Going into the last full month of the season, things are looking better than pre-Xmas, that is certain. Looking at the partial table below, any of the teams shown could still go down with mostly 7 games to go.
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts ------------------------------------------------------ 11 Boston United 39 13 9 17 42 47 -5 48 12 Bury 39 13 9 17 45 54 -9 48 13 Leyton Orient 39 12 12 15 43 54 -11 48 14 Cheltenham Town 39 12 11 16 49 63 -14 47 15 Kidderminster 39 12 10 17 39 54 -15 46 16 Scunthorpe United 39 10 15 14 59 57 2 45 17 Southend United 38 12 9 17 38 49 -11 45 18 Bristol Rovers 39 11 11 17 42 53 -11 44 19 Cambridge United 39 11 11 17 46 60 -14 44 20 Darlington 39 11 10 18 45 54 -9 43 21 Rochdale 39 10 12 17 41 48 -7 42 22 York City 38 10 12 16 31 52 -21 42 ------------------------------------------------------ 23 Macclesfield Town 38 9 11 18 46 63 -17 38 24 Carlisle United 39 9 7 23 38 61 -23 34
In reality though, I suspect it will be down to the teams currently occupying the bottom 6 places. Who are my favourites for the drop? Well, to be dispassionate about it, I have to accept that Carlisle are the nation's favourite, but with our current form and commitment, plus the belief of the team and the fans, I now firmly believe we will escape the drop. So, my two for the drop are.... *drum roll* ..... Darlington and York. Why?
Darlington are going through an awful time with George Reynolds at the helm. The imminent bancruptcy hearing against George Reynolds, the current administration of the club and the demoralised players, are all factors which I believe will see Darlington go down. Another darker shadow on Darlington is the possibility that Darlington will be liquidated before the end of the season. This would see only one team relegated and Darlington's results expunged from the record. This would help Carlisle United, but I don't think any true Carlisle fan would like to see this, considering how Carlisle reportedly came to within 20 minutes of liquidation.
York City form at the moment is non-existent having only managed two draws in the last eight games. Apologies to York fans, but I can't see them picking up much more than the same in the remaining games.
Scunthorpe 44 49 -1 67 1-0 FT v Macclesfield Rochdale 44 49 -7 48 1-0 FT v Kidderminster Macclesfield 44 49 -14 52 0-1 FT v Scunthorpe Carlisle 44 44 -22 45 3-2 FT v Mansfield York 44 43 -30 34 1-3 FT v Doncaster
Well, it is all still in our own hands after the glorious last minute penalty save from Matty Glennon.
Believe in the unbelievable........
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