I s'pose I should do an update since it is getting late in the season now.
CHAMPIONSHIPMost teams now have 4 matches left. Four (Newcastle, QPR, Scun-thorpe, and Watford) have five, and one (Reading) has six.
But on to the points. Newcastle (89) has clinched promotion back into the Premiership, and West Bromwich (83) can do so with just one win in their last four matches.
The playoffs are still all to play for at this point, even for 3rd-place Nottingham Forest (72) who can still mathematically be eliminated even though they are nine points clear of 7th-place Blackpool (63). Both Welsh teams are still in the playoff spots, with Cardiff (69) and Swansea (65) being back-to-back in the table. Leicester (64) rounds out the top six. But methinks this playoff race could get very interesting. Leicester and Swansea have had a run of poor form, and the three teams behind them - Blackpool (62), Middlesbrough (58), and Bristol City (56) are all on massive unbeaten streaks. Reading (55), with their games in hand, could also be a threat. Even with them in the points are Sheffield United and Doncaster, but they have also played two more games. Which pleases me to no end, because I would hate to see that dirtbag Chris Morgan play in the Premiership after he damn near killed Iain Hume.
At the other end, Peterborough (31) is officially hooped after a 2-2 draw with Barnsley (52) coming off a five-game losing streak - this means their maximum points total is a dismal 43, which is three fewer than they'd need to get to safety. By the way, guess who scored both goals for the Tykes?
More on him later. Plymouth (41) is still very much alive, but they're fading fast. Sheffield Wednesday (45) on the other hand, is even in the points with Watford, but behind on goal differential and games played, which could prove tricky. Still, the bottom end is quite close. Here's the table of everyone within 9 points:
13. Ipswich - 54
14. Coventry - 52, -12
15. Barnsley - 52, -13
16. Derby - 51
17. North End Scum - 50
18. QPR - 48
19. Scun-thorpe - 47
20. Crystal Palace - 46
21. Watford - 45, -11
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22. Sheff W - 45, -18
23. Plymouth - 41
I would laugh my arse off if Preston North End ended up relegated
Canadians - it seems that Burnley loaned David Edgar to Swansea.
But the real story on the Canuck front is Iain Hume, who you could say drove the final nail into Peterborough's coffin by scoring both goals in the 2-2 draw for Barnsley. Nothing new from Jaime Peters or Marcus Haber, matter of fact there are rumours the latter may be heading back to the Whitecaps.
LEAGUE ONEThese guys are a bit further behind on their sked, as most teams have six matches left, four teams (Tranmere, Huddersfield, Southampton, and Brentford) have seven left, and Oldham has eight left.
With that in mind, no one has clinched anything yet, save for first-place Norwich (85) being guaranteed at least a playoff spot. Swindon (76) and Millwall (75) are both on hot streaks right now, with the former being on a 3-game win streak and only having dropped two points in their last six matches (against Norwich, no less), while the latter is on a nine-game unbeaten streak, having only dropped four points in the stretch! Colour me impressed!
Leeds (74) snapped a four-game losing streak to stay in the hunt for that second auto-promo spot (let's face it, all maths aside, Norwich looks destined to take one spot
) and are even in the points with Charlton Athletic, who are on a four-game unbeaten streak.
As for the last playoff spot though, it could get very interesting, with sixth-place Huddersfield and seventh-place Colchester U even in the points (both 65) and both having rather shaky form at the moment. With Bristol Rovers (61) and Southampton (57) both charging hard late in the season, we could have a battle! Rovers are 6-1-2 in their last nine outings, while Southampton have only lost two of their last fifteen in the League and also have recent hardware in their trophy cases, having won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Having a game in hand also helps. I guess one could say MK Dons is also in striking range, but they have had very poor form of late.
At the other end, it is still very close. In spite of a recent loss, Southend United (38) are still only three points from safety, and with Leyton Orient's abysmal form of late (4-game losing streak), who's to say they won't catch up? Tranmere (41) has that game in hand as well, which could push Orient into the red zone sooner than you think. Right down there are Gillingham, Oldham (both 43), Exeter (44), Hartlepool, and Yeovil (both 45). For some reason, Gills haven't been starting Jackson. Umm... news flash, he's your top scorer!
I'm guessing poor form.
LEAGUE TWOSix teams are off-kilter in the league. Accrington Stanley, Cheltenham, Rochdale, and Barnet have seven matches left, while Notts County and Darlington have eight left. Everyone else has six.
It would seem that Rochdale (79) is on the brink of clinching at least a playoff spot - if they win or Northampton (63) and Morecambe (61) both lose, they're in clear sailing. That aside, however, they aren't anywhere near as far ahead as they were, with Notts County (74) and their extra game in hand gaining steam. Bournemouth (71) is hanging onto that third auto-promo spot for dear life.
The playoff race is anything but over. Only six points separate 4th-place Rotherham from 11th-place Dag & Red:
4. Rotherham - 65
5. Aldershot - 64, +13
6. Chesterfield - 64, +2
7. Bury - 64, -1
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8. Northampton - 63
9. Morecambe - 61
10. Port Vale - 59, +13
11. Dag & Red - 59, +5
Shrewsbury (55) appears destined to be on the outside looking in, as they have spiralled into a six-game losing streak. It's a shame, really. They were doing so well earlier in the season. They are, of course, clear of relegation. As a matter of fact, any team with 52 or more points is, thanks to Grimsby's (34) rather pathetic season. Only Darlington (22) is worse off, and the next-closest teams are still seven clear - Cheltenham and Torquay (both 41).
I have to wonder what they put in Hereford U's water
They're on a 4-game win streak. I mean sure, their resident Canadian (Gavin McCallum) hasn't put up any further stats, but it's still worth noting. They're doing better than that other team with a Canadian - all Terry Dunfield has been able to do with Shrewsbury is take bookings. XD
Conference update on Friday.
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