Gavin Tucker looks at the season where 3rd placed could be 2nd
Cardiff’s poor result against Middlesbrough has opened up the possibility of an exciting final week and final day to the Championship season for Swansea players and fans alike. Should Cardiff now lose or draw a difficult away game to Burnley and Swansea win their final game at home to already relegated Sheffield Utd playing only for pride then the Swans would leapfrog our bitter rivals and claim a 3rd place finish.
With Norwich securing their promotion with a 1-0 victory at Portman Road, It also confirms that a Swansea v Cardiff Playoff final at Wembley is now a very real possibility.
All eyes in the meantime turn to QPR and the possibility of a point’s deduction. Will they get points deducted, how many? Will this bump up the team in 3rd to 2nd and automatic promotion? If QPR drop to the playoffs and win how will the other playoff clubs react? The list of questions is as long as it is intriguing.
The charges that QPR face are by no means trivial - the charge of using an unlicensed agent, 3rd party ownership, false documentation. The charge of making payments to an unlicensed agent alone saw Luton Town given a specific 10 point penalty.
The Sun newspaper claimed earlier last week that Rangers face a 15-point deduction if found guilty, Warnock said the report had affected the club. He was quoted post match on Saturday as saying
"When I looked at the coverage it destroyed us, the place was like a morgue. We're all guessing," he said.
"We have to wait until Friday. I'm happy with what my barrister has told me.
Now where as The Sun’s reporting may be down to Neil Warnock’s personal spat with Rupert Murdoch and Bernie Ecclestone, the arrogance of Warnock seemingly undermining the F.A. by publicly claiming that he is confident that QPR will not be deducted points will not do him or QPR any favours when the hearing begins.
Further signs signalling a point’s deduction came recently from our own managerRodgers told BBC Sport "I think it's ridiculous that it's dragged on so long if I'm being honest
"There's a judgement next Friday. Everyone will know where they stand and we'll take it from there.
"We've sort of been given an indication if there was the possibility of an appeal if something happens that... you know.
"I think it's only moved a few days pending the appeal, but it's one where we're delighted to be in the situation we're in and we won't be crying over a few days extra recovery’’.
The first thing that strikes you from these comments is the possibility of an appeal followed by a delay to the play offs. If it was just a fine why would the play offs need to be delayed – it is the clearest indication yet that QPR may well be looking at a points deduction.
Would an appeal on a points deduction by overturned? I can’t see it myself. The F.A. having had so much time to come to this decision, they are unlikely to reverse it.
If it was only a fine to be imposed then why wait? That could be issued at anytime. It is important to note that the FA and the Premier league are run by different entities. Any points deduction would have to in place before the final whistle of the last day, the final table will be "the final table" not a revised table. The F.A. have given themselves the maximum time available to reach their decision.
So is 3rd enough for automatic promotion, it seem that it may be. The Swans could still nick an automatic promotion spot or our playoff opposition may yet change. Either way we are looking good, our recent run of form both home and away has come at the perfect time. A 4-1 win at home followed by a 2-0 at arguably the most hostile away environment is promising. Compared to our opposition, Cardiff who have just been thrashed on their last home game, a Reading going off the boil and a stuttering Forest. We are the feared Swansea City and we want that promotion.