Heartbreak For Derby? Joy For Lincoln? Supercomputer Predicts Final League One Table
With the League One season now entering its final stages, the race is on for a number of teams to reach their respective goal of either promotion or survival.
It’s been an exciting few weeks in England’s third tier. Whilst Portsmouth appear to be on the brink of Championship football, Derby County and Bolton Wanderers are in a battle to secure the second automatic promotion spot. The Rams emerged victorious in Saturday’s clash between the pair at Pride Park, giving Paul Warne’s side a four point cushion, with both having seven games left to play.
In the play-off places, Peterborough United have recovered from their wobble in February and look to have done enough for the second consecutive year, as do Barnsley below them in fifth. That sixth spot is open for debate though. Currently occupied by Oxford United, Lincoln City have come out of nowhere to launch their pursuit, whilst Stevenage, Blackpool and Leyton Orient are all still in the conversation.
The bottom end of the table is equally exciting. Carlisle United are all-but-down, but the final three relegation places are all up for grabs. Cheltenham Town, Fleetwood Town and Port Vale are those that are looking the most likely to drop into League Two, although the Robins and the Valiants have both played less games than those surrounding them. As a result, Cambridge United and Burton Albion are anxiously looking over their shoulders.
With so much still to play for, the OLBG supercomputer has tried its hand at the final League One standings, where it has drawn up some interesting results.
Automatic Promotion
Unsurprisingly, Portsmouth are predicted to win the title. Their fate will be sealed before their final day visit to Lincoln, who will look to have more resting on the meeting at Sincil Bank in April.
It’s the second of the two automatic promotion spots which may cause the most controversy. Derby look comfortable following their huge victory over Bolton at the weekend, but the supercomputer says that they will face capitulation over the next seven games, picking up just 10 points to drop into third. As a result, the Trotters are tipped to pip their promotion rivals to that all-important runner-up spot.
Play-Offs
With the Rams having to make do with the end-of-season lottery, Barnsley and Peterborough could swap places to finish fourth and fifth respectively. The duo were both bested by Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs last season (Peterborough in the semi-final and Barnsley in the final), but a two-legged tie between the two awaits for Neill Collins and Darren Ferguson.
All eyes are currently on that sixth place, with four teams in the race. Stevenage have arguably been the season’s surprise package but are predicted the suffer heartbreak with an eighth-place finish.
Lincoln’s 13-match unbeaten run saw them move up to seventh on Saturday when they beat Bristol Rovers 5-0 at the LNER Stadium. Their recent form has made them many people’s favourites to sneak into the play-offs and the supercomputer agrees, finishing two points above Oxford. Leyton Orient and Blackpool finish ninth and tenth.
Mid-Table Obscurity
Wigan Athletic began the campaign on -8 points and will be delighted if they achieve an 11th-place finish, one place above Wycombe Wanderers. Northampton Town‘s first season back in the third tier ends comfortably in 13th, level on points with Bristol Rovers, whilst Charlton Athletic will breathe a sigh of relief in 15th after briefly flirting with relegation.
Exeter City are another that looked to be heading towards a fight at the bottom, but two successive wins have eased those fears. Reading have endured a turbulent season off the field, but a 17th-placed finish would round off an excellent campaign for manager Ruben Selles.
Relegation
The dreaded bottom four. Barring a miracle of epic proportions, Carlisle are down. It’s just a question of who joins them.
Despite their games in hand, Port Vale won’t be able to make up the ground and will remain in 23rd. Fleetwood will join them in League Two next season, although the supercomputer has predicted a great escape for Cheltenham.
The Robins started the season in disastrous form, losing 10 of their first 11 games without scoring a single goal. However, the appointment of Darrell Clarke in October proved to be a turning point. Form almost immediately picked up and they are now in a very real fight to retain their League One status.
Despite a winless run of six games, it is predicted that they will avoid relegation by making the most of their additional fixtures. As a result, it is Cambridge who face a drop to the fourth tier.
Shrewsbury Town are said to pick up just three more points which will see them drop to 19th, whilst Burton survive by six points in 18th.
