WE have two games in the space of four days and they’re both going to be extremely important and difficult.
We face Bradford first at Valley Parade today and they deservedly beat us at Roots Hall earlier on the season.
They have some very good players and it’s surprises me that they’re fighting for their lives towards the bottom of the table.
But because they’re in that situation they will add another 20 or 30 per cent to their game and it makes them dangerous opponents.
I also view them as something as a wounded animal after the bust up they had against Crawley.
A few players have been suspended for that incident but I think that will get their crowd right behind them and they have plenty of fans too so that’s something else we will have to deal with.
After that we face AFC Wimbledon at Roots Hall on Monday and I think that’s going to be a cracker of a game.
You’re never too sure what Wimbledon side are going to turn up but they’re certainly scoring goals at the moment.
They’ve had 4-4 games, 3-3, 3-2 and 5-0 as well so I think it should be an entertaining contest especially as we will be pushing for a win.
That’s what we need right now and it probably still an uphill task for us to finish in the top three.
The defeats to Bristol Rovers and Aldershot Town hurt us but it’s not over until the fat lady starts singing.
She hasn’t started just yet though and we will give everything we have until she does break in to voice.
But there is more than one way to skin a cat and if we don’t go up automatically then we will go down a different avenue.
With Crewe drawing last weekend we have an eight point gap to the teams just below the play-offs so we will go down that route if we have to and do the best we can.Winning against Cheltenham gave everyone a boost though and I thought we were the better team even when it was 11 against 11.
After they went down to 10 men I thought the players were very thoughtful in their performance and did exactly the right thing.
We created four or five other chances as well as the four goals we scored and that was a very pleasing aspect for me.
It was pleasing for Kane Ferdinand to come back in to the team with a goal as well.
Kane’s form has been quite inconsistent but you have to remember he’s only 19-years-old.
This is his first full season in the senior game and I’ve asked him to play a number of roles in some weird and wacky formations.
I actually think the position he played the other night is the one that suits him the best right now and hopefully he can carry on playing well during our remaining matches.
It was also great for Freddy Eastwood to get his first goal in the win over Cheltenham and we’re all hoping he can go on and get a few more now while he’s here.
Bilel Mohsni was on target too and he’s fitted back in to the squad without any problem at all.
We’re all now just focusing on the games we have left but there is a decision to be made on Jack Sampson’s future.
His loan from Bolton expires on April 10 and we have to decide whether or not to extend it.
When he first came in I think our training was a culture shock for him and a few niggling injuries haven’t helped either.
But I will be talking to Owen Coyle soon and deciding on what’s best to do for everyone concerned.
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