League One preview

Five teams battle for promotion; Four sides could be relegated

By James Riach   Last updated: 7th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

League One preview
Click below for individual match facts and previews:
Brentford v Hartlepool
Brighton v Yeovil
Colchester v Leyton Orient
Exeter v Huddersfield
Leeds v Bristol Rovers
Millwall v Swindon
Norwich v Carlisle
Oldham v Charlton
Southampton v Southend
Stockport v Tranmere
Walsall v MK Dons
Wycombe v Gillingham

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The final weekend of the League One campaign still holds many potential thrills and spills as promotion and relegation issues are yet to be decided.

Five teams are still in the hunt for the second automatic promotion place although Leeds are in pole position to clinch a return to the Championship.

D-Day for the Whites leaves them needing a win at home to Bristol Rovers to see them depart League One at the third time of asking.

The Pirates have nothing to play for and are not on the best run of form - a packed house at Elland Road on Saturday will either be celebrating come the final whistle or preparing for another torturous campaign in the play-offs.

If Leeds do slip up then it opens the door for every other team from third to sixth - giving Millwall, Swindon, Charlton and Huddersfield a chance to pip them to the post.

Millwall take on Swindon at the Den with both sides level on points and in need of a victory to give them hope.

Leeds lead the Lions and the Robins by one point and have a superior goal difference than their rivals, although only a slim one over the men from South Bermondsey, so a win is a must for both Kenny Jackett and Danny Wilson.

Charlton managed a 1-0 victory over the Whites last weekend to leave them also needing a victory to keep them in the hunt.

If Leeds lose and Millwall and Swindon draw then a win for the Addicks over managerless Oldham, who have nothing to play for, would see them promoted.

Unlikely

Huddersfield are the other side guaranteed a play-off place and an unlikely set of results could secure a second-place finish.

The Terriers have to win by four or more goals at Exeter and hope that Leeds lose and all the other sides above them do not win.

However, their task will be made all the more difficult because Exeter are scrapping for their life at the other end of the table.

Three teams have already been relegated this season leaving one dreaded place still to be decided, and the Grecians will be competing with Tranmere, Hartlepool and Gillingham for the right to stay in the division.

Tranmere currently occupy the final slot in the drop zone but they are level on points with Exeter and travel to rock-bottom Stockport.

County have had a miserable campaign and were deducted 10 points for entering administration earlier in the season, and if Rovers can pick up a victory at Edgeley Park it would go a long way to securing their future in League One.

One development this week has seen Hartlepool deducted three points to put them right back in the relegation mix.

Pools fielded a suspended player against Brighton in April and travel to Brentford with just one point separating themselves and Tranmere and Exeter.

They are appealing against the deduction but are now in a perilous position and need a victory against the Bees to save themselves.

Gillingham are not out of the woods yet either but a point away at already-relegated Wycombe should secure their survival because they have a far superior goal difference to Tranmere.

The Gills are two points above the relegation zone and they will be the favourites to stay up as they prepare for a trip to Adams Park.

Champions

Elsewhere, champions Norwich play their final game in League One at home to mid-table Carlisle.

The Canaries have had an excellent season after their opening day 7-1 defeat to Colchester and will be playing in the Championship next term.

The Us narrowly missed out on a play-off place this year and they take on Leyton Orient at home.

Orient are virtually safe because of their goal difference - they are only three points above Tranmere but it would take a swing of 21 goals to see them go down.

Southend play their last game in the third-tier away at seventh-placed Southampton.

The relegated Shrimpers have severe financial problems and will hope to bounce back next season, while the Saints will be buoyed by the fact that they would have been challenging for promotion this weekend had they not been deducted points as well.

Meanwhile, the other two games are dead-rubbers as Walsall host the MK Dons and Yeovil travel to Brighton.