A few interesting results across the league this weekend to review.
At the bottom
Newport gave their hopes of survival a huge boost, beating bottom club Harrogate 2-1 at Rodney Parade. That victory leaves Harrogate and Barrow, who lost a tight game 3-2 at Barnet, four points adrift of safety, both on 33 points. The three others still in the mix are the aforementioned Newport, along with Crawley and Tranmere, who are all on 37 points.
On the beach
From Fleetwood in 14th down to Cheltenham in 19th, none can now mathematically be relegated or make the play-offs. However, despite the perceived wisdom that clubs with nothing to play for don't put the effort in, four of the six won today, one drew and only Accrington Stanley lost. That was against one of the other six, 1-2 at home to Fleetwood Town courtesy of an injury-time winner for the Cod Army.
At the top
Bromley missed out on being the first side to guarantee promotion (for now), losing 2-1 at second place MK Dons. Cambridge in third place kept up the pressure, thumping Notts County 4-0 at the Abbey, and that despite having their keeper red-carded before half-time. The current play-off placed teams had a weekend to forget, with both Notts County and of course Swindon losing heavily, Salford could only draw 0-0 at home against Gillingham, and Chesterfield blew their chance put some space between them and the chasing pack, surprisingly only managing a 1-1 home draw against Tranmere.
Hope springs eternal
That leaves Grimsby in 8th down to the U's in 13th still in with a mathematical chance of making the play-offs. With their game in hand, Grimsby do still have a very distant chance of crashing the automatic promotion party, but for the rest, it's the play-offs or nothing. After our win on Friday, only Grimsby and Barnet made any headway this afternoon, both winning very tight games. Crewe (against Grimsby), Oldham and Walsall all lost, the latter very heavily, 4-0 at home to Cheltenham Town.
Next up
Tuesday night will see a few of the games in hand resolved. Barrow are at home, fighting for their lives against an Oldham Athletic side that need the points just as much at the top. Cheltenham play Gillingham in a match that means nothing but pride for either side. The crunch game will be Chesterfield at home to Grimsby - a Spireites win would leave any hope of the play-offs for the U's relying on goal difference, a win for Grimsby would be nearly as damaging, so our hopes must rest with a draw. However, if we don't beat Accrington Stanley, and realistically beat them well, that will be our faintest of play-off dreams gone for the season. More on that later in my revitalised match preview to come... |  |
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