Sadly we’ve reached the time of year where the Football is coming to an end, and early Wednesday morning provides the last full book of Football League fixtures featuring all but two of the 72 teams of the 3 League divisions. We’ll have to find another cure for the midweek blues, perhaps the big European Cups, but the Real Madrids and Bayern Munichs of this world don’t quite do it for us like Plymouth Argyle, Burton Albion and Sheffield Wednesday.
For most teams these will be the fourth last games of the season, so the fate of some heading down a division may be sealed here, and some looking upwards may get that step closer to glory. In a very coincidental occurrence both The Championship and League One feature games between first and second, and second last and last. Theccc game at the top of the Championship will go a long way to deciding one of the teams to head for the big time and money of the EPL next season.
Here’s a quick rundown of what could happen this midweek.
CHAMPIONSHIP
- The Top 6 is just about settled with only Cardiff any realistic chance of upsetting the current playoff place holders.
- The fight for first and second, and therefore automatic promotion is down to three teams – ‘Boro, Burnley and Brighton – although ‘Boro can be as close to promoted as possible with a win over Burnley.
- Charlton Athletic will likely face the drop this weekend, joining already relegated Bolton who play play.
- Milton Keynes are likely to be relegated, but a win and other favourable results will have big teams like Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Blackburn a little worried given the small gap between 16 and 21st
LEAGUE ONE
- League leaders Wigan and Burton face each other and a win for Burton puts them level on points with Wigan at the top, but a loss could see them drop to third if Walsall also win.
- The top 6 isn’t quite as sorted as the Championship, with only Gillingham looking likely to drop out.
- Four teams are relegated from League One, and Colchester could join their opponents Crewe in the fourth tier with a loss. With a goal difference of -38 relegation is still inevitable eventually even with a win
- If Blackpool go down, they will be the second former EPL side from the last decade to drop to the fourth division after Portsmouth.
LEAGUE TWO
- Northampton are heading to League One as Champions, a fair effort considering they need a whip around to help fund the club after 1oM to build a new stand left the club with an empty shell and loads O debt.
- There’s just two points between four teams for the remaining two spots for automatic promotion, including Frank favourite Accrington Stanley.
- The final playoff spot in 7th is still a relatively open affair, with Gurgler favourite AFC Wimbledon leading the way. But there is a gaggle of teams within 6 points who could spoil the Don’s Party.
- Dagenham and Redbridge were lregated on the weekend, and York City could join them this midweek if they don’t win.
FINAL SUPER MIDWEEK MULTIS
And so to our final Football League multis of the 2015-16 season, and it’s time to go out in style, not with a win, but with the most preposterous attempt to get a multi that features every game in each division. Sure we chickened out with all three using the second chance bet to increase our chances, but after a tipping season that could be described as mediocre, under performing or Slater who could blame us.
And why wouldn’t we attempt to get 12 or 10 games correct, since we’ve struggled to get 4 or 5 most times this season. That logic makes a win in all three divisions this midweek a mere formality.
Here’s the dross, I mean Golden Tips for the midweek.
BEST O’ THE BEST
SHEFFIELD WED to beat Milton Keynes
ROCHDALE to beat Gillingham
BARNET to beat Notts County
CAMBRIDGE to beat Morecambe
NORTHAMPTON to beat Crawley
$1 for $25
CHAMPIONSHIP
$1 for $36
PRESTON or DRAW v Birmingham
CARDIFF or DRAW v Brentford
BRIGHTON or DRAW v QPR
DERBY or DRAW v Bristol City
MIDDLESBROUGH or DRAW v Burnley
IPSWICH or DRAW v Fulham
LEEDS or DRAW v Wolves
NOTTINGHAM FOREST or DRAW v Blackburn
ROTHERHAM or HUDDDERSFIELD to win – no draw.
SHEFFIELD WED to beat Milton Keynes
CHARLTON or DRAW v Bolton
HULL or DRAW v Reading.
LEAGUE ONE
$1 for $25
PETERBOROUGH or DRAW v Barnsley
WIGAN or DRAW v Burton
DONCASTER or DRAW v Chesterfield
BRADFORD or DRAW v Coventry
MILLWALL or DRAW v Fleetwood
ROCHDALE to beat Gillingham
SCUNTHORPE or DRAW v Bury
SHEFFIELD UNITED or DRAW v Shrewsbury
SOUTHEND or DRAW v Oldham
WALSALL or DRAW v Swindon
LEAGUE TWO
$1 for $78
BARNET to beat Notts Co
CAMBRIDGE to beat Morecambe
LUTON or DRAW v Carlisle
WIMBLEDON or DRAW v Dag & Red
HARTLEPOOL or ACRINGTON to win – no Draw
EXETER or DRAW v Mansfield
PLYMOUTH or DRAW v Leyton Orient
OXFORD to beat Newport
NORTHAMPTON to beat Crawley
BRISTOL ROVERS or DRAW v Stevenage
WYCOMBE or DRAW v Yeovil
PORTSMOUTH or DRAW v York
