With six games remaining of the 2011-12 season, Yeovil Town lie in a relatively comfortable 15th place in the current League One table. With a six point advantage over 21st placed Wycombe Wanderers, they are by no means mathematically safe, but are in a situation where there is currently room to breathe.
The situation for Rochdale, Exeter City and Chesterfield is now looking desperate - the first two clubs lie eight points from safety, whilst the Spireites have a ten point deficit to make up. Realistically, those clubs need to win around five of their remaining six fixtures to stay up. Any team that finishes below these three clubs is surely relegated themselves.
What's more interesting is the current battle to avoid the fourth relegation slot. Wycombe may be occupying that at present, but they are also in good form, whilst it's teams like Bury and Preston North End who are wobbling. The Glovers, Walsall, Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe United are the other clubs in need of a few more points, with the Saddlers particularly vulnerable as the side in 20th place.
Inevitably it's the six-pointers that could end up deciding the final positions. Yeovil have three of these fixtures, starting on Saturday against Rochdale, but also including an away game at Leyton Orient and a their final home match against Chesterfield. Preston North End and Bury don't have any such fixtures, showing that they have quite tough run-ins, if league tables are anything to go by. Exeter City are the club that have the most influence, playing Scunthorpe, Leyton Orient, Rochdale and Walsall in their last six games. The key fixtures are as follows:
06/04/12 : Scunthorpe United vs Exeter City
07/04/12 : Walsall vs Chesterfield
07/04/12 : Yeovil Town vs Rochdale
09/04/12 : Chesterfield vs Wycombe Wanderers
09/04/12 : Exeter City vs Leyton Orient
14/04/12 : Rochdale vs Exeter City
21/04/12 : Chesterfield vs Rochdale
21/04/12 : Exeter City vs Walsall
21/04/12 : Leyton Orient vs Yeovil Town
28/04/12 : Yeovil Town vs Chesterfield
05/05/12 : Leyton Orient vs Rochdale
If it all comes down to the final day of the season, then those clubs who are not mathematically safe may have much to fear, with Exeter City, Yeovil Town (travelling to Huddersfield Town), Walsall, Wycombe Wanderers and Bury all playing sides currently aiming for promotion or play-off places, and the very large majority of the bottom clubs on their travels. There will be few sides picking up points near the bottom on the final day.
Fingers crossed that everything will be done'n'dusted by then as far as the Glovers are concerned. Manager Gary Johnson has stated that he thinks one more win will be enough. That would give his side 50 points - since Yeovil Town have been in League One, a total of 48, 51, 50, 50, 48 and 51 points has been the minimum required in each season to guarantee survival, so his assessment is roughly correct, even if a point or two more than that would make it a bit more comfortable!
Comment on this News Item on Facebook
or Go back to Top of Page
|
2 April 2012 : 
