The Premiership is in touching distance

Last updated : 22 March 2006 By Richard Turrell

With the Royals looking for eight more points to gain promotion, looking at the fixture list it could arrive quicker than anyone expected. Despite being held to a stalemate at home for the first time in the league this season with Leeds also drawing it leaves us needing just eight points to secure promotion.

In the worse case scenario the only sides that can still get into the top two are Leeds and Watford.

Watford have to win all their games and for us to only get three more points would leave it down to goal difference, to be fair a win against Wolves on Saturday will put them out of the race.

So now we get to the only real threat, Leeds. With a game in hand if they do the unthinkable and win all of their remaining nine games they’ll be on 97 points. Which leaves us looking for the magical eight.

I’m expecting a win against Wolves on Saturday
(Leeds have got Coventry away and Crystal Palace at home midweek)

Leciester away we should grab a point, never an easy place to go.
(Leeds have got Stoke at home)

Derby at home Should be another three points.
(Leeds have got Hull away)

Which will leave us needing a point away to Cardiff to secure promotion.

If anything goes wrong we’ve got Leeds away the week after so grab a stalemate and the promotion will be all ours. Having seen our promotion hopes snatched away before, as a pessimist, I’m assuming that Leeds will win all of their games but with additional visits to Sheffield Utd and Preston and home matches against Plymouth and Crewe there’s definitely points to be lost.

The more I write the more I’m realising we really can’t fail to get promoted, surely? Like so many other Royals I'm still banking on securing promotion at home to Derby, in a strange twist of fate its also April Fools day, so get the champagne ready!