Ahead of the final weekend of the regular season, further promotions beckon in our latest rundown from the lower division
Key matches
• After West Ham's thoroughly professional first-leg display at Cardiff on Thursday night, the Championship play-off semi-finals continue on Friday with Blackpool hosting Birmingham City. A solitary point in Blues' favour split the teams after 46 games of the regular season, but Ian Holloway insists his Tangerines side are underdogs going into the first leg at Bloomfield Road. "Perhaps we are not the laughing stock we used to be, so maybe people won't take us so lightly this time. But I still think most will have us down as rank outsiders," said Holloway, who will be without defender Craig Cathcart, currently being assessed after suffering heart problems, while former Blues Kevin Phillips and Barry Ferguson should feature at some point. As for Birmingham – their promotion push already being likened to the biblical rise of Lazarus by one priest in the city – Nikola Zigic has shrugged off a knee problem, while Jonathan Spector has also recovered after a thigh injury. "Would I settle for two boring games where we didn't play well but managed to win? Yes," said manager Chris Hughton.
• Nearly all eyes in League One will be focused on the fight between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United for the second automatic promotion spot (more of which is here in Louise Taylor's scene-setter). And with relegation issues resolved, there is still one play-off place up for grabs alongside the Owls or Blades, plus MK Dons and Huddersfield. Stevenage are in pole position and have their fate in their own hands (barring a freakishly huge Notts County win), knowing a win over Bury in a home sell-out could set up a return with the Blades side they held in a Bramall Lane thriller last Saturday. "I'm looking forward to it and I think all the players are as well," said manager Gary Smith, whose team are seeking a second successive promotion. "It should be an exciting occasion with a big crowd and there will certainly be a lot of emotion on the day." Any slip-up could let Notts County in, mind, and the Magpies host Colchester, with eighth-placed Carlisle – just a point adrift, visiting Oldham, needing a win and help from elsewhere.
• League Two also has a three-way tussle on the cards, with Crawley Town (81 points), Torquay United (81) and Southend United (80) all duking it out for the right to join Swindon and Shrewsbury in League One. Crawley are seven goals better off than the Gulls, so know a win at Accrington will all but guarantee their ascent. "We've heard there's eight coaches [of fans] going and we're looking forward to doing it for them," said midfielder Josh Simpson, whose team will need a vastly improved performance after going down 3-0 at home to Hereford last weekend. Torquay are next up for the resilient Bulls, stepping directly into the Barnet-Hereford relegation dogfight, making the Edgar Street clash potentially decisive at both ends of the table. As for the Shrimpers, they host already-relegated Macclesfield, needing assistance elsewhere, but a greater goal difference than both rivals means a point against the Silkmen could yet be enough to sneak up. Cheltenham are secure in the third play-off berth, with Crewe on course to bag the fourth and final one, although defeat at home to Aldershot would open the door for Oxford United – owners of a better goal difference – to win and pip Alex.
Quote of the week
"They have [been] a big disappointment this season and the manager is under pressure because the fans don't like him too much" – one last appearance this season from Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio, who can't resist stirring things up with Bradford counterpart Phil Parkinson, even with his team crowned champions ahead of the season-ending trip to Valley Parade.
Goal of the week
Not a classic selection to pick from this week, but Andy Dorman's technically meticulous volley in Bristol Rovers' 5-1 pillaging of Accrington stands out.
Players to watch
• Jason Pearce: Leeds have completed the signing of the Portsmouth defender for an undisclosed fee, in the week that boss Neil Warnock cleared the way for 11 players to leave Elland Road. A new broom and all that. "I've said all along that there could be a large influx of new faces coming, but I can't tell you how many," said Warnock, who added of Pearce: "He's just the type I look for when I go into a club at Championship level."
• Chris Taylor: the out-of-contract Oldham midfielder looks to be heading towards the Boundary Park exit, with Championship clubs circling. "Nobody can begrudge him wanting to play at a higher level," said boss Paul Dickov.
(Fooling absolutely no one here) 'Best' bets
• Preston to beat Bournemouth at 7-2: two tumultuous campaigns come to an end at Dean Court and both squads will be packed with individuals playing for their futures. North End are unbeaten in five, four of which have been against top-six outfits, and the Cherries don't warrant odds-on status sitting just a single point ahead of Saturday's opponents.
• Shrewsbury to beat AFC Wimbledon at 5-4: 37 points separate the two teams, with the Shrews having won seven of nine. The only reason they are odds-against is the prospect of a promotion hangover, but manager Graham Turner has a full-strength squad to choose from. "We have loyal fans who will be travelling to watch us this weekend and we want to put on a show for them," said skipper Ian Sharps.
Nothing to see here dept: we'll monitor the "best bets" progress through the season, with a set stake of £10 per bet. Current loss (ahem): -£134.95. As for our Championship Fantasy League, the pin for which is: 12647. Congratulations to Phil Avery, who has come out on top with Numbers Game, beating Tom Povey's Spartak Pantsdown into second, with Ben Youngman and The Posh FC in third.
What you may have missed from the blogosphere
No Nay Never on why the Burnley board must keep their squad together:
If we look around the league, we can see a few examples of this strategy working. Most prominently, Brian McDermott of Reading elected to stay at the Royals when managerless Wolves came calling. Some were questioning his decision at the time, but some were praising him. As it turns out, McDermott staying (possibly due to the support of his board) led to the best end result possible – promotion to the Premier League. This contrasts vastly to Wolves who were the first team to secure a relegation place this season. Elsewhere, Watford kept Adrian Mariappa in the January window (whether that has been a good result for the player is debatable) but it's increasingly hard to find examples of a strategy like this.
The 72: Macclesfield Town – down but not deserted:
On the day that Rickie Lambert helped his Southampton side reach the milk and honey land of the Premier League, his former side Macclesfield Town went in the opposite direction and slipped quietly from the Football League altogether. The contrast between the two parties since parting ways has been remarkable. Rickie arrived at the Moss Rose in 2001 after being dumped by Blackpool the previous year and went on to score 10 goals in 49 appearances for the Silkmen before Stockport took him off our hands a little over a year later. Since then Lambert has blossomed – scoring 175 goals, experiencing three promotions (one with Bristol Rovers, two with his current club), been involved in a six-figure transfer, and in March was named the Championship player of the season. In the same period Macclesfield have mostly hung sulkily around the lower reaches of League Two, only once threatening anything other than bottom half obscurity.
Final word
Just to say thanks to all those who have joined the discussion on this blog through the season. Apologies for the shameful tipping. Enjoy the play-offs … and your summers. Read More
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
