PROMOTION?

I would love for us to go up by way of the autos , but the playoffs would be an end to a great season in league 2.Ok if things go our way and we do make it into League 1, I would be over the moon , but once again we would be punching above our weight in League 1 and maybe scraping it out. But I would see this as a great cushion for the Brewers, to be even further away from the BSP, which to me is a blackhole any League football club would not want to be sucked into.
Come on Brewers keep your heads and just keep on doing what you have been doing so far this season and we could be living a dream,

"UP THE BREWERS"

I would prefer to go up automatically but would take a play off place,not sure my nerves could take the play-offs though !
Not really worried about league 1, we have nothing to lose and as stated we would be further away from the BSP.
I believe Gary Rowett and Kevin Summerfield are astute enough and have the contacts to keep us there.
The next 7 matches are probably the most important in the history of BAFC with what is potentially possible for us to achieve in the future.

The very fact that this question is being asked is testimony to the success of the season so far.

In my view (and I'm trying to be objective here) there are realistically 6 teams after 2 automatic spots, Port Vale down to Fatty Evans' Rotherham. Gillingham will surely go up and hopefully will have the League 2 Championship sewn up before we play them in the last match of the season.

An automatic spot is within our grasp. Whilst it's a great day out at Wembley if you get that far (particularly if you win!) the play-offs are a lottery. How many times do you see the team finishing in the last play off spot on a surge of good form carry it through and take the prize, Crewe last season being a case in point. It is an earner though which can help with building for the following season.

Looking at fixtures the Brewers have a better run in than most. Port Vale away on Friday 5th April is a big game but even a defeat there would not be the end of everything as we know it. Vale play Cheltenham this Friday then Cheltenham are at home to Northampton and Rotherham are at Gillingham on Easter Monday, points are going to be dropped.

Assuming it's still up for grabs in the last couple of games Vale play Northampton in their penultimate game and Cheltenham are at Exeter.

Where is this stream of consciousness leading? If the Brewers maintain decent form there is potential for others to fall away. We all know that it's only your own performances that are in your hands and that's where the focus has to be.

As to the issue of survival if promotion became a reality there are teams in the lower third of League 1 with less quality than the Brewers. You just have to give it a go! Even if it all goes badly you've had the experience. In 1993/94 I travelled a 250 mile round trip for every Swindon home game knowing that I was probably going to see a home defeat (and there were quite a few) and knowing that relegation was a certainty but even now I can recall the thrill of our only season in the Premiership and some amazing moments. It's what it's all about.

Great article that dontouchmyboots, puts it all into perspective !

Yes, a great response Don. Brimming with optimism and factual information. Votes for Don in our dressing room? He has my vote.

I would be scared stupid in the play offs. It is a lottery - as has been said. Remember when we were 2-0 against Cambridge with 14 minutes to go in that conference play-off? A penalty that wasn't (ball to hand from 2 inches away) and a scandalous dive from McEvilly. 2-2.

In a way playing teams in the top half is easier right now. Playing teams in the lower reaches is tricky because many of them miraculously become world beaters. I think we will lose at Accrington for a start.

Some great perspectives here and really gets me thinking.

I'm a one game at a time bloke! I hate the fact our game was cancelled on Saturday and Gillingham got another three points - on top of that most of the league play on Friday and we don't play until Saturday so our league position could look precarious if we don't get the three points.

Win all our home games is easier said than done, we've been on such a brilliant run that it must come to an end sometime, mustn't it?

The only good of having the game cancelled is the players get an extra week to chill and put in some good training.

We cannot let up, we must go for it every game. GR recognised that playing one up front just didn't do it for us, so as long as he stays with the 442 and has a go I do believe we might just make it, and if we can get a result against Port Vale we could actually get second spot.

My brain is melting, help me

One gets the feeling that God is a Brewer.

Looking at the foot of the table it seems worse and more tightly packed than the last 2 seasons when we were part of that.

Interesting debate ,just to mention i looked at all outstanding fixtures and tried to guage scorlines and it left Gillingham clear winners on 86pts ,with Port Vale 76pts , Northampton 76pts , Burton 75pts , Cheltenham 75pts ,Exeter 74pts Rotherrham 74pts so should we get five wins from our remaining seven games we should go up but that is a big ask ,and draws will play a part key fixture is Port Vale away , but they are all key games , just imagine having to beat Gillingham on our final day to clinch an automatic spot ! i predicted a score draw in that one ,god im not sure my nerves will cope!

For once i can only see positives.
We will go up automatically.
Home for vital but we will pick up enough points away to see us there.