League One preview

Promotion and relegation matters at the fore in crucial weekend

Last updated: 30th April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

League One preview

Grayson: Faces Charlton test

Click below for individual match facts and previews:

Bristol Rovers v Norwich
Carlisle v Walsall
Charlton v Leeds
Gillingham v Southampton
Hartlepool v Exeter
Huddersfield v Colchester
Leyton Orient v Wycombe
MK Dons v Brighton
Southend v Stockport
Swindon v Brentford
Tranmere v Millwall
Yeovil v Oldham

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Leeds United could potentially clinch promotion back to the Championship if results go their way in a crunch weekend of League One football.

The Whites travel to fifth-placed Charlton in the pick of the fixtures, and a win for Simon Grayson's men coupled with a defeat for Millwall would see them return to the second tier.

However, with things so tight in the hunt for the one remaining automatic promotion spot, that is just one possibility as all five teams assured of a play-off place still mathematically have the chance to finish in the top two.

Leeds are the only team with their fate still in their own hands, but if they slip up against the Addicks then Millwall could leapfrog them going into the final game of the league campaign next week.

The Lions travel to Tranmere who are scrapping for their life at the other end of the table - Rovers will be going hell for leather for the win at Prenton Park as three points could put them out of the relegation zone if either Gillingham or Exeter suffer defeats.

Fourth-placed Swindon Town currently trail Leeds by four points and they will look to keep their hopes alive with a victory at home to Brentford.

The Bees are in a strong position to finish in the top half this term but it will be interesting to see how motivated they are at the County Ground.

With Swindon and Millwall set to square-off next week at The Den, Town's result on Saturday could influence whether they play a full-strength side on the final day.

Huddersfield are the other team guaranteed a place in the play-offs as they lead Southampton by seven points, and eighth-placed Colchester are the visitors to the Galpharm.

The Terriers could still finish second as they trail Leeds by six points, but it would need a remarkable sequence of results for this to happen, as well as a swing in goal difference, and manager Lee Clark may choose to give some players a breather in preparation for the play-offs.

Glimmer

Wycombe Wanderers still have a glimmer of hope at the other end and they play host to Leyton Orient, who are not out of the woods just yet.

Wycombe are stuck in 22nd place and five points adrift of safety - anything less than a win for the Chairboys and their fate will be sealed, while Orient know a victory would all-but ensure their League One status for next season.

Gillingham face a difficult task when they host Southampton and they will be hoping Millwall can do them a favour against Tranmere.

The Gills currently lead Rovers by two points but take on a Saints outfit who would have been fighting for automatic promotion had it not been for their 10-point penalty at the start of the campaign.

Exeter are another side threatened by the drop and they travel to Hartlepool, who are virtually assured of safety because of their superior goal difference to Tranmere.

Like Gillingham, the Grecians are two points above Rovers and could potentially slide into the dreaded bottom four if results go against them this weekend.

Yeovil are the only other team that could potentially go down this term, although all they need is a point against Oldham at Huish Park to cement their place in the third tier.

The Glovers have a vastly superior goal difference to all the sides around them and will fancy their chances against the Latics who they trail by just two points.

Champions Norwich can enjoy the last two games of the season having made sure of the title last weekend, and they go to Bristol Rovers.

It has been a campaign to remember for the Canaries having bounced back to the Championship at the first time of asking, while the Pirates look set for a top-half finish.

Meanwhile, a dead rubber at the bottom of the table sees already-relegated pair Southend and Stockport clash at Roots Hall, while Carlisle host Walsall and Brighton travel to MK Dons.