Due to
Forest’s recent horrific run of results, I’ve deemed it necessary to see
whether people’s concerns about relegation have any substance. After a 2-1
defeat at Reading, Forest are currently 9 points off the relegation places with
six games remaining.
As It
Stands Table:
Forest are currently in 17th
position in the Championship, 9 points above the relegation zone.
Forest’s
Run-In:
Current
Form: WLDLLL
Remaining
Fixtures:
Brighton
(H)
Rotherham
(A)
Blackburn (H)
Fulham (A)
Wolves (H)
MK Dons (A)
It is easy
to see why Forest fans are concerned about relegation due to recent poor
results and the remaining fixtures. The way Forest are playing at the moment it
is difficult to see where they will collect any more points to secure their
safety. They realistically need to get to the 50 point mark to
make sure they
are most definitely safe.
Brighton at
the City Ground on Monday night, following several dire home performances,
looks a very tough ask especially as they are still very much in the fight for
automatic promotion. The likes of Anthony Knockaert and Tomer Hemed have been
in superb form lately and will be looking forward to the prospect of facing
Forest’s makeshift defence. Forest also face other teams who are battling the
drop including Rotherham (A), Fulham (A) and MK Dons (A). These will be very
difficult fixtures against three teams who are all capable of picking up
results on their day. Forest will have to be up for a scrap to get any points
off these teams, which they have not been up to in recent weeks. The two
fixtures I believe Forest will have the best chance of getting something out of
are Blackburn (H) and Wolves (H), two fixtures against teams who have little to
play for. Both are safe and have no chance of promotion and neither are
particularly fantastic teams. Forest should collect enough points in these
fixtures to make sure that the last day of the season trip to MK Dons is a
relaxing one.
MK Dons’s
Run-In:
Current
Form: WDDLLL
Remaining
Fixtures:
Rotherham
(H)
Preston (A)
Sheffield
Wednesday (A)
Brentford
(H)
Ipswich (A)
Forest (H)
Last night,
MK Dons missed a fantastic opportunity to put pressure on those above them as
they threw away a 1-0 defeat to lose 2-1 to Wolves at home. A win, would have put
them just 6 points behind Forest and 3 points off safety. However, they are
still capable of picking up results and will still believe that they can beat
the drop.
MK Dons and Wolves players battle during their Championship encounter last night.
They
mathematically need to win 3 and draw 1 to overtake Forest, due to Forest’s
superior goal difference. This is also including the fact that Forest would
have to lose every single one of their remaining fixtures. I believe the next
two fixtures against Rotherham (H) and Preston (A) will decide their fate, with
the Rotherham fixture of Saturday being particularly crucial. If Rotherham beat
them on Saturday, I can’t see the Dons avoiding the drop. Fixtures against
Sheffield Wednesday (A), Brentford (H) and Ipswich (A) are all also very
difficult fixtures even if they do manage to pull off wins against both
Rotherham and Preston. I believe if Dons do have a chance of surviving, it will
go down to the final fixture against Forest. By then Forest themselves will
hopefully already be safe as Dons would have to be within 2 points of them for
Forest to have a chance of being relegated. By looking at both their current
form and remaining fixtures, I find it difficult to see MK Dons catching Forest
before the end of the season even if Forest lose every match.
Charlton’s
Run-In:
Current
Form: WDWLWD
Remaining
Fixtures:
QPR (A)
Derby (H)
Bolton (A)
Brighton
(H)
Leeds (A)
Burnley (H)
Charlton
have put together a decent run of results in recent weeks, leading Forest fans
to think they are the team to watch rather than MK Dons. Last night they got a
very good point in a 0-0 draw at play-off chasing Ipswich which leaves them 7
points off safety.
Charlton players and supporters celebrate their late victory against Birmingham City at the weekend.
Charlton
similarly to both Forest and MK Dons appear to have a very tricky run-in. They
first face a London derby on Saturday as they travel to Loftus Road to face
QPR, which will be seen as a winnable game. They then face Derby at home who
have recently struggled away from home for results and this again could be an
opportunity for Charlton to close the gap further. They then face Bolton (H)
which if they have won the previous two, will be a must win if they are to
avoid the drop. Their last 3 fixtures of the season are very difficult as they
face Brighton (H), Leeds (A) and Burnley (H). Brighton and Burnley are both
fighting for automatic promotion and Elland Road is never an easy place to go
to. Charlton’s run-in makes it unlikely they will be able to catch Forest as
they are currently 10 points behind. Even 3 wins and 1 draw wouldn’t be enough
as Forest have a far superior goal difference. This means that Charlton would
need to get results in those last 3 fixtures even if they win the other 3 in
order to catch Forest. That is also including the fact that Forest would again
have to lose every single game. This makes it seem unlikely to me that Charlton
will be able to catch Forest despite their recent upturn in form.
