We need to be realistic about this, yesterday we were beaten by a better team, who were more organised and done a good job.
The playoffs would be a nightmare, however we have 17 games left, and most teams have 16 games left.
Realistically we are 4pts and 5pts clear of our biggest automatic promotion opponents, and we have a game in hand. Winning on Tuesday is very important as MK Dons are away to Colchester who you would expect to win, and Sheff Utd are away to Notts County, again games you expect to see them win.
Should all three of us win, we will go into Saturday, top 5pts clear of MKD with a game in hand, and 7pts clear of Swindon on the same games. Preston would be 11 behind us with a game in hand, and 16pts ahead of Sheff Utd with them a game in hand of us.
Getting 3pts on Tuesday will be crucial as realistically it will have MK Dons and Swindon nervy knowing they are adrift of us with Preston and Sheff Utd breathing right down their necks. It will cause they to get nervy but it could take the pressure off our players as people will start to view it as a 4 way race for 2nd, rather than a 5 way race for 2 places.
Doncaster & Gillingham will also be eyeing up Oldham's 6th spot as well, with both in form and with them facing Port Vale & Yeovil this weekend , Oldham won't find it easy away at Orient. This could mean a good scrap for that final playoff spot, but you know it will be an in form team to take it.
Knowing the Playoffs will consist of any four of Mk Dons, Swindon, Preston, Sheff Utd, Oldham, Doncaster, Gillingham, Bradford & Peterborough could be tricky and in reality I wouldn't fancy us over two legs against Swindon, Preston, Sheff Utd, Doncaster, Bradford or Gillingham so the play offs really shouldn't be looked at.
We again showed without Smith we are going to be vulnerable up front, we need to fill that striker gap sooner rather than later.
We play Doncaster away in 3 games time, we need to take 3pts Tuesday and another 3pts against Colchester, as we will go to Donny at least 5pts clear, especially with Rochdale no easy game on the 28th and after that we have no Matt Smith.
Luckily Orient, Crawley & Yeovil follow and in reality we should take 7-9pts from those 3 games, and doing that we would still be 5-6pts clear at the top at least, which by then the players should have pressure averted, with 10 games left, of which 6 are very winnable.
So this next 9 days is crucial, and we must win Tuesday and Saturday in order to give ourselves some distance at the top and make the contest for automatic look a 4 team scrap for one place, as Doncaster will be very tough and we want to hold a good advantage going into the 3 games where in reality 7-9pts looks on the cards.
The next 6 games are massive, and realistically 13/14pts looks likely, but we need to take advantage of some tricky matches for our opponents and get at least 12 points.
But 6 from the next 2 games is crucial to put the pressure on our rivals and keep the gap solid.
