Things to look forward to

Well, the "dreaded 'R`" has indeed been nailed up alongside our name in the table now, so no need for me to talk around the proverbial elephant in the room. We all know what it means… a few pressure-free games to enjoy before the end of the season!

That and we can now look forward to whom we might be meeting next season and who we`re losing etc.

Doing similar columns in the past was much easier, our reliable U`s never got promoted or relegated. A pox on them for having the audacity to go up, stay there for two seasons and come down again - don`t they realise how hard I work?

In one sweep, we`ll lose everyone from West Brom to Preston whether the former go up or not, we`ll not be facing them anyway. The Baggies, Hull, Bristol City, Stoke whoever it is that goes up or doesn`t will not be gracing the new Cuckoo Farm away dressing room anytime soon.

Personally, I`m torn on 'The Hull question`. Of course it`d be lovely to see a load of former U`s in the Premier League. I still find myself rooting for Craig Fagan et al when I see them on Match of the Day - much as I used to when Lomana Lua-Lua played for Newcastle and Portsmouth.

It`d be nice to see Wayne Brown and Richard Garcia on the Beeb - but it would be tinged with a hint of 'what might have been`. Hull haven`t exactly covered themselves in glory with their behaviour towards the U`s recently. From Parkinson through Fagan to Skip and Brownie they`re a wannabe U`s… just they`re doing slightly better than us!

So they`re all gone as far as we`re concerned, as well as the derbies with the likes of Ipswich and Norwich - assuming the Canaries don`t feed themselves to the cat of relegation.

Short hops

We`re likely to cross Swansea and Carlisle on the way down - that`ll save a few road miles! Form suggests Doncaster would win the play-offs which`d suit me fine. A few fewer miles and it`d mean a) the 'big` teams of League One, Forest and Leeds would be there next season b) it`d mean Southend don`t get promoted.

Luton and Port Vale are dropping through the trap-door before we get there probably followed by Bournemouth. Of those other clubs in danger of ducking out of a beating at Cuckoo Farm, Gillingham would be a nice short trip.

Yeovil are in danger too and, despite the long trip, most U`s fans wouldn`t begrudge them staying up after their charming hosting of our promotion clinching game all those seasons ago.

Though we`ll miss the 'glamour` of games against the Wolves and Charltons of the Championship, League One does have a nice line in short-trips: Northampton; Leyton Orient and Millwall (probably). Add in the scumme… I mean, Southend and we`re doing ok.

Milton Keynes look set to come up as well and Peterborough - two more short hops. Whisper it, but Wycombe are coming into form in time for the play-offs too. It`s another fifty/fifty question with them, isn`t it? A bit like Southend the season before last.

We`d rather they hadn`t won the title in League One and got promoted, but handing them two spankings, including that great day at Roots Hall, en-route to their relegation was sweet indeed.

So - although being relegated is a bitter pill to swallow, there is some sugar coating there somewhere - if you look hard enough!

Up the super white and blues!