Friday 17 April 2015 10:31, UK
Each week, Sky Sports experts review the Football League action on FL72. Check out Garry Birtles' thoughts on the races for promotion and fights for survival in the Football League.
True mental test awaits Norwich
GARRY SAYS: It’s never easy to go to Elland Road, miss a penalty and still win the game. That just shows the mental strength Norwich possess at the moment. They didn’t have the greatest start to the season by any means, but they have quality all over the pitch, especially in the final third, and they’ve got so many players who score you goals. To come back from that stuttering start, it speaks volumes for the manager and what he’s done for this side. Next up for Norwich is Middlesbrough at Carrow Road on Friday and, at this stage of the season with three games to go, that is a huge game. Norwich score more goals than Middlesbrough and they have home advantage so they will go down as favourites, but it will test their mental strength and we’ll see who’s strongest on the day.
Four doesn’t go into two
GARRY SAYS: The last time I was on the show I was asked who I thought would get automatic promotion to the Premier League and, after looking at each side’s run-ins, I went for Bournemouth and Norwich. I’ve got to stick with those two because of the nature of the games they’ve got to come. If Norwich get something out of the Middlesbrough game that will be Boro done and dusted. Watford are the dark horses for me, they’ve got so many decent players scoring goals at the moment. But anything is possible at this stage of the season. Anything can happen when there is that much pressure applied to teams.
Millwall still fighting while Wigan dead and buried
GARRY SAYS: Millwall have given themselves a chance of survival - they've nearly got themselves attached. The players have got to start believing it. If they don’t believe there’s no point being out there. It all hinges of the pending decision regarding Rotherham. If the points aren’t deducted then that might just do for them, but if they are deducted it will give them a great lift and they might just do it. You never know. What a downfall Wigan have had. Nobody expected them to be in this position at the start of the season. It’s so sad that it's happened the way it has but it’s happened to teams before and will happen to teams in the future.
Rockin’ Robins
GARRY SAYS: Bristol City have been magnificent all season and are deservedly at the top. They’ve been there to be shot at and, other than a little blip, they recovered from it. They have so many players in the side who are scoring goals, five have got into double figures including the centre-half Flint. So when you’ve got that in your team you’ve got a massive chance. The result was a surprise because Bradford are very good at home but Bristol’s creative ability in midfield and in the final third was evident to see. People disrespect the JPT in the early stages but not Bristol City. They see it as a winning mentality, you keep playing and you keep winning games. They will not be out of place in the Championship. You’ve got to give the manager all the respect in the world because he’s done a fantastic job.
Top three well positioned
GARRY SAYS: Looking at the table in League Two, I feel Burton, Shrewsbury and Wycombe will be the three who gain promotion. Fourth-placed Bury have a game in hand on Wycombe, should they win that – and close the gap on them to a single point – then they can apply come pressure on Wycombe. The top two look like certainties to stay up there and go up.
