The Football League is the world’s original competition having been founded way back in 1888. What started as 12 teams now features 72 all aiming to climb the ladder and reach the promised land of the Premier League.
While the top of the table is all about glory and being the best, the bottom of the league is a drama all of its own as the sides who have struggled throughout the campaign attempt to muster enough results to avoid the dreaded drop.
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With the international break on the way, this article will look ahead and assess the teams fighting relegation in The Championship, League One, and League Two.
The Championship
England’s second tier is often described as one of the best leagues in the world and as if fans required any further proof, 12th place to 23rd is separated by just ten points and so lovers of The Championship are set for a dramatic end to the season.
Rotherham United has become the definition of a yo-yo club, experiencing three promotions and two relegations between League One and the Championship from 2017 through to 2022. Despite finally breaking the chain of events and finishing 19th last season, the Millers have managed just three wins in 38 league matches and barring a miracle will be relegated well before May.
Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, endured a horror start to the season but, under German manager Danny Rohl, the youngest coach in the Football League, the Owls have given themselves a real chance of beating the drop.
Huddersfield currently take up the third relegation spot on goal difference and have the same number of points as Birmingham who will soon be onto their fourth manager of the season after Wayne Rooney’s spell at St Andrews saw the Blues slip down the table. Supporters will be hoping the next boss can produce a swift turnaround.
QPR’s reunion with Gareth Ainsworth didn’t go to plan but with Marti Cifuentes at the helm, the Hoops have managed to pick up some results but are still just a point above the drop zone.
Stoke, who are enduring a stuttering run of form, and manager Steven Schumacher will hope for the campaign to end swiftly with them out of the bottom three while Plymouth, Blackburn, and Millwall are all in the fight too.
League One
In the third tier, four teams are relegated and there are currently six teams who look to be in danger though that’s not to say other clubs including Reading, whose possible takeover continues to rumble on, could be sucked into trouble.
Carlisle United are rooted to the bottom having won only five league games this season and the Cumbrians are 16 points off safety so relegation could be confirmed in a matter of weeks.
Port Vale is 23rd and will need a swift turnaround if they are to avoid dropping down to League Two only two years after earning promotion.
Fleetwood is in 22nd place despite the fact they have lost only one of their last six games under manager Charlie Adam, the former Rangers, Liverpool and Stoke midfielder. However, they have not won in that run and have instead drawn five. If The Cod Army are to stay up, they’ll need to convert some of those level games into victories.
Cheltenham, meanwhile, have enjoyed a fine turnaround after looking certainties for the drop when they failed to score in their opening eleven league games. However, the Robins, managed by Darrell Clarke who replaced Wade Elliott, have given themselves a chance of survival with six wins and three draws from 17 matches and will be desperate to finally jump out of the bottom four.
Cambridge United are the team just above the relegation zone and will hope Garry Monk’s experience as manager of Leeds, Swansea, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, and Sheffield Wednesday, will see them pick up points to avoid being caught by the chasing pack. Burton Albion is on the same number of points as Cambridge and also has work to do to avoid relegation.
League Two
Only two teams are relegated to the National League from League Two each season and that is currently good news for Colchester United who are above the relegation zone, though only on goal difference.
Sutton United are bottom and Forest Green Rovers are the other teams facing the drop. Grimsby Town are the other side and it seems could be dragged into the battle should they fail to win upcoming fixtures.
Salford and Swindon, meanwhile, are both 11 points clear of the bottom two, and at this stage of the season, they might not be caught with so few games remaining.
Summing Up
The Football League offers up the best drama season after season and this campaign is no different. While some teams look destined for the drop, others have started runs that could see them climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of another. With two months of the season remaining, it’s all to play for.
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