The Championship Enters The Twilight Zone

Right, to business.

Hull are now a top six club and the T6H2H Table now looks like this:

1. WBA P8 W4 D2 L2 F17 A11 Pts 14
2. Charlton P9 W3 D4 L2 F12 A12 Pts 13
3. City P9 W3 D4 L2 F8 A9 Pts 13
4. Stoke P8 W2 D4 L2 F8 A7 Pts 10
5. Hull P9 W1 D4 L4 F8 A12 Pts 7
6. Watford P7 W1 D4 L4 F5 A7 Pts 7

Three of the remaining five fixtures between the current top six take place before the end of March, starting tomorrow when Stoke go to Watford. Stoke have won two of their last six aways but have been outscored by 6-9, Watford haven't lost any of their last six homes and have only conceded two goals whilst scoring eight.

The best result for City would be a Watford win or a draw. The 'Hornets' are the bookies favourites but if it was available I'd have a bet on how many birds in flight get hit by the ball. Watford were here on Tuesday and what a bunch of hoofers they were. Stoke aren't exactly well known as masters of the short passing game either.

We've got Plymouth. They've lost three of their last six aways, we're unbeaten at home since November and they've not won here since September 1931.

Make of that what you will.

Congratulations to WBA on belting the Gas 5-1 at The Mem to reach the semi finals of the FA Cup. Ordinarily that would be an achievement, but it's tempered slightly by the fact that there are two other Championship teams in the semi finals...Barnsley and Cardiff. One of them will reach the final - and there's a very real prospect that it could be an all Championship final if WBA beat Portsmouth.

Outstanding Baggies v Pompey fact: the last time West Brom won the cup (in 1968), they beat Portsmouth 2-1 in the fifth round. The season before was the last time Cardiff played Barnsley in the cup, Cardiff won the third round tie after a replay.

So here's my take: we beat Plymouth, Watford beat Stoke and our lead increases.

Then we go to Cardiff. More after the game tomorrow.

The Giddy Heights

Exactly a year ago I was worried about getting out of League 1. Having suffered through several seasons of failure via automatic promotion and the play offs it was nerve wracking to be doing so well. Everything turned out well in the end.


In August - like a lot of other City fans - I expected this season to be about consolidation. I thought mid table would be fine, perhaps with a cup run.


If we beat Hull today we go top of the Championship. We're currently second behind Stoke City and although I don't have a programme near me I think I'm correct in saying that we've not been out of the top five all season.


I did a head to head analysis this time last year and here's the same thing for this season. This is based on the top six playing each other:


1. WBA P7 W4 D2 L1 F16 A9 Pts 14
2. Stoke City P8 W3 D3 L2 F11 A9 Pts 12
3. Plymouth Argyle P6 W2 D2 L2 F9 A9 Pts 8
4. Charlton Athletic P7 W2 D2 L3 F9 A11 Pts 8
5. City P6 W2 D2 L2 F6 A8 Pts 8
6. Watford P6 W0 D3 L3 F4 A9 Pts 3

Top Six v Bottom 3:

1. WBA 21pts
2. Stoke 21 pts
3. City 17pts
4. Watford 16pts
5. Charlton 14pts
6. Colchester 13pts (interesting!)
7. Plymouth 12pts
8. Scunthorpe 10pts
9. Sheffield Wednesday 7pts

Comparison between the two tables seems to indicate the following:

* Watford are punching above their weight at the moment
* Colchester may be too good to go down
* WBA should win promotion
* Plymouth are erratic

Remaining games as follows:


Today: WBA v Plymouth

4th March: Charlton v City, Plymouth v Colchester, Sheffield Wednesday v WBA

11th March: City v Watford, Scunthorpe v Plymouth

15th March: City v Plymouth, Watford v Stoke

21st March: Charlton v WBA

22nd March: Plymouth v Watford

29th March: Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke, WBA v Colchester

5th April: Plymouth v Charlton

12th April: WBA v Watford, Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth

19th April: Stoke v City

26th April: Colchester v Stoke, Watford v Scunthorpe


So basically the four games after today (including Leicester next Saturday) are absolutely huge. It's interesting to note that this is a remarkably similar situation to last season and the experience City got last year may be invaluable - in some respects we're actually doing better than we did against top six teams in League 1 during 2006/2007. We've lost fewer games and have conceded fewer goals although to be fair it's also worth pointing out that we've scored fewer.


