Re: Oldham v Dons Sunday 18th June 2023 3pm : Sun Jun 18, 2023 10:59 am
Wilf Grimshaw wrote:
I just hope we don't get beat without putting in a serious effort and we have one of those Dons eighty minute games that puts a smile on everyone's faces. Come on lads get the attitude today spot on.
The psychology behind today's game, both for the fans and players, is fascinating.
If we win, we'll probably be more confident we'll at least finish second. As a consequence, we won't fear Oldham too much if we play them at home in the play-offs.
If we lose, we might finish behind Oldham and have to visit their place again in the play-offs. This time confidence would be much lower. Should we lose by more than 12 today, confidence would be pretty low.
Of course, one game is only one game but in the context of this league, the matches against your main rivals count for much more. Top of the table rivals have very few games in which they might realistically drop points.
If we lose today, we can't win the league unless we beat Dewsbury and they also drop points against someone else.
If we lose today, to get back above Oldham, they'd probably have to lose at Dewsbury and we'd have to beat Dewsbury.
Hunslet and Workington might nick points off the top sides somewhere along the way but the above basically puts into context the importance of today.
