The League One play-off race is as hot as it gets, with five teams realistically fighting for that last spot.
Whilst Wycombe Wanderers and Wrexham are fighting it out for the last automatic promotion place that is second, Charlton Athletic and Stockport County occupy the other two play-off spots, being eight and nine points above the nearest competitor.
As it stands Bolton Wanderers sit in that sixth spot, with Reading, Huddersfield Town, Blackpool and Leyton Orient behind, with a point between each team.
| Position | Team | Played | GD | Points |
| 6. | Bolton | 39 | +4 | 63 |
| 7. | Reading | 39 | +5 | 62 |
| 8. | Huddersfield | 39 | +13 | 61 |
| 9. | Blackpool | 40 | +11 | 60 |
| 10. | Orient | 39 | +15 | 59 |
Bolton Wanderers
Last season, in League One, the Wanderers finished third, five points off the top two. This season’s been different to say the least. After nursing a Wembley hangover post the play-off final, Bolton moved on from Ian Evatt and onto former Plymouth Argyle boss, Steven Schumacher.
Under Schumacher, results have turned, and the Trotters are right back in the mix. After a hiccup in form, Wanderers beat Wigan (for the first time in 10 years) on Tuesday to launch themselves into sixth.
Of the teams in the chasing pack, Bolton arguably have the easiest run in, playing just one team above them and only one team in a relegation fight.
Remaining fixtures:
Bristol Rovers (H)
Rotherham United (H)
Barnsley (A)
Wycombe Wanderers (H)
Lincoln (A)
Peterborough United (A)
Stevenage (H)
Schumacher will be hoping that Wanderer’s derby win can catapult some form and see them through this run. For Bolton it is simply about not slipping up.
For once, the pressure could be off for this team. Changing manager mid-season, this should be a free hit. Yet, with that run in, there is little excuse not to get in.
Reading
The trials and tribulations of Reading off the pitch are still ongoing, with the future of the club yet to be resolved and its status at risk day by day. Despite this, on the pitch, the Royals are giving a play-off run all they’ve got.
After losing Ruben Selles to Championship side Hull City, under Noel Hunt the team hasn’t let up. Harvey Knibbs has become a midfield maestro, known for netting the late goal, to keep Reading constantly within touching distance of the top six.
Like Bolton, Reading has an ‘easier’ run in, facing just one team above them. Alongside this they have only lost one game in their last five but that was to fellow play-off chasing side Blackpool, and by three goals to nil.
Remaining fixtures:
Wycombe Wanderers (H)
Shrewsbury Town (A)
Northampton (A)
Lincoln (H)
Mansfield Town (A)
Bristol Rovers (A)
Barnsley (H)
Reading has the fourth best home record in the league, losing just four times. For this team to make the top six, they cannot afford to lose at home.
The other problem for the Royals is that they have four more away games, and they have only won away for times this campaign. Hunt will have to pull out some magic to pick up points in those games.
This side has been ruled out on several occasions and picked itself up, time and time again. They lost their manager, their top scorer and kept fighting. Form aside, you’d be stupid to rule them out now.
Huddersfield Town
There’s no other way to put it than say that Huddersfield Town have fallen off a cliff. From a strong start, to what they thought was a strong January window, to winning just four games since the 25th of January. Not exactly play-off form.
During that run the Terriers have had a plethora of injuries, sacked manager Michael Duff and on Tuesday they 1-0 to Lincoln which sparked angry reaction in the away end towards the players.
Whilst fans call for changes in hierarchy, interim boss Jon Worthington has a difficult challenge on his hands to get this team on some sort of run.
Huddersfield face two teams above them, three teams in a relegation fight and host top six rivals, Leyton Orient. Great fun for a team that’s lost four out of its last five then.
