Terrible Tuesday?

With all teams below them having at least a game in hand - bar Scunthorpe - The Seasiders will be watching Ian Payne (ok, the picture is of Jeff Stelling, but you get the theme...) and friends on Sky Sports tonight as the scores come in, with a sense of fear, as by ten o'clock, Simon Grayson's side could be languishing in 21st place of The Championship table.

With seven teams sitting behind 'Pool playing tonight, it's obviously a given that we'll move down the table; but how far?

Barnsley, the team directly underneath us, are at home to bottom club Colchester United. The Tykes have won seven of their 14 home league games this season, including a controversial victory over Blackpool on Sky, but the Oakwell crowd have yet to see a home league (yeah, forgetting the cup!) win in 2008 and their last victory dates back to December 4th against Wolves. With three wins from a possible 14 away, The U's look destined for another defeat tonight you'd think. Possibly not. United have this year gone to Ashton Gate and The Valley, coming away with four points, with a victory at the latter.

A draw.

Cardiff City play host to real life fantasy team QPR at Ninnian Park as they look to come within touching distance of the playoffs. Their home form is good, with 21 points so far this campaign whereas QPR's travels see them pick a point a game up. Cardiff have won all four of their last home games, and QPR seem to be indifferent away - although have picked up of late.

Cardiff to edge it.

Hull City entertain Coventry City in a significant game for 'Pool looking up and down, and looking at the two comparable form books, it will be a tricky one to call. On the road recently, Iain Dowie's side have been woeful, with three defeats from their last three - including a demolition job at Bloomfield Road. However, The Sky Blues have beaten Blackburn Rovers convincingly away the other week in the FA Cup, along with five other teams on their travels this season as well. Hull so far have picked up an impressive 25 points at home this season, with nine from their last twelve.

Hull to coast home.

West Brom play at Deepdale as they continue their march to The Premiership, as one of the in form teams in the division. Away they've been up and down in the last few months, but a well fought win at The KC Stadium in their last trip will fill them with confidence, whereas PKE have been dismal at home all season, except for the occasional strange victory, like the one against Watford a few weeks ago. Just 19 points at home so far, The Lilywhites have an uphill task this evening.

WBA victory.

Southampton host Norwich City at St. Mary's in John Gorman's first league game in charge. Form will no doubt go out of the window on this one with a caretaker boss at the helm, and hopefully the Saints that beat Hull City 4-0 last month can turn up instead of the Saints who lost to PKE in front of their own fans. Norwich's away record this season is very poor, with just 12 points from their travels, but eight of those points have come in their last four games, and I see that run continuing tonight.

Norwich win.

The final game of Tuesday night sees Wolves take on Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux. Wolves have won just once since their home win on December 1st against Preston, whereas Wednesday have lost three of their last five away from Hillsborough. Something has to give, and due to the league positions the two teams find themselves in, Wanderer`s should come out on top.

Wolves to scrape it.


So, looking at the games tonight, it could well be that 'Pool only drop two places and lie in 18th, seven points ahead of the bottom three with 17 games remaining. Of course, the above predictions could be way out, but hopefully the doom and gloom surrounding tonight will lift after reading this, and be gone completely come ten o`clock this evening!

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