The final weekend of the season sees a number of issues yet to be resolved, with the League One relegation battle perhaps the most fiercely fought of all.
Bradford City are already down, but just three points separate five teams. Plymouth meet Scunthorpe in a battle which will see at least one relegated, whilst Walsall and Southend are also involved in crucial fixtures. If that’s not enough, AFC Wimbledon could still go down, despite their heroic form of late.
Our writers Roy and JG discuss the situation and give their opinions on who will go down to League Two.
JG: The relegation battle in League One is likely to go right down to the wire. Any three of five sides are going to suffer the drop with at least one of Scunthorpe and Plymouth going.
I want to start off by mentioning Wimbledon though. They could still go down this weekend, but it’s likely even a loss for them won’t relegate them. They’ve had a remarkable turnaround under Wally Downes, and the Crazy Gang spirit has proven to be alive and well in 2019.
Spirit is one thing Scunthorpe have got little of any they’re my first pick for the drop. A draw wouldn’t be enough for them, and that’s the best I can see them getting. They’ve won once in 13 fixtures and look doomed.
RT: Wimbledon have done really well since Downes came in. They obviously took some confidence from their FA Cup run and converted it into league form. They looked doomed when he took over, seven points from safety but he has done a great job, I think they will get at least a point to make survival certain on Saturday at Bradford.
Scunthorpe look to have serious problems, They sacked Graham Alexander at the end of last season with the club in fifth with seven to play and now look condemned to the drop. They sacked Daws after four games and then seemed to have turned a corner under McCall after backing him heavily in January. He even won manager of the month after a good run of form that since evaporated and cost him his job. And Dawson has yet to register a win since he took over.
They do look in serious trouble, but their only hope is they are playing a Plymouth side in worse form than them!! What do you make of Plymouth? They have just sacked Adams after four years in charge and are on a terrible run.
JG: Plymouth are likely to get a new manager bounce this weekend. They’ve got some great players, Graham Carey is a real talent and the lad Lameiras is quality too. At the back, big Songo’o is a monster, and with home advantage, I think they can beat Scunthorpe.
The question is, will it be enough? Southend host Sunderland and a defeat for them could send them into the bottom four. It’s harsh on Walsall too; they’re another side who fired their manager late on and looked to maybe have acted a bit too late. I think they’re going down also, even a win might not be enough.
For me, it’s a fight between Plymouth and Southend. If the Pilgrims win, then Southend need to beat Sunderland, and I can’t see it happening. Their collapse has been a real shock; they looked to be comfortable mid-table over Christmas.
Which three sides do you think will be joining Bradford in League Two next season?
RT: Southend does feel like a club in trouble, with fans unhappy at how it’s being run. Their accounts just out show a loss of £3 million to add to the misery on the pitch, it’s a club that has lost its way, and I can’t see them beating Sunderland.
Walsall flirted with relegation last season, and I think they stuck with Keates too long. However, they won 3-0 last time out at home to playoff-chasing Peterborough, so they will be confident going into an away game with a Shrewsbury side with nothing to play for. I think they will win to pull off another great escape.
Southend will lose to Sunderland, and I think Plymouth and Scunthorpe have lost the ability to win matches and will draw which by my calculations makes it Scunthorpe, Southend Plymouth to go down with Bradford.
Exciting day ahead, with none of the teams involved with the same manager they started the season with, which probably shows that sacking the manager makes little or no difference at the end of the day.