Some more interesting things about the top six head to head games...


WBA are undefeated at home, so are Stoke. Two of WBA's last three games against the current top six are at home, Stoke have only one left (yeah, City)


Plymouth, Charlton and Watford haven't won at home. Watford only have one opportunity left while Plymouth and Charlton have two.


Stoke and Watford haven't won away. Stoke's last away game against the current top six is at Watford, the Hornets still have to travel to City and WBA.


City have the tightest home defence in these games (two goals conceded), Watford have the worst (seven). WBA have scored the most home goals (nine, including four against City and Charlton), Watford and City have only scored twice at home against other top six clubs,


Watford have the tightest away defence (two goals), Charlton have the worst away defence (seven goals). WBA have scored the most goals away from home (seven), Watford have only managed two.


Most common result: 1-1, four times

Home wins: seven (biggest: WBA 4 Bristol City 1) accounting for 35%
Draws: seven (again, 35%)
Away wins: six (biggest: Watford 0, WBA 3), 30% of the games so far


No team has won both games against any opponents (yet).

So what's going to happen?

I'd love to see City go up again. Three of the top six have been in the Premier League in the last four years and the pressure is on them to get back there, not us. Plymouth have never played in the top tier and Stoke haven't been up there since 1985, five years since we departed.

One thing I've not mentioned yet is the potential impact Bristol Rovers might have on all this. Without spending any time on the full story, WBA have to travel to the Mem for an FA Cup quarter final in a couple of weeks that I fully expect West Brom to win.

So what will the prospect of an FA Cup semi final at Wembley have on their league form? The games are supposed to take place on April 5th, the day they're supposed to be away at Blackpool.

But back to the first paragraph of this section. Here are the outcomes:

* Guaranteed Championship football next season (already achieved)

* Miss out on the play offs on the last day

* Playoffs, but lose in the first round

* Playoffs, but lose at Wembley

* Automatic promotion as play off winners

* Automatic promotion as runners up

* Automatic promotion to the Premier League as Football League Champions (and I can't believe I just wrote that)

I'd like the last one best. I have absolutely no idea yet what will happen, but the romantic version is this:

I went to see the New York Giants play the Miami Dolphins last October. I was wandering around the outside of New Wembley when I saw a Peter Carol coach in the car park - for those of you that don't know, that's the company that runs coaches for City. My immediate thought:

'It's early. It's not May yet.'

So the play off final v Stoke, eight years after they beat us in the Auto Windscreens at the old stadium.

This time...WE win.

It'll be 100 years in 2009

Since City reached the Cup Final; and it's a record that won't be broken this season either. We're out: we lost on penalties to a very ordinary Middlesbrough side who will now face WBA on Saturday. We travel to Blackpool, who also got knocked this evening by Norwich.

Madame Zaza predicts: Middlesbrough won't win the FA Cup. In a bizarre Zaza-esque moment (bizazarre?) I put a couple of quid on Mark Viduka scoring the first goal tonight at 4/1: I got my stake back as he was somewhat hilariously listed as a non-runner.

Another World

At 3:45pm on Saturday, I was convincing myself that although progress in the FA Cup was a bonus, the bread and butter was getting promotion. City were 2-0 down at half time to Middlesbrough.

Just over an hour later, we were still in it. Two goals in six minutes, one of which was so sublime that the BBC have included it here. Last night, our game was featured on 'Match Of The Day'; at the end - over the credits and the music which will be forever associated with going to bed - was Scott Murray running towards the East End after scoring and then Gary Johnson applauding the fans in the Atyeo Stand when he left the pitch.

And yes, I was singing when Scott scored.

Here then, is a glimpse of another world. City are on 'Match Of The Day', Ashton Gate is full and there's a fight back that will be talked about for years.



And to finish off, here's LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell making a big play against Ole Miss. All may be revealed in New York City in April.

Instant Roundup

Middlesbrough at home at 3:00pm in the fourth round of the FA Cup! The ticket situation has been ridiculous but I should have expected that. The Johnstone's Paint Trophy is also within striking distance after a 2-0 win over Brighton on Tuesday. Not only that, the point gap has been overcome at the top of Division 3 where City are now second on goal difference.

