2024/25 League Two Promotion Thread

[Scum.]

Bye guys.

 

[JJ1990]

95 - Predicted Champions
90 - Average Champions
89 -
88 -
87 -
86 -
85 -
84 -
83 -
82 - Average Automatics, Predicted Automatics
81 -
80 -
79 -
78 -
77 -
76 -
75 -
74 -
73 - Predicted Play Offs
72 - Average Play Offs
71 -
70 -
69 -
68 -
67 -
66 - Walsall(32)
65 -
64 -
63 -
62 -
61 -
60 -
59 -
58 - Doncaster(33)
57 - AFC Wimbledon(32)
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57 - Notts County(32), Bradford(32)
56 -
55 - Port Vale(31)
54 -
53 -
52 - Crewe Alex(32)
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51 - Grimsby(32)
50 -
49 -
48 - Salford(32)
47 -
46 -
45 - Bromley(32)

Walsall get another huge win, this time over Morecambe. Now only 7 points securing a play-off spot, getting closer. Donny move into 2nd after a 6 point week, they'll need to improve their home form a touch to stay there you suspect. Wimbledon continue to be let down by their away form, although 2 draws from this week isn't a terrible return I suppose. They'll be annoyed at letting the lead slip so late at Colchester though.

Notts County keep grinding out the home points, but they'll be desperate for some attacking help back soon I suspect. Bradford's ridiculous home form shows no signs of slowing, but like Wimbledon they'll need to grab a few more away wins. Port Vale are on the best run of form which seems to be getting very little acknowledgement, 5 wins and 2 draws from their last 7. Crewe end a horrible run of form with a win over Barrow, but it remains to be seen how they'll do against the better teams in the coming weeks.

Grimsby keep pace just outside the top 7, 4 straight wins now and maybe finding some consistency at the right time. Salford slip to 1 win in 8 and I don't know if they have it in them to push for the top 7. Chesterfield's poor form sees them drop out the top 10 completely and now Bromley move into the picture as they picked a 3rd straight win.

1st - Walsall, 66 points, GD 27: Cheltenham(A), Swindon(H), Carlisle(A), Grimsby(H), Bromley(A)
2nd - Doncaster, 58 points, GD 8: Newport(H), Bromley(A), Swindon(H), Crewe(A), Salford(A)
3rd - Wimbledon, 57 points, GD 23: Bromley(H), Morecambe(A), Notts County(H), Cheltenham(H), Carlisle(A)
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4th - Notts County, 57 points, GD 19: Fleetwood(A), Barrow(H), AFC Wimbledon(A), Grimsby(A), Chesterfield(H)
5th - Bradford, 57 points, GD 14: Bromley(A), Salford(A), Cheltenham(H), Gillingham(A), Tranmere(H)
6th - Port Vale, 55 points, GD 8: Tranmere(A), Harrogate(H), Fleetwood(A), Colchester(A), MK Dons(H)
7th - Crewe, 52 points, GD 8: Chesterfield(A), Fleetwood(H), Salford(A), Doncaster(H), Notts County(A)
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8th - Grimsby, 51 points, GD -2: Cheltenham(A), Tranmere(H), Walsall(A), Notts County(H), Salford(H)
9th - Salford, 48 points, GD 7: Bradford(H), Swindon(A), Crewe(H), Chesterfield(H), Grimsby(A)
10th - Bromley, 45 points, GD 0: Bradford(H), Wimbledon(A), Doncaster(H), Tranmere(A), Walsall(H)

Forthcoming fixtures:

Tuesday 25th February
Bromley v Bradford City
Cheltenham Town v Walsall

Saturday 1st March
Salford City v Bradford City
Tranmere Rovers v Port Vale
AFC Wimbledon v Bromley
Cheltenham Town v Grimsby Town
Chesterfield v Crewe Alexandra
Doncaster Rovers v Newport County
Fleetwood Town v Notts County
Walsall v Swindon Town

Tricky midweek away games for both Bradford and Walsall, curious to see if either can grab wins in those. Then on Saturday, some more tough games for most of the promotion chasers, with a lot of them on the road or against in form teams. Donny against Newport and the Vale at Tranmere feels like the most favourable games of all of them. Still very tight in the fight for both the top 3 and 7th spot.

 

[kieran_vale]

Those next five fixtures for Bromley guess I will be an avid Andy Woodman aficionado for four of those games. Could really announce their arrival in the promotion picture by winning some of them. One of those for us it looks like the fixture list softens a little now but it’s these games we have struggled in at times.

 

[leedsvaliant]

What's nuts us that we've won 5 and drawn 2 of the last 7 yet remain in 6th! Everyone around us seems to be winning too.

On the plus side, we've got a fairly kind run of fixtures now and lots of the promotion hopefuls are playing each other, which means dropped points from somebody. Win our game in hand and we go 2nd.

On the flip side, we have a ridiculous injury list again, with the potential to have 2 young loanees playing up front for us next week.

We did well today considering but we'll struggle without any experience up top.

 

[Meadow]

I'm still quietly confident of making an automatic spot. Win at home and draw away and it will happen. However, given our very long history against Bromley (going back 20 years and 4 different leagues) I might change my mind at full time on Saturday.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I'm still quietly confident of making an automatic spot. Win at home and draw away and it will happen. However, given our very long history against Bromley (going back 20 years and 4 different leagues) I might change my mind at full time on Saturday.

