Why is a football match sometimes described as a six-pointer?
Unravelling one of English football's most commonly used cliches
IT'S one of the most used cliches in the game.
But what does a commentator actually mean when he refers to a six-pointer?
Here's everything you need to know.
What is a six-pointer?
A six-pointer is a match between two sides fighting it out in a similar position in the league table.
The term was coined because the value of winning would be not just the three points your team gets, but also the three points the opposition fails to pick up.
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When you face a direct rival in the league, a victory effectively leaves you six points better off than a defeat would, and three points better off than a draw would.
When is the term used?
A six-pointer typically refers to a match towards the end of the season.
Normally the term is used in conjunction with relegation (ie a relegation six-pointer), but it can also sometimes refer to a top of the table clash.
A classic example of a relegation six-pointer would be Sunderland's 3-0 win at Norwich.
Victory for Norwich would have left the Black Cats 7 points below the Canaries and on the verge of relegation, but Sunderland's win put them just one point behind with a game in hand.
Ultimately Sunderland stayed up and Norwich were relegated.
