League One Going To The Wire?

Last updated : 08 April 2013 By Bournemouth Co-Ordinator

In a sentence, can League One get any tighter given that the top-7 are all falling over each other for the final push for success come April 27th. As those in the top-7 have stuggled, those clubs on the fringe of the play-offs keep on chipping away at the gap, most notably the likes of Walsall, Leyton Orient and Coventry City have been closing the gap. Notts County cannot be ignored either as the race hots up.

Concentrating on the top-7 for a moment, they all have to play each other at some point in the final few matches:

Date Doncaster Rovers Swindon Town AFC Bournemouth Brentford Sheffield United Yeovil Town Tranmere Rovers
w/c Apr 8  Carlisle United (h) Franchise FC (a)   Crewe Alexandra (a)  Crawley Town (h)    
Apr 13 Crewe Alexandra (a) Sheffield United (a) Shrewsbury Town (a) Portsmouth (h) Swindon Town (h) Stevenage Borough (a) Hartlepool United (h)
w/c Apr 15   Crewe Alexandra (h)   Sheffield United (a)  Brentford (h) Oldham Athletic (a)  
Apr 20   Stevenage Borough (h) Carlisle United (h) Hartlepool United (a) Portsmouth (a) Crewe Alexandra (h) Preston North End (a)
w/c Apr 22         Crewe Alexandra (a)    
Apr 27 Brentford (a) Scunthorpe United (a) Tranmere Rovers (a) Doncaster Rovers (h) Preston North End (h) Bury (a) AFC Bournemouth (h)

With so many top-7 (in bold) encounters still to be played out. Those in italics denote ties to be played against those sides on the fringe of the play-offs.

It is worth noting that there are several all top-7 clashes every step of the way, also that Crewe Alexandra are going to play a big part to the run in given that they have to play 6 of the top-8 before the season concludes on April 27th. Watch out for the dark horses, Walsall who do not play anyone around them.

With League One being SO tight, and so many intriguing ties left to play, there are plenty of twists and turns left in the 2012/13 season.