Tomorrow, we make the short trip to South East London. Destination; The New Den, home of Millwall Football Club. The buzz ahead of this encounter is huge, as the race for second place and the fortune it brings, gets set to climax on the final day of the season.The excitement is phenomenal; as only Norwich have secured a route to the Championship, one of five teams will take the other automatic spot tomorrow afternoon. So here is how it pans out:
Leeds Utd currently sit in 2nd place on 83 points. They are the only team in the fray with fate in their own hands. A win on the final day of the season will seal automatic promotion for the whites, but they must overcome Bristol Rovers at Elland Road to achieve this. The Pirates sit in 9th place after losing their early spot in the playoffs and on paper, Leeds should take all 3 points, but we all know that 90 minutes are played on the pitch and not on paper. So bearing this in mind, what can happen if Leeds and Bristol Rovers share the spoils?
Millwall and Swindon are hot on the tails of Leeds United, holding 3rd and 4th spot respectively and joint on 82 points. With these two teams meeting at The New Den, both players, management and supporters will be keeping a close eye on the game at Elland Road. If Leeds slip up, there is EVERYTHING to play for. And if either team steal all 3 points, with that will come the automatic promotion place. In the event that Leeds draw, and nothing separates Millwall and Swindon, 2nd place remains open to...
Charlton Atheltic, who are in 5th place on 81 points. Though 3 points alone wouldn't be enough to steal automatic, they would need a 12 goal advantage as they travel to Oldham Athletic. So Charlton will also be hoping the Pirates take all the plunder of Elland Road, and that they can swashbuckle their way to 3 points at Boundary Park.
And finally, sitting safely in the final playoff spot; Huddersfield Town are the last team who could take the coveted 2nd spot. Though currently on 80 points, if results go their way; namely a Bristol Rovers victory, a draw at The New Den and Charlton failing to beat Oldham, then Huddersfield could pip the automatic place on the home straight. They will of course need to take all 3 points from Exeter at St. James Park, but also win by 6 goals. 5 wouldn't be enough as Leeds would take 2nd place based on the number of goals scored throughout the season. Such a goalscoring feat could send shock waves at the other end of the table...
There is of course still 1 relegation place to be decided. Tranmere currently occupy the place but are on 48 points along with Exeter City, whose goal difference keeps their head above water. If Huddersfield achieve what they need to be in with a chance at automatic, that would likely sink Exeter to relegation from League 1 if Tranmere manage to gain a point against already relegated Stockport County. Above them on 49 points sit Hartlepool United. Thanks to their goal difference, it would require both Exeter to beat Huddersfield AND Tranmere to beat Stockport to relegate them if they fail to win their final match away at Brentford. Safest bet here is to take all 3 points from the Bees!
Above them and still not safe sit Gillingham. The Gills are on 50 points, and again, if they fail to win away at already relegated Wycombe and the aforementioned teams pick up 3 points, the Gills will be relegated to League 2.
I think football fans across the country will be tuning in to see the League 1 culmination tomorrow afternoon as we are set for what could be one of the most exciting final days of football in a long time. Its a time when heroes will be made and jobs will be lost whilst pride and dignity hang in the balance. I implore you to pick a team and cheer them on until the death whilst watching Jeff Stelling and the lads on Soccer Saturday. Be the 12th man and get involved in a historic day of football!
Of course, Leeds might win and Tranmere might lose, rending my pre-match speech completely void, but I've got a hunch that their could be a surprise or 2 in store when Saturday comes.
