The League One relegation battle is still raging on! Between a slog by Bristol Rovers and resurgence by Crawley, could the battle be as open as ever?..
Burton are another key player at the bottom hoping to get their fate into their own hands. There’s no cut off just yet, but let’s look at some of the sides that need to keep watching out for now…
The bottom half of League One
Mansfield Town
- Fri, 18 Apr: Rotherham (a)
- Mon, 21 Apr: Reading (H)
- Sun, 27 Apr: Birmingham (a)
- Wed, 30 Apr: Peterborough (H)
- Sat, 3 May: Exeter (H)
Mansfield are perhaps a surprise presence in the continued discussion for League One relegation considering they currently sit eight points clear of the drop zone.
However the Stags have, like many below, now lost three on the bounce and face arguably the worst run-in of all the sides around them, despite being the only one to have back-to-back home matches to end the season.
The arrival of 34-year-old American forward Dominic Dwyer has already yielded three goals in just 221 league minutes – an impressive return for the free agent signing.
Wigan Athletic
- Sat, 12 Apr: Wrexham (H)
- Fri, 18 Apr: Shrewsbury (a)
- Mon, 21 Apr: Rotherham (H)
- Sat, 26 Apr: Blackpool (H)
- Tue, 29 Apr: Burton (a)
- Sat, 3 May: Northampton (a)
Wigan are League One’s lowest scorers (35; one less than bottom placed Shrewsbury), yet have conceded the least goals outside the top five (39; giving a goal difference of -4 – the best in the bottom half).
The Latics are one of the few clubs still with six games to play – their game in hand is their penultimate fixture, in Burton. Ryan Lowe’s side will be under no illusions that despite facing sides (currently) 21st and 19th respectively in their final two games, they represent far from a guarantee of points.
You’d be forgiven for believing, still, that Wigan will have enough to avoid the drop; their tie against Shrewsbury marks a great route to points and would give them a step closer to 50 points, and presumed safety.
Northampton Town
- Sat, 12 Apr: Reading (H)
- Fri, 18 Apr: Charlton (a)
- Mon, 21 Apr: Shrewsbury (H)
- Sat, 26 Apr: Crawley (a)
- Sat, 3 May: Wigan (H)
Kevin Nolan has largely impressed with the Cobblers after replacing Jon Brady, who walked away in early December. Their form has seen them lose just twice since the start of March, albeit they have equally won only the same amount out of the eight fixtures in that period.
Most recently was their thumping 4-0 win in Peterborough – with Bristol Rovers and Burton below them losing, the victory took them four points clear in 19th, allowing them some breathing space for their tricky upcoming matches.
Northampton do however finish the campaign with two sides currently in the relegation zone, as well as Wigan on the final day. Their influence around the League One relegation drop zone will be significant, even if they are able to pull themselves away.
Bristol Rovers
- Sat, 12 Apr: Exeter (H)
- Fri, 18 Apr: Wrexham (a)
- Mon, 21 Apr: Stevenage (H)
- Sat, 26 Apr: Reading (H)
- Sat, 3 May: Blackpool (a)
Bristol Rovers are experiencing a torrid time in the League One relegation battle, currently on their worst run of the season of five straight defeats – that includes a devastating loss to Mansfield (H), where Rovers gifted the visitors a pair of calamitous goals, including one in the opening minute.
That run does include a spirited performance at home to table toppers Birmingham (live on Sky Sports Main Event) among generally improved performances for Inigo Calderon’s men, but at this stage only points will suffice.
It can’t be ignored the injuries that have plagued Rovers for much of the campaign though – strikers Chris Martin and record-signing Promise Omochere were been ruled out for the season weeks ago, while Kamil Conteh, who had Championship interest in January, hasn’t played a minute since Calderon’s appointment on Boxing Day.
The Gas have taken just 11 away points this campaign but have three home games remaining – Exeter (H) this weekend now represents the best chance at points for the remainder of the season, as they look to ensure their fate is still in their own hands come the final game(s), even if little is expected to come from Blackpool (a).
Burton Albion
- Sat, 12 Apr: Huddersfield (H)
- Fri, 18 Apr: Exeter (a)
- Mon, 21 Apr: Birmingham (H)
- Sat, 26 Apr: Cambridge (H)
- Tue, 29 Apr: Wigan (H)
- Sat, 3 May: Charlton (a)
Burton’s run in is generally considered more favourable that those around them, crucially also containing an additional fixture (against Wigan (H), penultimate match – not played in the recent midweek due to Wigan already having a fixture). Peculiar as it may seem, they will play three consecutive home matches within nine days!
The Brewers have found a way to win under Gary Bowyer, which isn’t always pretty but has proven successful often enough; four of their last five victories being by just a single goal, keeping clean sheets in three of those.
The main battle for League One survival continues to lie between Burton and Bristol Rovers: the former have held their game in hand for several weeks now and have their two most win-able affairs immediately before the final day.
Importantly, both them and the Gas have much trickier fixtures on the final day, so whoever’s destiny is in their own hands come that stage are likely to be the one to survive…
Crawley Town
- Sat, 12 Apr: Leyton Orient (H)
- Fri, 18 Apr: Birmingham (a)
- Mon, 21 Apr: Exeter (H)
- Sat, 26 Apr: Northampton (H)
- Sat, 3 May: Shrewsbury (a)
Crawley have seen somewhat of a revival since the return of Scott Lindsay a few weeks ago. That return came at the worst possible time for Bristol Rovers, however, who were beaten just a few days after Lindsay’s return despite Crawley being winless in eight games.
The Red Devils followed up the win against the Gas with a 4-0 battering of Rotherham, but were defeated by a 97th minute penalty at home to Peterborough in a seven goal thriller. Now two losses on the trot, it could be said Crawley have returned to their ways of unsustainable possession football that yields plentiful chances – having now conceded seven goals in two.
It’s no surprise that Crawley are the league’s top conceders (78 conceded; Shrewsbury next with 70), but the fact alone they have returned to the conversation for survival is impressive enough.
The gap may still be slightly too much but they will take high hopes into three fixtures to end the season that they won’t be written out of, hoping to pile pressure onto Bristol Rovers ad Burton as they look to contend League One relegation to the final moments…
