Planet Swans ArchivesThe belief that we can make it has been resurrected on Easter weekend with the securing of a playoff place for the Swans. It is a great relief for many, including myself, to see that we did not have to go down to the last day needing a result especially after the heartbreak of missing out to blackpool on the final day of last season, Having that feeling that we had done it in the dying seconds only to see that linesman flag go up to rule out Trundles goal for handball was hard to take. It is great to see how far we have come in the last year and that we have continually improved every season at this level despite the challenges our team has faced.
In the last two games the Swans have shown the steel we need to see going into the playoffs. We improved our away form and kept a clean sheet against a physical Portsmouth. At home we totally dominated possession, played some beautiful football and most importantly took our chances against Ipswich.
So the time has come to look at the playoffs, as I'm sure you all know the playoff semi finals are constructed as follows. 3rd plays 6th, 4th plays 5th over two legs. The teams in 3rd and 4th play their first legs away as this is deemed to be an advantage.
The table with two games to go –
1st QPR 85
2nd Norwich 80
3rd Cardiff 79
4th Swansea 74
5th Reading 73
6th Forest 69
With The Swans five points behind 3rd place and five points clear of 6th place it looks extremely likely that we will finish in either 4th or 5th. Reading currently sit in 5th in a similar position to us, unable to get up to third and four points clear of 6th place. So taking that into consideration our first round in the playoff battle for the premier league will be Reading (probably).
Reading are a team in who have been in great form and on a run reminiscent to Blackpool at this stage last season. Their defeat at the hands of Sheffield Utd in their last game may be a blip or may be the start of the tide turning on their form, hopefully the later. Our record this season against them has been solid. We have done the double over them and not conceded a goal with two 1-0 victories. The fact that Brendan Rodgers was manager there in the not so distant past can only only add to the motivation for him and the team to beat them in the chase for top tier football.
Swansea are most likely Reading bound unless the FA fancy a bit more drama by throwing a points deduction at QPR on for their rule breaking on the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin by 6th May of course.
Hopefully our convincing win against Ipswich is the start of a run that will take us all the way. As for who we will meet should we get to Wembley, well, that's a lot less clearer. One thing is certain we should fear no-one….Swansea V Cardiff final anyone….?
