WHILE the teams around the top of League One dream of reaching the Championship, spare a thought for those at the wrong end of the table.
The prospect of League Two football is looming large for a number of clubs who have failed to hit the heights this term.
Of course, there is still time for nearly all to get out of trouble – if they can string a run of results together when they really need it…
DEAD AND BURIED
SADLY, it’s just going to be a one-season stay in League Two for Carlisle. A whopping 15 points from safety after yesterday’s home draw against Stevenage, Paul Simpson’s play-off winners have found the step up to the third tier too big a hurdle and are set to make a timid exit back to the EFL’s basement division.
UP AGAINST IT
WHO goes down with Carlisle remains to be seen. Pre-weekend, Port Vale, Fleetwood and Cheltenham were the clear favourites to join them.
Darren Moore’s Valiants are three points off safety after yesterday’s vital victory at Burton. After winning promotion from League One with Sheffield Wednesday last term, the new Port Vale boss doesn’t want to go out of the division by the trapdoor this time around. He believes his side can still get clear of trouble and will give his all to achieve that, but he needs his players to start ering – and fast. delivCheltenham – who made a dire Fleetwood are five points off safety and rookie boss Charlie Adam has certainly made the Cod Army more difficult to beat of late, but the key now is whether they can start turning draws into wins.
Three successive draws have taken Fleetwood’s tally to 13 for the season, joint second behind Charlton (15).
A good place to start would be by turning over Cheltenham, the side directly above them in the table, at home in a six-pointer on Good Friday.
Darrell Clarke’s Robins are four points adrift of safety, but do have at least one game in hand on the sides directly above the dotted line. Three wins in a row last month made it look as though start to the season – could surge clear of danger, but they have lost a bit of momentum of late.
A battling point last time out at Barnsley showed their grit and they will be targeting the Fleetwood t
