Sport News Blog

A look at this years League Two end of season run in, or squeaky bum time as our more sensitive fans call it.

As of yesterday, with County winning at London Road and Wycombe holding MKDons to a draw, this is what the top of the table looks like.

1 Milton Keynes Dons 42 89
2 Peterborough 43 86
3 Hereford 41 78
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4 Stockport 42 78
5 Darlington 43 74
6 Rochdale 42 72
7 Wycombe 42 69
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Hereford beat Darlo yesterday at the start of their 'Week of Death'. They have to play MK Dons on Tuesday, and Peterborough on Saturday. Also on Tuesday, Wycombe play Grimsby as the Charboys look to cement their play off place. County play MKDons on Saturday at EP, so it all gets very confusing at the top.

County are guaranteed a play off place now, as are Peterborough, MK Dons and Hereford. Chesterfield are the only team that are currently outside the playoffs on 67 points.

Confirmed teams for League Two next season are:

Barnet
Bradford City
Brentford
Bury
Grimsby Town
Lincoln City
Luton Town - Relegated from League 1
Morecambe
Port Vale - Relegated from League 1
Rotherham United - 10 points deducted for entering Administration

Conference leaders Aldershot need 1 point to confirm promotion to League Two.

At the bottom, well Wrexham look dead men walking don't they?

Shrewsbury defeated them 3-0 earlier today (Sunday), so now the bottom looks like this.

19 Macclesfield 43 46
20 Chester 42 44
21 Notts County 43 44
22 Dag & Red 43 43
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23 Mansfield 43 39
24 Wrexham 42 34

Shrewsbury and Accrington themselves are still possibilities for relegation, but Wrexham seem to be on borrowed time. Brian Little looks to be in it for the long haul, but it is not easy to bounce straight back up from the Conference.

Anyway, lets talk about The Hatters. One defeat in 20, and that was with a striker in nets, and three wins on the bounce.

For County's records, click HERE.

A Tommy Rowe goal was enough to seal the win at London Road, so County are nailed on play off contestants. So whats different this season? How have we managed this remarkable run?

Well first of all, the experience of falling at the last hurdle last season will no doubt have spurred the likes of Dicko, Owen, Rose, Pilkington on to not let themselves down again.

A 5-0 win at Darlington on the last day proved the effort and the commitment to get into the play offs, but it was all to no avail. The players will not want to feel that again.

Then, there's the injuries. Last season, a few key players were out injured for the run in, and some players like Dicko were suspended for some of the remaining games. While that might not be much of an excuse, our squad was wafer thin. We simply did not have enough cover for the injuries. Players were getting tired after being used week in, week out because we did not have enough players.

I also feel Jim Gannon seems more sure of himself this season. It may be just me, but last season and earlier this season, Jimbo seemed to be having a rough time and was continually having a go in the press about fans, sponsors, players etc.

And last season, the pressure seemed to get to him which is completely understandable. His first full season as an English manger, your bound to be pressurized. For example, after the defeat against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial, he blew his lid. Called them 'unprofessional' and said that 'they are a poor club and won't get anything this season.' And they got in the play offs over us.

But this season, especially since January, Jimbo seems more relaxed. Don't know why, but maybe he has learnt from the mistakes and he definitely is calmer this season.

Last thing now. Loan signings. Last season, we had Wayne Hennessey, John Ruddy, Stephen Gleeson and Dom Blizzard on short term loans at various stages. When they left, there were gaps in our team. Unfillable gaps. The players seemed unsure without their classier teammates their. For example, Jason Taylor was magnificent with Gleeson or Blizz next to him, but anyone else and he was a complete donkey.

This season, we have Conrad Logan on a season loan, and we have Ruddy and Shaleum Logan until the end of the season, as well as Stephen Gleeson and Ryan Lowe. We have plenty of cover in the squad, even enough to ship youngsters out on loan.

This is handy as any players getting injured are immediately replaced, as we saw with Jamie Smith at centre back yesterday.

All in all, it seems everyone at the club is determined to not make the same mistakes twice, and its worked. We are in the play offs.

EIEIEIO......