Cardiff City news 09/04/01

Mon 9th April 2001 - City will be promoted

This time next week we could be promoted. Before last Saturdays game we need 13 points from 7 games to make it mathematically impossible for the chasers to catch us. After our win and Hartlepool's loss we now need 7 points from 6 games.

It probably won't have to come to that either. 7 points needed is dependant on the chasing pack winning their games, the cannot seem to do that at the moment anyway. It is possible we could be unofficially promoted this Saturday, with City having a +24 goal advantage over Hartlepool the 'pool would need to beat our points score not equal it, if City win on Saturday and Hartlepool lose then they can only match our points if we then lose all our games and they win all theirs, they would have to turn over the goal difference as well.

Two other teams, Orient and Rochdale have out side chances.

Ignoring Chesterfield and Brighton who are currently in the top three with us here is a list of teams who can still catch us.

Cardiff are currently on 77 points with 6 games to play. Max acheiveable 95.

4th place. Hartlepool are currently on 68 points with 5 games to play. Max 83 points. City therefore need 7 points to make it mathematically impossible for Hartlepool to catch us but with goal difference 1 City win and 1 Hartlepool defeat would mean they could only draw level on points but the goal difference would make it impossible for them. Two City wins would have the same effect.

Orient with 6 games to go can make 82 points. Similar situation. Two City wins or 1 win and a defeat for Orient and they cannot catch us. If Orient draw at home to Plymouth on Tuesday this week then 1 more City win would leave Orient only able to match 80 points and City have a +35 gd on them.

Hull City can make 80 points but City are +37 better off in goals.

Blackpool can make 80 points but City are +28 better off in goals.

Rochdale can make 81 points but they have to win all 9 remaining games.

In my opinion all the planning will be futile, we are not going to blow it and City will be promoted. The soonest we can be mathematically sure and get the little p next to our name will be next Monday against Chesterfield. Most likely it will be the following weekend against York. Don't forget, it's not just about City winning the points, the other teams are losing points on a regualr basis.

The blues are going up.