starting on Saturday, by the end of which there are only going to be 12 games of the season left. Very testing matches for Pools as well, Leyton Orient being what looks to be the only exception. If we don't beat them, then the pressure will be well and truly on. I hope we can muster 6 or 7 points (and 3 of those really have to come against Orient otherwise we won't get that total) and if we do that then I'll feel confident of survival going into the last 12 matches.

I bet we win a game you're not expecting us to!

aye - that usually happens with Pools!!!

We have 17 games left and I reckon we need 6 wins to make sure of survival. Out of the 8 remaining home games I think we can only realistically expect to win 4 of them, which leaves us needing to pick up a few wins away from home. As we all know our away form is woeful so its going to be squeeky bum time I think.

Lets home our forwards start to click and our defence shapes up or we could struggle...

The bad news is we're one point behind where we were this time last year.
The good news is we're two points further from a relegation slot.
The bad news is games in hand are against us this time round.

But, confirming what MJ suggests, I can't see a sudden outbreak of championship form from the bottom four, so the games in hand don't matter so much.

the "not losing to those teams below us" adage didn't apply in our away games vs Orient and Brighton!!!
We have to sort that out for when we visit Yeovil, Swindon and Cheltenham!! Plus anyone else I've missed!!!
And, more importantly, not losing to late bas-tard goals!!!
I agree about the bottom three and their away form - it's awful. That is what will keep those teams in trouble.
Luckily for us, the bottom four all play each other this Saturday, so draws all round would be useful - especially if we can somehow nick something at MK (although I think we're going to get whupped 3 or 4 nil)