All three aspects of the third tier have questions unanswered, and the battle for the final two Play-Off Spots is the tightest of them all.
Four sides enter the final day looking to seal a spot in the post season fixtures, with only goal difference at current separating the sides in sixth and seventh. There was even a managerial change this week, and the pressure will be ramped up to maximum this lunchtime.
Which sides will face the prospect of at least two further games this campaign?
5th: Barnsley (75 Points) (+18)
The big third-tier news this week came at Oakwell, as Neil Collins departed the South Yorkshire side with their Play-Off position in real jeopardy. Their three-two reverse at Blackpool last weekend was their fifth defeat in eight outings, and proved the final straw for their outgoing manager. Martin Devaney will take interim charge for the time being, and he will be desperately hoping that this is the first of at least three more games for the Tykes. In any instance, they need a huge upturn in form to have any chance of promotion from the third tier this season.
Opponents: Northampton Town (H) (14th)
Win: Three points at home to the Cobblers will finally seal the Tykes spot in the Play-Offs on the final day.
Draw: Just a point could be enough, but it needs dropped points from sides below them. If two of Lincoln, Oxford or Blackpool don’t win, then Barnsley would sneak into the Play-Offs.
Loss: Again, results elsewhere would be needed for Barnsley to keep their grip on a top-six place. If Blackpool failed to win, and one of Lincoln or Oxford lost, then that would be enough. Alternatively, if both Lincoln and Oxford were defeated, Barnsley would stay in the Play-Off positions.
6th: Lincoln City (74 Points) (+27)
After opening the year with a two-nil reverse to Blackpool, the Imps sat closer to the bottom four than the top six. That was their fourth loss in succession, in the midst of a two-month spell without a victory that spanned ten games across all competitions. But since losing at Bloomfield Road, the Imps have only tasted defeat once, against Wigan two weeks ago. And yet that last-minute loss to the Latics looked to have derailed their Play-Off hopes, but two wins since, including at Oxford, have dislodged the U’s from sixth position and mean the Imps have destiny in their hands. Standing in their way are the champions Portsmouth, whose own long unbeaten record fell against Wigan last Saturday.
Opponents: Portsmouth (H) (1st)
Win: After regaining sixth last Saturday, Lincoln will seal their spot in the post-season fixtures with three points. That comes with an asterisk though, which is that Oxford don’t better their scoreline by five or more goals.
Draw: A point would leave the Imps in a precarious position, but not out of contention. A Barnsley loss, and dropped points for one of Oxford and Blackpool would be good enough. Alternatively, if Oxford and Blackpool failed to win then Lincoln can celebrate a place in the Play-Offs.
Loss: A second loss in twenty games would mean other results are required. A loss for Oxford, requiring that Skubala’s side don’t lose by five more goals, and Blackpool failing to win would see Lincoln finish sixth.
7th: Oxford United (74 Points) (+22)
Oxford have spent the bulk of the campaign inside the top six, but they have it all to do on the final day. Des Buckingham’s side even replicated Lincoln’s impressive mini run, by putting four past Fleetwood Town and Burton Albion before thrashing Peterborough five nil to regain sixth spot. But after taking one point from six available, including that hugely damaging defeat against the Imps, the U’s require a favour from afar. The form team in the division await today. Exeter are unbeaten in nine, and no side in League One have taken more points in their last six.
Opponents: Exeter City (A) (12th)
Win: Dropped points for one of the sides above the U’s would move them into the top six, if Oxford win at Exeter. If both Lincoln and Barnsley won, then Des Buckingham’s side would need to win by five more goals to move ahead of the Imps on goals scored.
Draw: This is where things begin to get difficult. By virtue of Lincoln’s superior goal difference, a point wouldn’t be good enough if the Imps matched Oxford’s result. So for Oxford to take a spot in the Play-Offs, one of Lincoln and Barnsley would have to lose. Even then, Blackpool cannot take all three points at Reading.
Loss: Defeat is unlikely to be enough, but Oxford would move above Lincoln if the Imps lost by five more goals than the U’s. Blackpool would also have to avoid winning for this scenario to see Oxford finish in the top six.
8th: Blackpool (73 Points) (+18)
The Seasiders have ended the season in good form to take their Play-Off hopes down to the final game. An unbeaten April, including four straight wins, have taken the Pools to within a point of the sixth spot. The task: a Reading side with a top-eight home record, and Blackpool have struggled on the road.
Rubén Sellés has coped magnificently with all the trouble away from the pitch, and a bumper crowd on the final day will be a great reward for his magnificent work.
Opponents: Reading (A) (17th)
Win: Blackpool can finish as high as fifth with a win, but in order to seal a top-six berth, they need at least two of the sides above them to drop points. That means if two of Barnsley, Lincoln and Oxford don’t pick up all three points and the Tangerines do, then they will extend their campaign by at least two games.
Draw: A draw realistically would not be enough, but we are here to cover the mathematical scenarios. For the Tangerines to move into sixth spot, Oxford would have to lose by five goals, and Lincoln by double that tally. That extremely unlikely scenario would move Blackpool above both sides on goals scored.
Loss: N/A
