2024/25 League Two Promotion Thread

[Mighty_Bantam]

If we want to be serious about the top 3, now is the time to make our push.

Our April fixtures are rough, but in the next four/five weeks we have Morecambe, Harrogate, Newport, Accrington (with Wimbledon thrown in for good measure). We have to be looking at maximum points from these games now and build our position before the run in.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Our run of 3 losses on the bounce over the Christmas / New year period when we could barely get 11 players on the pitch has definitely set us back a little as we were bang amongst it until that point. The last 2 results being draws away at Grimsby and at home to Port Vale I see as decent results actually, but if we’re serious about mounting a play off challenge then it’s time for us to try and kick on and start getting some wins on the board again now that we’re getting players back & brought in some new recruits.

Our next 5 games are:
Bromley (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Doncaster (H)
Walsall (A)
Swindon (A)

How we’re looking after that will give us a much better idea on what our aims/ambitions for the rest of the season are going to be.

 

[JJ1990]

103 - Predicted Champions
90 - Average Champions
89 -
88 -
87 -
86 -
85 -
84 -
83 -
82 - Average Automatics
81 -
80 -
79 -
78 - Predicted Automatics
77 - Predicted Play Offs
76 -
75 -
74 -
73 -
72 - Average Play Offs
71 -
70 -
69 -
68 -
67 -
66 -
65 -
64 -
63 -
62 -
61 -
60 -
59 -
58 - Walsall(26)
57 -
56 -
55 -
54 -
53 -
52 -
51 -
50 -
49 -
48 -
47 -
46 - Crewe Alex(27), Doncaster(27)
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45 - Port Vale(27),
44 - AFC Wimbledon(25), Notts County(26), Bradford(26)
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43 -
42 - Salford(26)
41 -
40 -
39 -
38 - Grimsby(27)
37 -
36 - Chesterfield(26)

A pretty poor week for the promotion chasers. Walsall lose heavily to Bradford, but maintain their 12 point lead at the top. The chasing pack didn't close the gap, as Crewe, Salford and Grimsby all lose, whilst Port Vale, Notts County, AFC Wimbledon and Chesterfield draw. So almost as you were for another few days.

1st - Walsall, 58 points, GD 24: Fleetwood(A), Salford(H), Colchester(A), Gillingham(H), Chesterfield(H)
2nd - Crewe Alexandra, 46 points, GD 11: Wimbledon(H), Harrogate(A), Newport(H), Wimbledon(A), Gillingham(A)
3rd - Doncaster Rovers, 46 points, GD 7: Barrow(A), MK Dons(H), Chesterfield(A), Grimsby(H), Morecambe(A)
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4th - Port Vale, 45 points, GD 5: Colchester(A), Accrington(H), Swindon(A), Notts County(H), Salford(H)
5th - AFC Wimbledon, 44 points, GD 18: Crewe(A), Bradford(H), Accrington(A), Crewe(H), Salford(H)
6th - Notts County, 44 points, GD 15: Carlisle(H), Gillingham(A), Morecambe(H), Port Vale(A), Tranmere(H)
7th - Bradford City, 44 points, GD 10: Morecambe(H), Wimbledon(A), Harrogate(H), Accrington(H), Newport(A)
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8th - Salford City, 42 points, GD 7: Newport(H), Walsall(A), Bromley(H), Tranmere(H), Wimbledon(A)
9th - Grimsby Town, 38 points, GD -7: Gillingham(H), Bromley(A), Carlisle(H), Doncaster(A), Fleetwood(H)
10th - Chesterfield, 36 points, GD 9: Bromley(H), Cheltenham(A), Doncaster(H), Walsall(A), Swindon(A)

Some interesting looking next 5s for a few of these teams. A lot of winnable games against relegation threatened teams for a few of them, especially Notts County and Bradford. Wimbledon have a daunting looking run, but that could mean a nicer run in later on.

