Here's the league table positions with points differences and details of everyone's three remaining games:

Toronto 35 +867 White(H), Barr(H), Dons(H)
Barrow 33 +338 Work(H), Tor (A), Keigh(H)
Whitehaven 31 +265 Tor(A), York(H), Work(A)
-----------------------------------------------------------
York 24 +193 Dons(H), White(A), Newc(H)
Dons 22 +117 York(A), Newc(H), Tor(A)
Keighley 20 +181 Newc(A), Work(H), Barr(A)
Workington 19 +5 Barr(A), Keigh(H), White(H)
Newcastle 18 +42 Keigh(H), Dons(A), York(A)

The top three can't be caught. The top side gets automatic promotion. Teams two and three are at home in the play-off semi-finals. Toronto would need to lose two of their three games for Barrow to possibly catch them. It looks like Toronto will be top with Barrow and Whitehaven being at home in the play-offs. Teams four and five will be away in the play-offs.

Newcastle aren't mathematically out of it as they could still get 24 points. They could overtake us if they win all three games and we lose all three. Same applies to Workington, if they won all three they could get 25 points. Newcastle would be out of it if they lose to Keighley in their next game.

The battle for 4th and 5th looks as though it could go right down to the last game but should we beat York and Newcastle, Keighley would have to win all three games including their last match at Barrow. Having said that, Barrow might have guaranteed second place by then and the result might not be as important to them!

There are so many different combinations possible. If we beat York and they then lose at Whitehaven, York could be down to 6th spot. If we lose to York and Keighley win at Newcastle, our fate would almost certainly be out of our hands as Keighley have got a much better points difference.

All things considered, we must win at York.

York had quite a number of players out when they lost 26-19 at Barrow last weekend.

Here's a link to York's website for those interested in going. The only parking near to the ground is on the nearby side streets. Car park details are shown on the link: [urlhttps://yorkcityknights.com/match-day/#gettinghere[/url

Thanks Double Movement for that analysis.
The key to our future progress is, I think, discipline. We have the players to win the next two games provided we don't give away silly penalties. When Newcastle came here a few weeks ago they took the game away from us. I can't believe that our players won't be aware of that when we play them in a couple of weeks time and be prepared for it. Of course a win at York would remove much of the pressure.

The sooner this game is played the better ...

I hope we win of course, but just in case we don't, I would love to be spared the crap articles by players and coach pre game about what is needed/ what is expected etc.
Save that guff for when we win.

And if we lose... please no "it all could have been so different" if this that and the other had occurred or not occurred.

I hate that crap.

There is only one imperative and that is win and only one response if we lose.
We were not good enough.

Now go out and win you bunch of woossers!

I for one have been critical of the club about lack of communication with the fans . The club are dammed if they do & dammed if they do not !

S-O what would you put out next week before the York game , do not want to have issues with you , but everything seems very black & white .

www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/rugby-league COYD

www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/rugby-league COYD

I always look forward to getting the squad news on a Friday afternoon. I'm not overly bothered about match reports as I've probably either seen the game or watched the Twitter feeds. I quite like reading the coach's comments afterwards.

Thanks Danensian. I love rugby and the Dons. I hope by doing some pre-game analysis that it adds to people's interest and hopefully encourages more people to come on here and share their views with us.

It must be a nightmare being a coach - seeing your team give away penalties. I listened to the Keighley game on the radio last weekend and they were giving penalties away all the time. Mike Emmett spent more time talking to the referee in the 80 minutes of the match than most of us spend talking to our wives in a week!

Let's hope we can sort our discipline for the York game.

Yes they have to put something out ... but what they are putting out is dross.
e.g. Player X says "We have to step up to the plate, cut out the silly mistakes and complete our sets.
We know it will be tough because York are a good side and they are hard to beat on their home patch.
They have struck a bit of form and even though they lost they put in a good effort at Barrow.
They will be looking to hold onto 4th place and it won't be easy for us."

"But if we complete our sets kick well and stick to our game plan then we have a good chance."

Sound familiar?

How about ...

"We are going there to win and fully expect to!"
"So get ready York!"

Oh no, that might rev York up and a few of us might go there and cheer the Dons on.

No far better to prevaracate.

Stand-Offish there is an easy solution to your problem. Don't read it.

But how would I know whether it's dross or not ... unless I read it?

Louis Sheriff available , no further action to his sin binning v Workington .

COYD

That's good news. Can we knock off the three tries that Workington scored whilst he was in the bin too?