The business end of the season sees six teams still in contention for automatic promotion to league one. With only three spots up for grabs, each team is looking to end the season on a run of good form to steer clear of the dreaded playoffs.
Which team has the easiest run-in? What are the key games? What can the history of these teams tell us?
Fixture List: Average League position of opponents: 9
Bromley find themselves at the top of league one in just their second season in the EFL. Currently sitting on 79 points, seven clear off the playoffs, there should be no reason for the Ravens to worry right?
Bromley travelled to strugglers Barrow on Saturday and two quick-fire goals for the home side saw the league leaders 21 game unbeaten run come to an end.
They will be keen to get back to winning ways when they visit Barnet on Good Friday, unfortunately for Bromley, this game begins the toughest run for any of the teams in the promotion fight.
Bromley have three games in a row against teams in the top seven, before hosting Walsall on the final day, who are in the hunt for a playoff place.
They have been without top scorer Michael Cheek for the last five games due to injury, with no definite date of return.
However, Bromley are in first place for a reason, they don’t lose very often. With only five defeats in the league this season, Bromley have enough quality to confirm promotion to league one.
Key Game: MK Dons (A) April 11
Bromley will visit second place Milton Keynes Dons to start their run of three games against other automatic promotion contenders. Winning this game is crucial for both sides, but would settle Bromley nerves ahead of other tough games. An away win for the Ravens in MK, and they’d be all but promoted.
Fixture List: Average League position of opponents: 12.33
The Dons have the joint easiest run-in of the top six, putting them in complete control. The only issue is, they are going into this run after consecutive defeats.
A home defeat to Barnet and a defeat to sixth place Salford City is a sign that the Dons might be starting to wobble. Their 21-22 league one season saw them win just two of their last five games. They missed out on automatic promotion by a single point, before losing in the playoff semi-final.
History suggests it will be automatic promotion or nothing for MK Dons, with all six of their playoff campaigns culminating in a semi final defeat.
Nathaniel-Méndez Laing returned for the Dons against Salford and top scorer Callum Paterson is not far behind. Having these two back for the final six games will be crucial.
MK have scored the most in the league this season, but seem to struggle creatively when facing more physical and scrappy teams. However, they should pick up enough points in the final six to secure a top three finish and promotion to league one.
The Dons will face a spirited Barrow next, having beaten leaders Bromley less than a week ago.
Key Game: Bromley (H) April 11
The same key game for the top two as MK will host Bromley in what could be a title deciding game. Any three points are crucial at this stage, and winning this would send out a real statement heading into the final three games.
Fixture List: Average League Position of opponents: 12.33
Notts County sit third in the table, just one point behind MK Dons, and with an identical average league position of opponents in their final six.
The Magpies have had an inconsistent season, failing to gather real momentum and put a strong run together. With a difficult period around Christmas and the New Year, it looked as though County would have to settle for a playoff place.
In late January, they went on a seven game unbeaten run, winning six, the only draw coming at leaders Bromley. They have been hot and cold since then, but have scored 15 goals in their last six games. With four wins in these games and some renewed confidence, they could put together a run to finish the season.
With a frontline of Matthew Dennis and Alassana Jatta, the Magpies have been unstoppable going forward. Furthermore, Notts County have scored the second most in the league, their two strikers scoring 29 between them.
Looking at their final six, it would be hard to bet against them. However they do have two tough games against teams around them in that run. These promotion six pointers will prove crucial, especially if County falter in any of their other four games.
Key Game: Cambridge United (A) April 11
Another massive game at the top takes places on April 11 as Cambridge host Notts County. County take on fourth place and a win here would set them up to take 12 points from their final four. This would almost guarantee promotion to league one.
Fixture List: Average League position of opponents: 9.33
Cambridge are the only team in the top seven with an extra game left to play. However, they also have perhaps the most difficult challenge in securing promotion to league one, based on their fixture list.
The U’s will play three other teams in the top 6 and then travel to seventh place Crewe on the final day. They will be facing some of the highest scoring teams in the league and surely have the hardest run-in out of the top six.
More positively, Cambridge have the best defence in the EFL, and will need them on top form in the final seven. Kelland Watts has been a standout in the U’s defence, not just his defensive contribution, but his goal tally also.
Cambridge have only won two of their last six games, whilst only one was a defeat, they will need to start picking up wins on this run. They will struggle in these final six games and will need big shifts from every player to secure promotion to league one.
Key Game: Swindon Town (H) April 2
A win at home for Cambridge against fifth place Swindon will see them jump to second in the table. With the best home form in the league, the U’s should be confident heading into this. This is such a crucial game because if Cambridge are occupying an automatic spot, they should have the confidence to kick on and put together a run heading into the final six.
Fixture List: Average League position of opponents: 10.17
After the Robins’ defeat at home to MK Dons midway through March, manager Ian Holloway spoke as if he, and the team had settled for the playoffs. Two wins and a draw since then see Town back in contention for automatic promotion to league one.
The final six fixtures for Swindon show quite a mix but positively, some teams with nothing to play for. Swindon could end up playing some teams at the perfect time, with nothing to play for, they may find it easier to pick up some points on this run.
Aaron Drinan is the one to watch for Swindon, with 20 goals for them in the league. If he continues to score, Swindon’s automatic promotion push will have some serious weight behind it.
Only four points behind second place, and with a favourable fixture list, the Robins are still very much in this fight.
Key Game: Grimsby Town (A) 25 April
Swindon will travel to Blundell Park for their penultimate game of the season to face Grimsby Town. The home side may still be in the hunt for the final playoff spot. Going to a hostile atmosphere that late in the season will be very difficult, especially if the Mariners still have something to play for. With two teams scrapping for points, this one could get seriously lively.
Fixture List: Average league position of opponents: 9.83
Currently in sixth place on 70 points, Salford City are only three points off an automatic promotion place. An impressive home win against MK Dons in their last game increased their chances of promotion to league one.
Unfortunately for Salford, they do have a difficult end to the season, playing four teams in the top ten and two sitting above them in the table.
Heading into a tricky game at home to third place Notts County, Salford are currently on a run of five wins in their last six games, while some of their promotion rivals seem to be floundering. This is fantastic form heading into the final six and the Ammies will be filled with confidence for this run.
City will hope their impressive home form continues when welcoming both County and Bromley to The Peninsula Stadium in April.
Key Game: Notts County (H) April 3
A win for the Ammies in this game would put them level on points with Notts County and would seriously increase pressure on the five teams currently above them. Should Salford win this game, they will still have a difficult run, but the confidence this win could bring them is so important.
Even one of these teams missing out on automatic promotion would seem unfair after six commendable seasons, but three of them will end up in the playoffs.
Bromley and MK Dons should have enough quality to retain their current positions as the top two, even though they will go head to head in early April.
Swindon should win at least five of their last six, finishing the season strongly and sneaking into third, sealing automatic promotion to league one.
However, any combination of three teams going up seems realistic and it will come down to the promotion six pointers still to play.
