Background
With less than a month to go before the end of the football league season, the race for promotion across the top four leagues on the EFL (English Football League) is heating up, but in SkyBet League 1 – It’s at the other end of the table where the drama lies. With just five games to go, there are 13 teams, yes THIRTEEN teams who are involved in the relegation
From Gillingham, who currently sit 13th in the League, to bottom place Bradford city there are just 12 points with Gillingham only 5 points above the relegation places, despite in terms of league position being closer to the play-offs than the Bottom 4!
The crazy nature of the battle has seen widespread national media coverage including articles from the BBC https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47631739 and other football blogging sites https://alloutfootball.co.uk/league-one-relegation-battle/ But this relegation battle will go all the way to the wire. With so many teams involved, every week six pointers are being contested with the loser knowing they will drop dangerously close to the bottom 4.
Some context for those of you who have stumbled upon this blog and have somehow got this far down without viewing another one. It is often assumed that 50 points will keep you in the division, so all it will take is for a team to secure a couple of wins for them to move clear of the danger zone, but this year may prove to be different, with some believeing it may be more points required this year.
The pressure is certainly taking its toll, with Southend, Rochdale, Walsall and Bradford all changing their managers in recent weeks, they will be hoping for a new manager bounce to see them over the line.
Form
The form table shows just how much trouble Bradford are in and after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers, they will know that they’ll need a quick turnaround if they are too escape. Since Wally Downes took charge of WImbledon at the end of 2018 they have gone from relegation certs to realistic survival contenders. They look like they might just about be OK. Since January’s summer signings Gillingham have improved steadily and although they lost at the weekend, survival should be just one win away.
My opinion
Having seen a lot of League one football this year, I think Bradford may well struggle to overturn the deficit. I also fear for Walsall, they sacked manager Dean Keates yesterday evening after dropping more points and will be hoping the new manager can transfrom them sooner rather than later. Wycombe, who have done brilliantly in there first season at this level looked to be doing OK at Christmas, but a downturn in form coincided with some late goals going in, will be fearing the worst but other than that, it’s anyone’s guess! What I’m getting at is – I HAVE NO IDEA!!!
