The play offs.

[clash city rocker]

I know it's not the end of the world but if we fail in the play off''s it going to set us back a few years. Just one season in the prem will bring in the money we need  and hopefully relieve the pressure on our owner to start developing us into a top class club once again. Another season in the championship  with no money and possibly sales of our best players is not an attractive proposition.

[QuintonVilla]

If we don't go up this year we won't go up next year. We'll be down here for years like Leeds.

[Chris Jameson]

If we don’t go up this year I have serious doubts about us becoming one of the top clubs in Europe within the next three years or so.

[Ads]

We could really do with Derby pulling their fingers out their arses for a couple of games. The idea of Pulis ball knocking us out of the playoffs would be the exclamation mark on the last 5-6 years for us. The cap wearing oaf. Horrible.

Traore crossing for a last minute Gestede header.

Gestede is out for the season.

[Chris Jameson]

A Downing header. Even worse.

[andyh]

Well, I’m booking May 15th off work.

[Damo70]

been reading H&V all season and before as well - posted a few as well before - however my cent to add now is maybe it is an omen last time in this division and Millwall and the Boro were in the mix. Up the Villa watching from China !

The last time we went up from this division it was on goals scored as we were level with Boro on points and goal difference. Then the following season a last minute Stuart Gray equaliser against them at Villa Park at the end of April was crucial as in the end only one point separated us and them in the final table with us staying up at their expense.

[Matt Collins]

I thought it was West Ham who ran us close for survival that season?

[Damo70]

I thought it was West Ham who ran us close for survival that season?

Due to the Hillsborough disaster West Ham had two games in hand to play at the end of the season after we had played all of ours (away to Forest and Liverpool). They went to Forest on a Thursday night and a couple of Leroy Rosenior goals won the game for them 1-2. The following midweek they went to Anfield and went a goal up and at that point we were down. Fortunately for us Liverpool were still in the title race and eventually turned it around and won 5-1. But our late equaliser against Boro and West Ham losing at Anfield were the two events that kept us up. A Boro win at Villa Park that day in April or a West Ham win at Anfield that night in May would have relegated us.

[exigo]

The ticket office are going to have their work cut out that week. Likely won't even know who we're playing until late on Sunday 6th, and probably won't have the physical tickets to post out until the Tuesday. And that's just the away leg on the Saturday – whilst trying to shift 43,000 tickets for the home game.

[robbo1874]

I think if we don’t go up and probably also if we do go up, a big part of having a successful 2018/19 season will be keeping Johnstone at the club, whatever it takes. If we lose him and have to bring in a new keeper it will be a huge setback. Probably the player we can least afford to lose in the summer and I include Grealish in that assessment.

[McGraths Dry Cleaning]

I'm looking forward to the playoffs - its better to have loved and lost etc. Obvs would prefer to go up in an automatic spot but its going to be exciting however you look at it. I wouldn't fancy us against Barcelona but I still think the likes of Fulham, Cardiff and Millwall are beatable. If we're still in the Championship next season next season we'll have a new manager - maybe one that will have a strategy, vision and ambition to transform this club.

[frank black]

I'm looking forward to the playoffs - its better to have loved and lost etc. Obvs would prefer to go up in an automatic spot but its going to be exciting however you look at it. I wouldn't fancy us against Barcelona but I still think the likes of Fulham, Cardiff and Millwall are beatable. If we're still in the Championship next season next season we'll have a new manager - maybe one that will have a strategy, vision and ambition to transform this club.

I think Mr Bruce will remain baring a thrashing in the playoffs.

[john e]

If we don’t go up this year I have serious doubts about us becoming one of the top clubs in Europe within the next three years or so.

Splitter

[Richard E]

I thought it was West Ham who ran us close for survival that season?

Due to the Hillsborough disaster West Ham had two games in hand to play at the end of the season after we had played all of ours (away to Forest and Liverpool). They went to Forest on a Thursday night and a couple of Leroy Rosenior goals won the game for them 1-2. The following midweek they went to Anfield and went a goal up and at that point we were down. Fortunately for us Liverpool were still in the title race and eventually turned it around and won 5-1. But our late equaliser against Boro and West Ham losing at Anfield were the two events that kept us up. A Boro win at Villa Park that day in April or a West Ham win at Anfield that night in May would have relegated us.

Point of order, Mr Speaker. Liverpool went 1-0 up and West Ham equalised. So we were only partly rather than totally bricking it.