In some parts, we were right. And in others, we were wrong. It was as much a mixed bag as you could’ve expected from last night’s games in the three Football League divisions. But it did make things clearer as we hurtle towards the end of the season – many teams have now caught up in terms of games played and the maths are much easier when it comes to trying to work out who’s up and who’s down. Who’s hot and who’s cold. Who’s in and who’s out…
Only one thing was confirmed last night: Bristol City will be among us next year after a 1-0 home defeat to Birmingham City means they can spend the final games navel gazing. With regards to other relegation candidates, Blackburn’s win against Huddersfield did the world of good as they pulled two points clear with a game in hand, and pushed the Terriers back into trouble.
However, Huddersfield needn’t feel too alarmed as Barnsley and Peterborough wasted the chance to record home wins last night and had to settle for a solitary point. It is all to play for with three games remaining up there. And barely a cigarette paper between ’em all…
In our humble abode League One, Brentford earned a creditable draw at Sheffield Utd – a point that harms the Blades’ automatic promotion aspirations, but they do have a game in hand. Brentford remain a point behind Bournemouth and three behind Doncaster and it will be a shootout for the top two in the final two games. If they win their game in hand, the Blades will join the party too.
The Best Team In The Division have positioned themselves for an audacious playoff lunge after a win at Colchester United. Four points adrift of Swindon with just six available from the last two games, it’ll be us who might have the final say on MK Dons’ promotion bid. If we lose at Swindon, it’s curtains for Karl’s men. As well as Walsall and Leyton Orient as it goes. Oh, and former champions elect Tranmere Rovers.
At the bottom, Oldham’s terrific win against Yeovil Town has really landed Scunthorpe in the brown stuff. The Iron did themselves no favours at already-relegated Bury; in fact, the Shakers must have done a wonderful job selling the delights of League Two to their guests because Scunthorpe now must win both their remaining games to have a chance of staying here for another season. It won’t happen.
League Two was, as we said, quiet in terms of promotion battles last night. But Bradford City made a hash of things for themselves by letting Rotherham take all the points. It was a result that moves the Millers up to third and keeps Exeter City right in the hunt for the last playoff position. Chesterfield lost at home to Plymouth to mess up any fading hopes, while Southend’s win at Aldershot keeps them just in the race.
And with Southend’s victory, the Shots look doomed. Four points from safety with just two games left now, you wonder where they will ever get those points from. Torquay’s win over Barnet compounded matters for the Shots and has cranked up the Bees’ woes. Will they be going down? Their next game is a send off to Underhill against Wycombe – a home win for sure, so it’ll be a last day decider for them again.
