League Two promotion pushes to be decided on the final day

With the final weekend of the regular EFL season fast approaching many teams still have all to play for, particularly in League Two.

After what has been nothing short of a unique season for all sides across the country, some clubs are still yet to find out their fates for this season and where they may be come the start of the new campaign in August.

Relegation has already been decided, with Southend United and Grimsby Town both playing National League football next season.

Up the other end of the table, the competition for the automatic promotion and play-off places is heating up, thus making the games this Saturday very interesting to follow.

Here is a breakdown of what can happen on the final day.

The automatic spots

Cheltenham Town have already secured themselves promotion to League One thanks to a 1-1 draw against Carlisle United last Tuesday. They currently occupy the top spot in the table, but are yet to have secured the title.

In second are Cambridge United. They knew a home win against Stevenage on match-day 44 would have sealed their place in the third division next season, but they lost 1-0. Last Friday it was the same scenario, three points and they’re up. However, Harrogate Town won 5-4 in a thoroughly entertaining fixture which means Cambridge will be hoping to make it third time lucky on Saturday against bottom of the league Grimsby.

Bolton Wanderers are looking to make an instant return to League One after their relegation last season. In similar circumstances to Cambridge, a win last week would have sealed their fate but a 95th minute winner for Exeter City means they will also have to fight for promotion on the final day.

The last team in the hunt for an automatic place are Morecambe. They find themselves in fourth and in the play-off places, but are still able to seal a top three finish if they win and results elsewhere go their way.

Cambridge know that a draw at the very least would be enough for them. The only way for them to draw and still not go up automatically is if Bolton win and Morecambe beat Bradford City by at least 12 goals this weekend, which is a somewhat unlikely scenario. A United win and a draw for Cheltenham would see the U’s win the title on goal difference.

For Bolton, three points away at Crawley Town is a must if they want to ensure a return to League One. A draw would not be enough for them, unless Morecambe do the same or lose at home to Bradford.

All in all, the teams chasing those last two automatic places know that winning is a must. Cambridge have arguably the easiest fixture out of all the teams but their recent form proves that anything could happen on the final day. A win for Cheltenham would secure the title.

Morecambe will be hoping both Cambridge and Bolton lose on Saturday, otherwise they will find themselves in the League Two play-offs.

The play-offs

Only Morecambe have secured a play-off spot, with the other current occupiers being Newport County, Tranmere Rovers and Forest Green Rovers. Outside of those four places, only Exeter and Salford City have chances to finish in the top seven.

Newport and Tranmere, who play Southend and Colchester United respectively, are both on 72 points and know that draws would be enough for them to stay in contention of achieving promotion via the play-offs.

Forest Green are away at Oldham and will have to win their game to ensure their safety in the top seven. A draw would only be enough if Exeter and Salford do the same or they both lose. Each side knows that to realistically get into the play-offs, they have to secure three points and hope other results go their way.

A win for Salford last weekend would have put them in seventh place but they lost 1-0 to Colchester. Exeter have won their last two and will be hoping their late surge towards the top will help them ensure back-to-back play-off finishes.

The League Two play-off semi-finals will commence on Thursday 20th May, with the final at Wembley on Monday 31st.

Saturday already looks like an exciting and tense day for all teams involved in the battle for League One football next season and as we all know, anything can happen on the final day.

It is now up to the players to decide their fates for next season.

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