Race to avoid the relegation trapdoor

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 10 April 2014


We look at Athletic’s fellow travellers at the bottom end of Sky Bet League One

THE 2013-14 season is approaching crunch time. As it stands, Athletic are four points clear of the drop zone and well-placed to avoid finishing in the bottom four.


The club’s upcoming fixture-free weekend means eyes will be trained elsewhere — so here we look at those teams below Athletic, all of whom will be aiming to claw back ground in the race to avoid relegation.



Crawley Town. . .
Pl 39, Pts 46. Form: LLLLL

GAMES in hand aren’t worth anything when you’re sinking as quickly as Crawley. John Gregory’s side are playing fixture catch-up following a host of earlier postponements.

But they can’t buy a point. The 2-1 home win over Wolves was followed by defeat at Boundary Park, the first of six straight losses. The Reds need to buck up to stay up.



Colchester United. . .
Pl 41, Pts 43 Form: DLLLL
THE ESSEX side’s form has vanished at the worst time possible. Four straight defeats is far from the ideal way to lead into a relegation duel at bottom club Stevenage this weekend.

The pressure is well and truly on for an immediate turnaround with the next three matches, all against fellow strugglers - including Athletic on Good Friday.



Tranmere Rovers. . .
Pl 40, Pts 43 Form: WLLDW
ROVERS’ 2-1 win at Colchester will have lifted spirits significantly on the Wirral. That vital three points mean Tranmere occupy a place outside of the bottom-four on goal difference.

Ronnie Moore was dismissed yesterday, but his assistant John McMahon has managed to get plenty out of his men, and Tranmere will be targeting a healthy points haul from the next two games in particular.



Carlisle United. . .
Pl 40, Pts 43 Form: DLDDW
WITH four of their last five matches pitting them against sides challenging for the Championship, these are precarious times for Graham Kavanagh’s men. Gary Madine has made an impact on his return to the club on loan, scoring the winner last week against Swindon.

But the Cumbrians will need more of those match-winning displays from their home-grown star if they are to stand a chance of beating the drop.



Crewe Alexandra. . .
Pl 41, Pts 43 Form: DWLLW
NO OTHER team in League One concedes as many goals as Crewe. The Railwaymen have been breached 76 times so far - nearly twice a game. Which makes it more of a surprise that they still have a good chance of staying up, if the goals of Chuks Aneke can supply victories in matches across a vital Easter weekend.



Shrewsbury Town
Pl 41, Pts 41 Form: LWDLW

SHREWSBURY have won only nine matches all season, but remain well in the hunt to slip out of the relegation places. The next two matches are crucial to their hopes, as much by potentially taking points off rivals above the Shrews as getting them in the bank for themselves.

Mike Jackson’s side don’t score many goals — 37 in total, the lowest tally in the division — but have only lost on one more occasion than sixth-placed Peterborough.



Notts County
Pl 41, Pts 40 Form: LWWWL
With Athletic, County are the form side among the teams near the bottom of the table. Their run of three successive wins ended at Brentford last week and manager Shaun Derry will be doing his best to brush off that loss to the promotion-chasers. The games left aren’t unkind, and despite being three points adrift of safety, the Magpies will be confident.



Stevenage
Pl 41, Pts 39 Form: LLDDL
A 3-1 home win over Tranmere last month was Boro’s third in four matches. At that stage they appeared to be rising from the ashes.

But since then, Graham Westley’s side has failed to win in seven games. At the foot of the table and four points adrift, it looks like a long shot indeed to avoid the drop back to League Two.