If we finish above you then we get automatic promotion , I'm certain of it.

We've got too many injuries to key players though, so I'd take playoffs at this point.

 

[valefan16]

Game in hand and in good form so hopefully keep it up despite the hurdles we have to over come with injuries and suspension.

Run of 6-7 games against bottom half sides now so it’s up to us to make the most of that. Typically we don’t but hopefully this Vale side are different. Time will tell

 

[mozzavale]

What's nuts us that we've won 5 and drawn 2 of the last 7 yet remain in 6th! Everyone around us seems to be winning too.

On the plus side, we've got a fairly kind run of fixtures now and lots of the promotion hopefuls are playing each other, which means dropped points from somebody. Win our game in hand and we go 2nd.

On the flip side, we have a ridiculous injury list again, with the potential to have 2 young loanees playing up front for us next week.

We did well today considering but we'll struggle without any experience up top.

I'll be very surprised if Tolaj isn't fit for next week. Seemed today was just a day or two too soon for him. And if that red card for Curtis isn't rescinded, especially considering the PGMOL have set the precedent now for what's tolerable (Jatta's punch on Smith), then the game has well and truly gone. That ref looked like someone determined to get his red card out. He clearly loves the power it gives him. There was no justification for showing a card of either colour, whatsoever. He wanted to to give a red, and grasped the opportunity when it presented itself.

 

[gary]

It's swings and roundabouts at the moment. Other than Walsall I would just be guessing if I picked the other two automatic spots . Jackson needs to rotate the team a bit more. He's too inclined to just stick with the same starting 11. Bromley at home next Saturday won't be easy.

 

[valefan16]

What's nuts us that we've won 5 and drawn 2 of the last 7 yet remain in 6th! Everyone around us seems to be winning too.

On the plus side, we've got a fairly kind run of fixtures now and lots of the promotion hopefuls are playing each other, which means dropped points from somebody. Win our game in hand and we go 2nd.

On the flip side, we have a ridiculous injury list again, with the potential to have 2 young loanees playing up front for us next week.

We did well today considering but we'll struggle without any experience up top.

Partly down to the games played, most have played 8 or 9 whilst we have played 7.

 

[Optipez]

Very tight at the moment. Wimbledon look to be strong, Bradford don't look like slipping up and Walsall look to be back on the rails.
Port Vale and Doncaster keep getting the points and Crewe right in it.
I think Walsall and Wimbledon for two slots and I'd put my 50p on Bradford for the third spot but not sure about any of it.
We've picked up 10 from 12 at home without looking good in any of them against bottom three sides and Colchester, harder tests to come for us I think. But, despite injuries, losing coaches, players and our head of recruitment Stuart Maynard is still grinding out results. He's a very gritty individual with a mild manner and if we get success he will have earned every bit of it and amazed most of us along the way.

 

[RavenBish]

I think I’d somewhat back us to start beating the poorer teams when Didzy and Jones are back but with the run-in we’ll also have to get results against teams around us and we’ve consistently not looked like doing that for 2 years

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

When we get to the 35 game mark vale will have played only 16 at home and 19 away so that maybe a positive going into the later games as teams tend to pick up more points from home fixtures.

 

[クレイグ]

Still dont think we'll make autos. Away from will hold us back.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Still dont think we'll make autos. Away from will hold us back.

A couple of months ago I'd have wholeheartedly agreed with you.

But for me something seems to have clicked now. I can't put my finger on it but that feeling is there. I think we'll do it. But I do agree with you it is entirely contingent on improving our away form.

 

[gary]

Very tight at the moment. Wimbledon look to be strong, Bradford don't look like slipping up and Walsall look to be back on the rails.
Port Vale and Doncaster keep getting the points and Crewe right in it.
I think Walsall and Wimbledon for two slots and I'd put my 50p on Bradford for the third spot but not sure about any of it.
We've picked up 10 from 12 at home without looking good in any of them against bottom three sides and Colchester, harder tests to come for us I think. But, despite injuries, losing coaches, players and our head of recruitment Stuart Maynard is still grinding out results. He's a very gritty individual with a mild manner and if we get success he will have earned every bit of it and amazed most of us along the way.

I would'nt be putting too much money on Wimbledon finishing in the top 3. I think it's impossible to say at the moment. Yes we are strong and unbeaten in 12 but we have looked a bit leggy in recent game's. No midweek game this week is much needed. We should have a couple of midfielders back within a week or two which will also help. There's not been enough rotation in recent weeks. I guess it's understandable if we haven't been losing but a few have looked in need of a break . We have Matty Stevens scoring goals but we aren't really scoring enough or creating enough chances.. We are becoming a bit too reliant on our defence keeping clean sheets and continually having to win our home game's. Bromley. Notts County and Port Vale will be tough home game's. Doncaster and Walsall away. In saying that every away game is a struggle for us at the moment. I think Morecambe and Carlisle are out next two away so we will have to approach those game's trying to win them and playing on the front foot . Anyway regardless of who goes up it makes for an exciting end to the season.

 

[loz]

Anyway regardless of who goes up it makes for an exciting end to the season.

Personally, I think it will be an exciting final day.

 

[Dan Phillips]

I think Bradford will win the Play Offs at Wembley, personally.