Next week's fixtures:

Tuesday 28th January
Bradford City v Morecambe
Chesterfield v Bromley
Colchester United v Port Vale
Crewe Alexandra v AFC Wimbledon
Fleetwood Town v Walsall
Grimsby Town v Gillingham
Notts County v Carlisle United
Salford City v Newport County

Wednesday 29th January
Barrow v Doncaster Rovers

Saturday 1st February
Cheltenham Town v Chesterfield
Gillingham v Notts County
AFC Wimbledon v Bradford City
Bromley v Grimsby Town
Doncaster Rovers v Milton Keynes Dons
Harrogate Town v Crewe Alexandra
Port Vale v Accrington Stanley
Walsall v Salford City

Not going to do an update after Tuesday's games. Looks like a decent midweek set of games though, think every side there has a fair shot at winning, except for Crewe and Wimbledon, who come up against each other.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I feel in quite a good place with us at the moment. 8 points from 12 and probably would be 10 without the red card today. We looked physically on top of Chesterfield today in the first half. I've said before that we don't look like a great side but we look stronger since the returning players. If we go a goal up, it's tough to get back into it. We looked like an auto promotion team 1st half today...committed, organised and winning 2nd balls. We've got a pretty kind run of fixtures now barring the odd one, so we could do with getting some points on the board. We'll probably get pummelled at Colchester now on Tuesday and I'll look like a right dick!

 

[Optipez]

I keep veering from believing we're good enough to go up to thinking we'll fall short when we don't quite nick a win in tight games that happens in promotion seasons.
Walsall should get one spot, Vale have the squad and cash that should get another of the spots. Then it could be one of half a dozen for the last auto spot.
Very tight this season and to be honest apart from Walsall none have really stood out although Salford comfortably beat us, we were awful on the day.

 

[RavenBish]

We’ve got meltdown in the playoffs written all over us

 

[Optipez]

We’ve got meltdown in the playoffs written all over us

Yep. It's top three or bust this season.

 

[kieran_vale]

I feel in quite a good place with us at the moment. 8 points from 12 and probably would be 10 without the red card today. We looked physically on top of Chesterfield today in the first half. I've said before that we don't look like a great side but we look stronger since the returning players. If we go a goal up, it's tough to get back into it. We looked like an auto promotion team 1st half today...committed, organised and winning 2nd balls. We've got a pretty kind run of fixtures now barring the odd one, so we could do with getting some points on the board. We'll probably get pummelled at Colchester now on Tuesday and I'll look like a right dick!

The thing in our favour if we have to go away particularly somewhere and have a specific gameplan to get a result on that day we more often than not do it. We do have a very patchy record against the strugglers though. Looking at the bottom teams, we failed to beat Tranmere, Carlisle and Accy just off the top of my head and struggled like mad with Morecambe. It does feel when the onus is on us to be the attacking force we tend to be rather less comfortable in that role. Basically every team bar Walsall in this race has a fundamental flaw that can bite them in the arse.

 

[valefan16]

The thing in our favour if we have to go away particularly somewhere and have a specific gameplan to get a result on that day we more often than not do it. We do have a very patchy record against the strugglers though. Looking at the bottom teams, we failed to beat Tranmere, Carlisle and Accy just off the top of my head and struggled like mad with Morecambe. It does feel when the onus is on us to be the attacking force we tend to be rather less comfortable in that role. Basically every team bar Walsall in this race has a fundamental flaw that can bite them in the arse.

I’m hoping the two up top solves that problem, especially if Tolaj and Stockley can build a run of games together and form a good partnership.

Stockley seems to have done well for his short lay off with 2 goals and seems to be back to his best.

Funny promotion race though, Walsall aside no one seems to really be grabbing the initiative. Crewe messing up today at home for example you wouldn’t have seen coming. Salford have dropped off form, 3 defeats now I think in a row?

Last week all but one of the top sides won, today only two won. It’s there for anyone to take if they can find consistency. Hopefully that’s us.