League One Focus

Continuing our look at the important issues across the divisions, today we turn the spotlight on what's happening in League One.

Promotion:



Three sides have emerged in the race for automatic promotion to the Championship.

Norwich under Paul Lambert currently lead the way after a marvellous run of form.

Long-time leaders Leeds are also in a strong position, and Charlton are hanging onto the pair's coat-tails as the run-in approaches.

Table as it stands:

........................P...GD...PTS
1. Norwich.........30...33....63
2. Leeds............28...29....61
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3. Charlton........30....20...57

Turls: Leeds looked like they had the league wrapped up at Christmas but something seems to have happened at Elland Road and they have gone off the boil.

Has Beckford been affected by the transfer speculation. Has the team may have been blinded by the FA Cup run? Who knows. All that matters is that the Peacocks's momentum has gone and Norwich have taken advantage.

After a dreadful start, the Canaries have come back well and have gone on a monster run thanks to goals from Grant Holt.

I can't see Charlton getting into the top two. The Addicks are getting decent results but they never seem to be comfortable on the pitch. Maybe that's the sign of a good team but I think it'll be Leeds and Norwich to go up.

Summary: Norwich (Champions) and Leeds.

Norwich boss Paul Lambert has turned around the Canaries's fortunes

Nobes: Sorry to Charlton fans, but I can't see your club breaking into the current top. I think Leeds and Norwich are by far the strongest teams in that division so it will be between those two for the title.

In that battle, I would still favour Leeds. I think their FA Cup run proved a distraction and took their eye off the ball. Now that is out of the way, I expect them to get back to getting the job done in League One.

Norwich have been on an incredible run, and that momentum has taken them to where they are now. It's very tight to call and might well come down to whoever wins the game between the two sides at Carrow Road wins the title.

Summary: Leeds (Champions), Norwich.


Play-offs:



It's a competitve race for the play-off positions with five sides hoping for an extension to their season.

Colchester have been in fine form, and Danny Wilson's Swindon have had a renaissance this term. Milton Keynes Dons and Millwall are gunning for another shot at the end of term lottery.

Lee Clark's young Huddersfield team are the other side hoping for a shot at promotion at Wembley in May.

As it stands:

..............................P...GD..PTS
4. Colchester...........29...16....55
5. Millwall...............29...12....49
6. Swindon..............27....8.....49
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7. Huddersfield........27....20....46
8. MK Dons.............29.....6.....46

Turls: I'm finding this almost impossible to call. You've got some shocks, some regulars, and some moneybags in this group so it makes it increasingly difficult to see who will have the class to last the distance.

I think Huddersfield have got too many goals in them to miss out on the play-offs and Millwall always look like winning games.

The final spot is a difficult one. Colchester have responded well to the loss of their manager early on and Swindon seem to have found a real gem in Austin.

The MK Dons are going steadily as well but I fancy Colchester to make the play-offs and edge out the MK Dons on goal difference.

Summary: Charlton, Huddersfield, Millwall, and Colchester.

Kenny Jackett led Millwall to the play-off final last term - can he repeat the trick?

Nobes: Almost all the sides I expected to be up and around the play-offs are, so I can't say I'm surprised by the runners and riders.

However, I am going to change my mind from my pre-season predictions by saying that Swindon will make the cut. Danny Wilson is a top manager at that level and knows what it takes to get a side in the top six.

Colchester are a powerful side and so strong at home, they will be in there. So I think the last place will come down to Millwall and Huddersfield as Milton Keynes lose too many.

Millwall are a very organised and pragmatic side, whereas Huddersfield only know one way to play - attacking at pace with plenty of goals. The Terriers are also a young side though, perhaps too inexperienced for the run-in.

Summary: Charlton, Colchester, Swindon, Millwall.


Relegation:



Things couldn't be tighter in the bottom half of League One, but some sides are in more danger of relegation than others.

That includes three of the promoted sides from last season - Wycombe, Gillingham, and Exeter.

North West trio Stockport, Tranmere, and Oldham also find themselves in trouble and, after narrowly surving last term, Brighton are in a second successive relegation fight.

As it stands:

.............................P....GD....PTS
18. Exeter..............30...-11......31
19. Oldham............26....-9.......29
20. Gillingham........29...-11......29
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21. Brighton...........28...-13......29
22. Tranmere..........28...-23......26
23. Wycombe..........30...-25......23
24. Stockport..........28....-31.....16

Turls: League One should wave goodbye to Stockport and Wycombe because they are not sticking around to enjoy another opening day in the third tier of English football.

Both teams have shipped far too many goals and Stockport have had real issues scoring themselves.

Tranmere are still suffering from what many are calling the JB effect and although John Barnes won't be there to see them go down, it was his start to the season which set the mark for the club.

The final team making up the relegation zone is a tricky one to predict. I think Oldham should stay up because they have a little too much quality for the nether regions of the league. I'd like Gillingham to go down but I think we may be saying goodbye to Brighton. Always something happening down there and it may be time for them to take a step down.

Summary: Stockport, Wycombe, Tranmere, and Brighton.

Gus Poyet's first managerial job is at struggling Brighton

Nobes: I feel for Stockport fans, it must be a terrible time supporting their club at the minute, and they're certainly on their way to relegation.

Wycombe will drop too, they didn't strengthen enough in the summer and are paying the price, especially defensively.

The other two places are impossibly tight to call. Gillingham's home form might be enough to save them, as might Tranmere's, which has generally improved under Les Parry.

Oldham should be fine, but I worry for Brighton under Gus Poyet. I also expect Exeter to be dragged right down into the mire, and possibly someone like Hartlepool who are on the slide.

Summary: Stockport, Wycombe, Brighton, Gillingham.


We'll take another look at the goings-on in League One in March. Tomorrow we turn attention on the runners and riders in League