We have a better goal difference than no-one except the bottom two - and without a miracle they're both out of the relegation picture anyway.

I'm still hopeful with 8 games to go for everyone, but on my forecast chart there are banana skins all over the place with no-one having an 'easy' run-in.

Portsmouth (42pts) have Derby and Hull at home but will also meet four others in with a chance of a play-off place;
Oxford (42 pts) will be facing Boro, Sheff Utd, Leeds and Sunderland which isn't going to be easy;
Hull (41) have Luton, Derby and Pompey which looks good but they'll all be scrapping so they are 6 pointer games;
Stoke (39) play Luton, Cardiff and Derby away on the last day and will also be facing Leeds and Sheff Utd;
City (39) entertain Stoke and Oxford which are must-win you'd think and also play Sheff Wed, QPR and Preston in their next three games - all of whom have nothing to play for - which could be good or bad! Norwich on the last day is another with nothing to play for.
Derby (38) Have crunch games against Pompey, Luton, Hull and Stoke and they also face Burnley and WBA so that's not going to be easy
The bottom two, Luton (35) and Plymouth (33) have it all to do as both face 5 promotion contenders in their runs-in.

Verdict: City play Sheff Wed (12th), QPR (15th) and Preston (14th) in their next 3 games so that's their best shot at getting out of trouble. Also Norwich (13th) on the last day. Stoke and Oxford will come to CCS so they are critical but should be regarded as very winnable games.

Our trouble, to me seems to me, will be earning less than 5 or 6 points from the three upcoming games and if so our goal difference when it comes to scrapping it out after then.