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Bolton Wanderers: The Sums

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Statty Sunday Morning Fun!

Hope everyone`s having a lovely lazy Sunday in the Vital Bolton family. I`ll leave the Middlesbrough match report to my new co-editor, BWFC_85 (who has been just fantastic with his posts in recent weeks), but I thought I`d give you an insight into my very statty morning!

I HAVE PREDICTED THE REST OF THE REGULAR SEASON.

Yes, that is only two games. However, with the seven teams directly below Champions Cardiff not sure where they are going to finish, and all the twists and turns that just one Championship can provide, it`s not as easy as you might think. I`ll start by declaring that the current top eight will finish in the top eight come 4th May. There are only three teams that could mathematically break in at this late stage; Birmingham, Charlton and Millwall. However, looking at their fixtures, especially Millwall`s congested calendar, I am willing to rule them out.

I`ve also decided that Hull will finish second. They play Barnsley away, which I expect them to win, and Cardiff at home on the final day of the season, which after the Bluebird`s blip the week earlier (we`ll get to that), will be a defeat. This will put them on 81 points, enough to finish above Watford whatever their results. So, we have six teams to place between third and eighth; where will they finish? Let`s look at each team individually.

WATFORD – currently on 74pts
Leicester (A) – WIN
Leeds (H) – WIN

Watford have been flying high for the majority of the season, and I see them putting a strong finish to the end of the year. They will win both matches and finish on 80pts and comfortably in third.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION – currently on 69pts
Leeds (A) – WIN
Wolves (H) – DRAW

Brighton are looking good after their 6-1 trouncing of Blackpool yesterday, and I expect them to carry that into their game against drowning Leeds. However, I expect them to get a point at best against Wolves on the final day. The fake Wanderers will be fighting for their lives in their second successive relegation scrap, and I expect them to push Brighton right out of their comfort zone. They should finish the season on 73pts (no spoilers as to where they will finish yet).

CRYSTAL PALACE – currently on 67pts
Blackburn (A) – LOSE
Millwall (A) – LOSE
Peterborough (H) – WIN

Palace have been flagging as of late, and I don`t expect to see them get promoted this season. Blackburn will claim all three points when they play next Saturday, and I expect Millwall to beat them three days later. However, I see them putting in a good performance at Selhurst Park against Peterborough, and finishing the season on 70pts.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST – currently on 64pts
Millwall (A) – LOSE
Leicester (H) – WIN

Forest have just started to go off the boil after a spectacular run that coincided with the return of Billy Davies as manager. They will lose narrowly to Millwall, but I think they`ll finish off Leicester to end the season on 67pts.

LEICESTER CITY – currently on 65pts
Watford (H) – LOSE
Forest (A) – LOSE

Leicester may have enjoyed a victory against us in the midweek, but I think that was the final victory in a (footballing cliché alert) season of two halves for one of the favourites for promotion this season. They will lose to Watford, and I expect them to lose to Forest to end up on 65pts and narrowly outside the playoff places.

So, where does that leave us?

THE MIGHTY BOLTON WANDERERS – currently on 66pts
Cardiff (A) -WIN
Blackpool (H) -WIN

Oooh, I`m confident. Cardiff players will be waking up this morning with the mightiest of hangovers, and I expect the hangovers to keep coming throughout the rest of the week. Meanwhile, Dougie`s men will be training like all the Rocky montages rolled into one, and we will gatecrash their title party with a well-earnt victory. We`ll follow this up by beating Blackpool comfortably on the final day, to land us 72 points and into the playoff places.

So, the table:




This pits us against Brighton over two legs, then a showdown against Watford for the return to the big league. Bring it on!

Look forward to BWFC_85`s match report and a guest post tomorrow, but from me, have a great rest of your weekend! THE WHITES ARE GOING UP.

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