
We currently sit in 17th with 45 points, the type of Championship limbo that we’d have given anything for just three months ago.
Yesterday (2nd February) Daniel DeFalco, also of this parish, crunched some numbers around what it has taken in the recent past to make the play-offs, the conclusion being that we probbaly need to win 9 of 11 to have any realistic chance,
Not happening, is it.
But, nevertheless, it’s still worth looking at, and seeing how far this Clement renaissance can take us in 2025-26 before we start looking at 2026-27.
The final push: Game-by-game
1. Sheffield United (H) – 11 March
Wilder’s Blades have been hit-and-miss all season, but he’s never one you want to see in a jubilant mood. Give me that hang-dog, bulldog-chewing-a-wasp look anyday. They’ll be tough to beat, no doubt, but at the moment, for us, when it clicks, it clicks, right?
- Prediction: Draw. Gritty, attritional, just how Wilder likes it. But he’ll not be smiling.
2. Preston North End (H) – 14 March
The ultimate “Championship” opponents—solid, unremarkable, and usually happy with a point away from home. But a fit ‘Parislimane’ makes anything possible and I reckon we’ll have enough to make them pay for that cabbage patch and late equaliser. (We still haven’t forgotten, Emi).
- Prediction: Win. A narrow victory to make the Barclay sing.
3. Southampton (A) – 18 March
A tough trip to St Mary’s. The Saints are flying high, and their trajectory is upward. Our form on the road has been brilliant, but by then we’ll probably have Pete Dye, the kitman, in the 10 and Doris the tealady up top on her own.
- Prediction: Loss. Lingering play-off dreams will end on the south coast … sadly but proudly.
4. Charlton Athletic (A) – 21 March
We beat them back in December, and there’s no reason we can’t do it again. The away end is already sold out, and we’ve had some good days at The Valley, along with one really horrible one. If we can keep Pete fit, we’ll win this.
- Prediction: Win. A big away day win for the travelling support.
5. Portsmouth (H) – 3 April
Coming back from the international break, we face a Pompey side who may be desperate for points to avoid the drop. We need to be professional and produce a better performance than we did against them at Carrow Road in the spring of 2025. That was horrible.
- Prediction: Win. Back-to-back wins to get us (ridiculously) believing again.
6. Millwall (A) – 6 April
Never a place for the faint-hearted, of course, but imagine The Den with ‘Wall with the scent of promotion in the air. They’re currently third and are playing some very effective, Alex Neil-style football. We often struggle when teams get in our faces, at least we used to, maybe not so much anymore.
- Prediction: Draw. A bruising afternoon in South London, but still a party-pooping point.
7. Ipswich Town (H) – 11 April
Eugh! You-know-who will be returning unless he’s picked up one of his rolled ankles or tight hamstrings. Actually, probably best all-round if he does. Let’s try not make it all about him and concentrate on those who actually want to be here and who are not weak, pathetic, treacherous little snakes. 😉
- Prediction: Draw. A nervous, frantic 1-1. I’ll take stopping their promotion charge as a small victory (obviously, I’m expecting to win, but to say it out loud would be tempting fate).
8. Bristol City (A) – 18 April
Not sure what to think. Will be a bit of a come-down after the drama and heroics of the derby, and it’s one of those ‘we’d take a point’ type afternoons, I reckon. By then, I’m expecting Pete to have done his ACL, and for Neil Adams to be our right-sided attacker and Ben Knapper at centre-back
- Prediction: Draw. Standard end-of-season stalemate.
9. Derby County (H) – 21 April
The Rams have been the surprise package, considering how unbelievably average they look every time I see them play. Which probably means they’ll beat us in bizarre circumstances. With Clement in the centre of midfield and Rob Butler at left-back, I’d take a point.
- Prediction: Draw. A tough Tuesday night, but we rescue a late point via a Butler free-kick.
10. Swansea City (H) – 25 April
Our final home game. A chance for the boys to say thank you to the fans after a rollercoaster season. Swansea are beatable, and we’ll finish our Carrow Road campaign on a high with a late Delia Smith header.
- Prediction: Win. Three points and a lap of appreciation in the sunshine.
11. Hull City (A) – 2 May
Final day. Hull are fifth and may need a result to stay in the play-off spots. While we’ll keep it competitive, the Tigers will have that extra bit of motivation that we might lack. Plus, Michael Wynn-Jones at right-back was never going to end well.
- Prediction: Loss. A defeat to end the season, but the hard work was already done.
Final tally
| Results | Count |
| Wins | 4 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 5 |
Final Points Projection: We finish on 62 points.
As Daniel pointed out, 62 points is a long way off the promotion conversation, but represents a massive recovery from where we were in November.
We’d take that, right?
