A lot here has been decided:Birminghamare champions andWrexhamare going up with them, whileShrewsbury,Cambridge,Bristol RoversandCrawleyhave been relegated. But there is plenty of intrigue in the playoff places.
Stockport,WycombeandCharltonare simply jostling for position: Wycombe in fourth host third-placed Stockport on Saturday knowing the winner would come third, the loser would be overtaken by Charlton if the Addicks beat Burton at home, and a draw would almost certainly lead to all three staying where they are. But if they will all have a handy advantage on points over whoever ends up in sixth,Leyton Orientwill be the playoffs’ form side if they sustain their late-season surge.
It is an extraordinary turnaround for a team who won only three of their first 13 games and went into November in 20th place; in 32 games since they have the division’s second-best record, behind only Birmingham. But having reached the top six in February they immediately suffered a serious wobble, losing five games in a row. By 10 March they were ninth, seven points behind sixth-placed Bolton, who had a game in hand.
Since then Bolton have lost seven and won two – only four teams have earned fewer points – while Orient have won seven and lost one – only two teams have won more – including all their past five.
“When I first joined this football club, I said that if the fans are with me and they’re with the players, we’ll take you on a journey,” their manager, Richie Wellens, said last month. “Let’s just enjoy the journey because at the moment it’s not a bad journey, is it? We were relegated by November, then we were safe by December, then by March we can’t get in the playoffs. It is what it is.”
Orient’s only remaining competition for the final playoff place comes fromReading, who sit level on points but with a goal difference inferior by eight. For the Royals too sneaking into the top six would be a serious achievement, givenuncertainty over the club’s futureunder the chaotic ownership of Dai Yongge.
“We have to put a team out on the pitch that will compete and fight, and they all know the importance of it and feel it, see it and smell it,” said their manager, Noel Hunt. “It’s an unbelievable position to be in, from where we were two years ago, and with all the circumstances around the place.”
Given the goal difference Reading, at home to Barnsley (who have won one of their past 11), need more points than Orient get from their visit to a Huddersfield side who have lost 11 of their past 14, and all of their past five.
DoncasterandPort Valeare going up, but with only one point between them the title is in the balance: if Donny win atNotts Countyit’s all over, but if they slip up opportunity knocks for Vale, who would take the trophy if they beat Gillingham at home, or if they draw and Doncaster lose by three or more.
Three teams are vying for the final automatic promotion spot, of whomBradfordgo into the final day in pole position, knowing victory at home to mid-table Fleetwood would take them up.
Walsall, desperate to resurrect a season that has nosedived calamitously after a wonderful start, are a point behind. In mid-January, having played 25 matches and won their previous nine, the Saddlers had 58 points – no team in any division had so many – and were 12 ahead of second-placed Crewe with a game in hand. Since then Crewe and Walsall have won only 16 points – the division’s joint-worst total, level with rock-bottom, relegatedMorecambe– and the pair fittingly play each other at Gresty Road, with the Railwaymen having long since dropped out of promotion contention.
Two points further back Notts need Bradford to lose, and for Walsall not to win, if they are to stand a chance of pipping them both – but even then they would need to become the first team since the first week of March to beat Doncaster.
Below them five teams have their eyes on two playoff places. Of those two are playing each other: eighth-placedGrimsbyneed to beatAFC Wimbledonat home to secure a place while the Dons need a point, or for neitherSalford CitynorChesterfieldto win. Seventh-placed Salford need only beat relegatedCarlisle, who have belatedly discovered some decent form with three wins from their past five, including one over Vale.
Chesterfield would overtake Salford and Grimsby if they win and neither of their closest rivals do, or if they draw and the other two both lose – though if that were to happenColchestercould leapfrog all three with a home win against Barrow.
Most business is settled with a game to go:Barnetare promoted as champions,York– quite the turnaround after finishing one point off relegation last season – andForest Greenhave qualified for the playoff semi-finals, andRochdale,OldhamandHalifaxwill play in the eliminators.
The final eliminators place will be decided by what is essentially a playoff atGateshead, where the home side have one final chance to rescue a season on the verge of being ruined by a Walsallesque falloff – having lost eight of their first 34 games they have been beaten in nine of their past 11.Southend, who with impeccable timing climbed into the top seven last week for the first time, need only to avoid defeat at Gateshead to stay there. At the other end of the tableEbbsfleetandFyldeare down, andMaidenhead(who host Boston) andWealdstone(who host Halifax) will join them if they do not win, or ifDagenham & Redbridgeget three points at Solihull Moors.