We have 21 games left.

We’re into January. We’re past the halfway mark of the season. We’re out of every cup competition (the young Dons’ sensational triumph in the FA Youth Cup notwithstanding).

We’re three points out of a play-off spot. Our next game is in eight days. And we have 21 games left.

In eight days we’ll take to the pitch again. We’ll have had two weeks’ rest.

We’ll be hosting Mansfield Town nursing a four-game unbeaten run. We’ll have taken eight points from a possible 12. And we have 21 games left.

We’re three points behind Accrington in seventh place. They have three games in hand. Realistically we’ll need to aim for fourth, currently occupied by Portsmouth. We’re eight points behind Portsmouth. We have 21 games left.

(For what it’s worth, we’re also 19 points clear of the relegation zone. You never want to speak too soon, but it’s looking more and more like we’re going to comfortably beat the drop, if nothing else. We have 21 games left.)

Our goals scored is about on par with the other promotion candidates. Our goals conceded is a bit higher. We have to be less leaky if we want to book a play-off spot. We have 21 games left.

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We have four months. Four months and few congested weeks. We’re still in it. We’re still close. We have 21 games left.

In a season where the new stadium will be the dominant narrative no matter what happens, a play-off berth paired with last month’s successful hearing will make this campaign truly magical.

More so than last year, which is saying something. We have 21 games left.

We are close. We are so, so close.

We have 21 games left...