The Championship has taken the headlines in recent weeks for the top three dropping points, but it’s a similar story in the third tier.
Dropped points for Derby County in midweek means it is still all to play for, ahead of a gruelling final few weeks, particularly for Peterborough United. Posh have games in hand on everyone, and face have an encounter against promotion rivals on the final day. Bolton Wanderers have the advantage at present, despite being outside the top two.
Who can hold their bottle in the final snippet of the campaign? Let’s take a look on how each side finishes their season…
1st: Portsmouth
P:42 GD: 35 Pts:90
Final 4: Bolton Wanderers (A), Barnsley (H), Wigan Athletic (H), Lincoln City (A)
Portsmouth can secure promotion to the Championship and the title this weekend with three points at Bolton. Victory in the North-West is far from assured though, given the Trotters are unbeaten this calendar year, and have aspirations of the second tier next season too.
If not Saturday, then there’s a chance to play Championship football for the first time since 2012 against Barnsley on Tuesday evening. John Mousinho will be hoping to have promotion wrapped up by the time Wigan Athletic come to town on the penultimate weekend of the campaign. In potentially their final game in the third tier, a trip to Lincolnshire awaits against a Lincoln City side who potentially will be in a fight for the final Play-Off position.
2nd: Derby County
P:43 GD:35 Pts:83
Final 3: Leyton Orient (H), Cambridge United (A), Carlisle United (H)
Paul Warne’s side hold the advantage at current, but promotion is out of their hands following their midweek stalemate at Wycombe Wanderers. Leyton Orient are first up at Pride Park, and although their top six hopes are over, they’ll be hoping to send the Rams into the Play-Offs. Further dropped points against the O’s would be hugely detrimental at this stage of the campaign, with virtually no margin for error at current.
Cambridge United are the hosts on the penultimate weekend of the season, at which point Bolton will have played their game in hand. Carlisle United play their final game League One game in the East Midlands, with the Rams also hoping to exit the third tier in the opposite direction.
3rd: Bolton Wanderers
P:42 GD:33 Pts:81
Final 4: Portsmouth (H), Shrewsbury Town (H), Port Vale (H), Peterborough United (A)
Events in High Wycombe on Wednesday evening handed the initiative back over to Bolton, and four wins will take Wanderers into the second tier. Simple, right?!
The first test is that monumental encounter against leaders Portsmouth, and Ian Evatt will be hoping to spoil the potential party infront of a close to capacity crowd at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. That’s the first of three homes game in a row, and three points against Pompey and then Shrewsbury next Tuesday will put Wanderers second with two games to go.
While the Shrews are almost safe, Port Vale are far from securing their League One status next term, and should provide a real test in their final home game of the regular season. The final day throws up an absolute classic, with a trip to Peterborough, who themselves may be needing a result to win promotion.
4th: Peterborough United
P:41 GD:30 Pts:77
Final 5: Oxford United (A), Fleetwood Town (H), Bristol Rovers (A), Cheltenham Town (A), Bolton Wanderers (H)
Darren Ferguson and his side have the most to do at present, but also have fate in their own hands thanks to that final day showdown against Bolton. If Derby win their final three, then Posh will need to make up a goal difference of five on the Rams, which isn’t beyond the realms of possibility as they are the divisions highest scorers.
First up is sixth vs fourth; Oxford United host Peterborough with their quest for points hoping to aid a top six push. Two Tuesday night fixtures follow against relegation strugglers Fleetwood Town and Cheltenham Town, with a trip to Bristol Rovers sandwiched inbetween. Then comes the encounter against Bolton on the final day, a fixture which promises so much at present. What is clear that at least one side will have to enter the Play-Offs.