Colts v Bears in the Superbowl next weekend. Referring back to this post, it's now definitely Peyton Manning.


Cut that meat! Cut that meat!

The Raiders have a new coach. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lane Kiffin.

Florida beat Ohio State to win the National Championship. Here's your standard game highlight clip with obligatory rock soundtrack:



Whereas this is a really good photo essay:



There are some names on that list that will be playing on Sundays. The scary thing about Florida: Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow are still young.

Troy Smith isn't exactly wowing the pro scouts, I will endeavour to find out what Mel Kiper thinks...

'I think my hair isn't bouffant enough in this picture.'

I've started ranking pitchers for the fantasy baseball league I play in, so winter is all but over. But before it's time to check the scores of West Coast games in progress when I wake up in Britain, there are a few things left to sort out. I'll put some Superbowl thoughts together and attempt some kind of recap over the stuff I've posted so far but now it's pretty much over to the rest of the football season.

So from March 1962, here's some film of City getting stuffed 5-0 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The footage isn't great...but the song is. Enjoy it!


'Oh I do like to see a game of football/When Saturday afternoon comes round...'

All you can ever want

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Coventry 0, City 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NFL is coming to London!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Will play...'

Two parter today that is going to be split into 'BG' and 'AG' (Before and After Gillingham - with a soft 'G', like a 'J') with the distinct possibility that the AG section may contain delirious ranting.

Half the excitement of the FA Cup is not knowing who you're going to playing next. This concept seems to be obligatory in the Bowl Championship series in College Football because there have been some very interesting results from the USA overnight: USC lost to UCLA, throwing the entire BCS series into absolute confusion (especially as Notre Dame beat UCLA). For what it's worth, here's a very quick overview using my take on how things should shake out:

Florida v Ohio State in the Championship game...because the best blogs about college football are Tressel's World and Every Day Should Be Saturday. I've got a spreadsheet I knocked up a couple of weeks ago that does some headline analysis of schedule strength, but I can't find it now - it did seem to suggest that USC/UCLA and Florida/Arkansas would be crucial to finding out who Ohio State would be playing - and it's turned out that way, as Florida won the SEC.

Of course, the next week is going to give the opportunity to the world and his wife to have an opinion about who should be in the title game. To some extent it doesn't matter, because as long as the game itself is as good as last year's was I don't care who wins as long as it's not Ohio State.


When it's all over this year, this one will be worth watching again - great fun.

Oh and Wake Forest won the ACC. Jim Grobe seems to be a consensus Coach of The Year; I can't imagine that this real life Cinderella story won't be registering some degree of interest in Tuscaloosa when the folks down there read their papers this morning.

Thus endeth the 'BG' section today. I have a 1:00pm Kick Off to attend.

I hope we win today. Third Round, Third Round, Third Round...

After AG begins here...

One of the best things about having friends that are football fans is that sometimes the following scenario happens: after having avoided each other's teams for the best part of thirty years, fate brings you together.

This afternoon, having watched City storm into a three goal half time lead courtesy of a Phil Jevons hat-trick, I spent the last ten minutes worrying that Gillingham were going to snatch an equaliser to make it 4-4 and possibly steal what modest FA Cup dreams I have away from me. We won (but the Gillingham goals were sloppy) and after a trip to the newsagents I got home in time to watch the draw for the Third Round.

'...will play Coventry City...'

As soon as the initial...well, shock and bewilderment actually...had subsided (about a nanosecond) I immediately shouted 'Dave!' and tried to find his phone number. For you see, Dave is a Coventry fan; when I rang him he said he knew it was me and that it was about time our teams played each other. I'll attempt to find out when this was, but I suspect the 1979/80 season when Bristol City were still in Division 1.

There are a number of angles to this game already and as it's more than a month to go I'll be attempting to give some detail about them later: but two things are significant. With the assistance of the mustachioed chin wagger above, both clubs were able to escape relegation at the end of 1976/77 season. More recently, Louis Carey had a season so unremarkable at Cov that they sold him back to us.

Well, we got a home tie (thanks Ricky Hatton) against a team that's in a higher division than us (thanks Amir Khan) so I can't complain. It could have been worse...Liverpool v Arsenal...LOL.

He wouldn't have got us a home draw with the gloves on.