Remaining fixtures:
Mansfield Town (H)
Wycombe Wanderers (H)
Burton Albion (A)
Cambridge United (H)
Stockport County (A)
Exeter (A)
Leyton Orient (H)
The Terriers have spent big since dropping down from the Championship (but not quite Birmingham City big). There’s some serious quality in this squad, quality enough that they should be higher than where they are. Make no mistake, this team not making the play-offs is a failure.
Worthington will no doubt do his best to find some sort of rhythm in this team but the attitude in and around the squad, seems one of let’s forget this year and move on.
Blackpool
The in-form team in League One, Blackpool have skyrocketed up the league in recent weeks, winning five out of their last six, two of those wins coming against rivals for that play-off spot.
Steve Bruce’s team have found form at just the right time, looking like the side to beat in this race. That being said, the fixtures are not favourable to the Seasiders.
Blackpool face Bristol Rovers on the last day, who will no doubt need points but before that they have Wrexham and table toppers Birmingham City, who even if they have one the league by that matchday, look an impossible task.
Remaining Fixtures:
Rotherham United (A)
Stevenage (A)
Wrexham (H)
Wigan Athletic (A)
Birmingham City (H)
Bristol Rovers (H)
Bruce’s team will need to pull off some super results to get in. The team has also played one more game than the rest, making the task even bigger.
For Blackpool, it will be all about staying in touching distance, keep the form going and when someone slips up, be there and take that spot.
Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient find themselves as the rank outsiders, having fallen from inside the play-offs, down to tenth. Despite this, all is not lost for Richie Wellens men, as they only sit four points off six, with the best goal difference of the chasing pack.
Defensively, Orient have had a strong season, with the fourth most clean sheets in League One this campaign. Unfortunately for them, this run has faltered, with the team recording just one of those clean sheets since February.
Orient’s run in is easier than some of the others but gets harder the closer we get to final day. The teams last two games are against top two chasing Wycombe Wanderers and play-off rivals Huddersfield Town.
Remaining Fixtures:
Wigan Athletic (H)
Mansfield Town (A)
Crawley Town (A)
Barnsley (H)
Cambridge United (A)
Wycombe Wanderers (H)
Huddersfield Town (A)
Whilst the big standouts are promotion rivals, Orient also face three teams fighting to stay up. Not fun.
Wellens team have been a fun watch this season but have lacked consistency. Unfortunately, consistency is what they really need now to make the top six, or this could be a what if year.
Prediction
Calling a play-off run is always a horror show, because no matter form, no matter quality, one team always falls off rapidly and another jumps through hoops.
Despite this I do believe Bolton make that sixth place. The win at Wigan has reignited a team that looked like it had fallen off. Most of this team went to Wembley a year ago and lost that final. With fight instilled by boss Schumacher and a favourable fixture list, those in white will be looking to rewrite that chapter and have another go at making the step up.
Pushing them close in my eyes will be Reading. After playing Wycombe, the Royals have a decent fixture list against teams they should be able to beat. Reading have had their backs against the wall all year, I think they continue to win but I don’t think Bolton slip up enough to get in.
Following on I have Blackpool, the Seasiders will keep up the form but fall off in the games the Wrexham and Birmingham. The fact they have also played an extra game will make it all the more difficult to catch those above.
After that, I’m going Huddersfield Town. I can’t see the rot stopping, this team screams on the beach with an inquest in the summer coming. The only reason I have them above Orient is that I can see them winning games against Exeter and Cambridge when the play-offs are most definitely gone.
Finally, we have Leyton Orient, a valiant attempt but their fixture list, combined with their current placing, puts them out of it. Scott Lindsay’s Crawley Town alongside facing Wycombe at crunch time will be very hard fixtures, not to mention they will be hard to get a team up for those games when the prize is so far away.
Predicted Table:
| Position | Team | Points |
| 6. | Bolton | 79 |
| 7. | Reading | 77 |
| 8. | Blackpool | 72 |
| 9. | Huddersfield Town | 70 |
| 10. | Leyton Orient | 69 |
What are your predictions for who makes the League One play-offs? Let us know in the comments.
