06/03/2026 - Build-Up: Preston North End v Oxford United

What will the result be?

  • PNE win

  • Draw

  • OUFC win

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Oxymoron said:
Strictly, until we are three points away from being mathematically relegated, no game is a must win game but there are plenty of "we really could do with winning this one" games....
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Although that’s true, if we had lost on Saturday who would now think we had a chance? As it was against a direct rival and the run we were on, especially at home, was seeming like it would never end, we needed that we really, really needed to win that one.

So while some games might not be must win, they are need to win, as you say. In most cases, this early in the season, if you have a must win game then it’s probably too late while need to wins actually matter.

Must wins are only really relevant right at the end of the season, Sheffield Wednesday against Sheffield United was an extreme example of that. So need to win is a better term for the big games.
 
Oxymoron said:
Strictly, until we are three points away from being mathematically relegated, no game is a must win game but there are plenty of "we really could do with winning this one" games....
Click to expand...
That's not quite true though. We don't know how many points will be required to stay up before the end of the season, but any game that if we fail to win means we can't reach that total will be the first "must win" game, and all subsequent games will also be "must win". We just won't know it at the time.
 
holdsteady said:
Although that’s true, if we had lost on Saturday who would now think we had a chance? As it was against a direct rival and the run we were on, especially at home, was seeming like it would never end, we needed that we really, really needed to win that one.

So while some games might not be must win, they are need to win, as you say. In most cases, this early in the season, if you have a must win game then it’s probably too late while need to wins actually matter.

Must wins are only really relevant right at the end of the season, Sheffield Wednesday against Sheffield United was an extreme example of that. So need to win is a better term for the big games.
Click to expand...
So why did you keep saying it was must win rather than need to win or looking at last chance ?
 
You've all gone stark raving mad!!

Debating whether games are must win, need to win, a win would be nice, only must win if the result could relegate us, only must win until we can no longer be relegated!

I didn't realise we were in such a luxurious position to decide the intricate and nuanced details of the importance of each of these last 11 games!

We're in a relegation battle, they're all f*****g must win games!!!!

DONE!!
 
Mad Dog said:
We MUST win. That is all.
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Indeed.

I don’t see losing or drawing as an option if we truly believe we can find the momentum to give ourselves every chance of staying up.

At this stage of the season and with our predicament the next 3 games are must win in my book.

Not because it’s a mathematical thing, it’s simply a momentum thing.

I think if you’re going into the last 3 games of the season needing 3 wins and hoping others lose 3, it all feels pretty pointless at that stage.

The pressure is here and now.
 
Proof that being an Arsenal fan causes premature ageing.
 
It obviously isn't a must win game in the literal sense, but I am of the opinion that if we are going to survive then we need to beat Preston.

I say that because I think we're going to need another 5 wins and to do that we're going to need another win on the road. For me, this represents our best opportunity of doing that from our remaining fixtures and it also then puts much less pressure on our next 2 very winnable home games.

Pompey is an obvious one that we'll say we have a chance in, but I think that's going to be a tougher game to win given it's at Fratton Park and what will be riding on it. Preston are not an outstanding side at all and their season has already started to peter out, so we need to take advantage of that.

I keep banging this drum but I'd love to see us ditch the AM role and play a solid 3 in midfield, especially away from home. I think there's definitely room for Donley in at least one of the next 2 home games, but on Friday I'd like to see us get more control and have more bodies around the edge of our own box.

We absolutely have it in us to come back from there with the three points and I think this team could do it:

1772707620684.jpeg
 
Whether it’s must win or not, what’s undeniable is the run of Stoke, West Brom, Preston, Blackburn, Charlton has looked crucial for a while.

So far - on bookies odds - we’ve bounced from 85% likely to get relegated to 90%+ after Stoke and back to 85% after Saturday. If we’d lost to Albion it would have been way over 95% and we’d all be talking about L1.

Losing at Preston wouldn’t have that same impact, but the absolute minimum we can afford in my eyes is 5 points from the next 3 games. So in summary I think it’s a “Must continue to build momentum and get at least a point” game.
 
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