Sheff Utd will drop points. That I don't doubt. They looked laboured again yesterday and they won't win all 3.

Leeds could have afforded a loss out the last 4. It should have been Villa if anyone. Not Wigan. Now we have to win the next 3. I think if we win all 3, we go up. And if we do that, I also think we will be 2 points off 1st so they'll still be regret in the Wigan result.

But Leeds have put themselves in a tough place. Brentford and Villa are difficult games.

Agreed. I think Sheffield will drop points Monday but can we get something at Brentford?

We might just find it easier against a villa side who are cemented in the top six and not wanting to over exert themselves.

It’s gonna be rocky but that’s what we do at ER,

I hate predictions but I think we can take 6pts, its the Villa that are on fire and they could be bad for us!..

Brentford are the 4th best home team in the league. Always thought they are a good side when I've seen them, dropped off a bit without Dean Smith. But we can beat them.

Villa on a great run. I know 9 wins in a row is always incredible in this league, but if you do look at the run of fixtures, I think they are all games you would probably bet they would win. That's the only positive I can take, because they are on fire.

If Villa have the choice they need to be smart. Who would they rather face in the playoff final, Leeds or Sheff U? Not an easy choice they lost 4-1 at Bramall Lane and obviously had the crazy draw at Villa Park.

comment by Sir Kenneth Bates (U8238)
posted 5 seconds ago
If Villa have the choice they need to be smart. Who would they rather face in the playoff final, Leeds or Sheff U? Not an easy choice they lost 4-1 at Bramall Lane and obviously had the crazy draw at Villa Park.
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Villa look like they will play West Brom in the first round whatever happens. I can’t see 6th catching either of them.

So their choice is to try and finish 4th so they are away first - which is assumed an advantage. However the away goals rule does not count.

As long as they can’t be caught by 6th and hopefully can’t catch 4th then they might have little need to beat us.

All hypothetical but it keeps me sane. Had the worst nights sleep ever last night!

Sad at 63 that it still means so much?

Good point SKB
Villa might even want to finish 6th so avoiding wba

comment by Promotion 2018 (U6611)
posted 1 minute ago
Good point SKB
Villa might even want to finish 6th so avoiding wba

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I think his point was that beating us would mean they would give Sheff 2nd spot and avoid them that way.

Then they might meet a demoralised Leeds in the final - or a fired up one if we can get there.

Not sure home leg first is an advantage really.

Both Semi finals we won, we played at home first. And the one we lost we played away first (Millwall). I can't see Villa putting too much thought into it really, they will want to win all 3 of their remaining games and finish as strongly as possible. It is likely they will have an eye on the playoffs and won't be fighting as much as say Wigan did yesterday, whether that affects their performance enough is another matter.

I reckon Leeds Villa at Wembley would be very close in terms of betting odds, Leeds as slight favs?

If Sheff Utd meet Villa in the final I reckon you'd see Villa as favs to go up.

Are Leeds consistently better in terms of possession than Sheff Utd. Big Wembley pitch, Leeds not the best opposition to face.

I realise it is all very marginal!

The team that finishes 3rd should be favourites to win the playoffs. 6 times out of the last 11, 3rd has gone up. 3 times it's been 5th and 1 a piece for 4th and 6th.

This Villa team look dangerous but I think it's sort of similiar to the Fulham team from 2016/17. Everyone said they were the best team in the playoffs when they finished 6th because they had their strongest run of form at the end of the season, like Villa are now. But over the season, Leeds/Sheff Utd and West Brom have been better.

I'm going to try to stop thinking about football now, driving myself crazy

Stoopo I understood that’s why I said good point. I just took it one step further
At this moment I would want to avoid villa and wba and play sheffu
I think Villa would rather avoid us in the play offs rather than sheffu
I just hope we avoid villa and wba in the semis if we don’t get 2nd.

It makes no difference who we meet, it's all about having the mental steel to win games at an intense and crucial part of the season. Can Bielsa make these players believe enough. The fans have been behind and done their part. If they can't find the way to win from all that possession and chances, then do they really deserve it ?.

comment by Promotion 2018 (U6611)
posted 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
Stoopo I understood that’s why I said good point. I just took it one step further
At this moment I would want to avoid villa and wba and play sheffu
I think Villa would rather avoid us in the play offs rather than sheffu
I just hope we avoid villa and wba in the semis if we don’t get 2nd.
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Villa won’t risk finishing sixth! They will either finish 3rd or 4th and will meet WBA unless us or Sheff completely collapse.

So I think we will either go up in second or end up playing one of Bristol City, Boro or Derby in the semis.

It’s a lottery whoever we play.

It is possible that villa can guarantee 6th with 2 matches left.
I think that villa and wba will want to avoid each other.
Also possible wba can finish 3rd.
But I agree at the moment it looks like villa will play wba but lots can happen.

It’s a lottery whoever we play.

No it isn't, it's if you're good enough or not

We were more than good enough in 1973 and 1975
Sometimes luck is against you
Sometimes cheats prosper etc