Play-off/relegation watch.

[Sutekh]

Congratulations Lincoln! Really didn’t see that coming. Skubala has done wonderful things there. Now has Lincoln’s record unbeaten run of 20 games. Last got beaten by Huddersfield at the beginning of December. Likely to be 22 games unbeaten by Easter Monday.

[Sutekh]

Just basing on form over the last 6 games - if every team keeps up the same form then the final table will look like this (average rounded to nearest full point):

1. Lincoln 102
2. Cardiff 83

3. Bradford 78
4. Bolton 76
5. Reading 73
6. Plymouth 73

7. Wycombe 72
8. Stevenage 71
9. Stockport 69
10. Huddersfield 68
11. Luton 66
12. Barnsley 65
13. Wimbledon 64
14. Orient 63
15. Mansfield 58
16. Peterborough 57
17. Doncaster 56
18. Wigan 54
19. Burton 52
20. Blackpool 48

21. Rotherham 44
22. Exeter 43
23. Port Vale 39
24. Northampton 36

So shows that Stockport/Huddersfield are currently falling off a cliff to miss the play-offs but that a very, very small improvement or drop off in form will mean a difference between comfortably making the play-offs or finishing 9th or 10th.

Cardiff also in shocking form but have enough points in the bank to likely be safe in 2nd.

At the bottom, Exeter are dropping like a stone and Vale drag themselves off the bottom.

Exeter are now 12 games without a win (D6 L6), a run that started with a 2-2 at the SCL. Currently 4 straight losses.

[stealthpapes]

Vale's games in hand do give them a tiny shout.

[Sutekh]

Just 5 games for the 3rd division next weekend (28 March)

Blackpool (21st) v Burton Albion (18th)
Exeter City (20th) v Leyton Orient (16th)
Reading (8th) v Wigan Athletic (19th)
Stockport County (5th) v Wimbledon (14th)
Wycombe Wanderers (10th) v Port Vale (24th)

These are the remaining games for the current top 8 L1 clubs….

1st LINCOLN CITY

03 Apr - Wimbledon (h)
06 Apr - Reading (a)
11 Apr - Leyton Orient (h)
18 Apr - Stevenage (a)
21 Apr - Doncaster (a)
25 Apr - Wycombe (h)
03 May - Port Vale (a)

2nd CARDIFF CITY

06 Apr - Peterborough (a)
11 Apr - Bolton (h)
14 Apr - Huddersfield (a)
18 Apr - Reading (a)
22 Apr - Port Vale (h)
25 Apr - Northampton (h)
02 May - Mansfield (a)

3rd BOLTON WANDERERS

03 Apr - Plymouth (a)
06 Apr - Stockport (h)
11 Apr - Cardiff (a)
14 Apr - Stevenage (h)
18 Apr - Huddersfield (h)
25 Apr - Bradford (a)
02 May - Luton (h)

4th BRADFORD CITY

03 Apr - Northampton (h)
06 Apr - Wycombe (a)
11 Apr - Stevenage (a)
18 Apr - Barnsley (a)
25 Apr - Bolton (h)
02 May - Exeter (a)
Plymouth (h) TBA

5th STOCKPORT COUNTY

28 Mar - Wimbledon (h)
03 Apr - Wycombe (h)
06 Apr - Bolton (a)
15 Apr - Wimbledon (a)
18 Apr - Exeter (a)
25 Apr - Peterborough (h)
28 Apr - Port Vale (h)
02 May - Barnsley (a)
Mansfield (h) TBA

6th STEVENAGE

03 Apr - Rotherham (a)
06 Apr - Blackpool (h)
11 Apr - Bradford (a)
14 Apr - Bolton (a)
18 Apr - Lincoln (h)
21 Apr - Barnsley (h)
25 Apr - Doncaster (a)
02 May - Wigan (h)

7th PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

03 Apr - Bolton (h)
06 Apr - Barnsley (a)
11 Apr - Exeter (h)
18 Apr - Wimbledon (a)
25 Apr - Port Vale (h)
02 May - Northampton (a)
Bradford (a) TBA


8th READING

28 Mar - Wigan (h)
03 Apr - Huddersfield (a)
06 Apr - Lincoln (h)
11 Apr - Doncaster (a)
18 Apr - Cardiff (h)
25 Apr - Rotherham (a)
02 May - Blackpool (h)

[windermereROYAL]

If Bolton win at Plymouth on 3rd April Lincoln will be able to clinch promotion when they visit us providing they avoid defeat at home to Wimbledon.

Any other result for Bolton and they`ll clinch it with a win against the dons.

[Clyde1998]

Update ahead of the weekend:

1. Lincoln - 97.21 (+1.31)
2. Cardiff - 93.33 (-3.43)
3. Bradford (+1) - 80.99 (+2.27)
4. Bolton (-1) - 80.95 (+3.06)
5. Stockport - 74.65 (-2.26)
6. Stevenage (+2) - 70.63 (-0.79)
7. Wycombe (+2) - 70.03 (-1.07)
8. Reading (-1) - 69.47 (+0.13)
9. Huddersfield (-3) - 68.63 (+0.92)
10. Barnsley (+3) - 66.33 (+0.16)
11. Plymouth (-1) - 65.71 (+3.88)
12. Wimbledon (-1) - 63.87 (+2.87)
13. Peterborough (+1) - 61.60 (-0.24)
14. Luton (-2) - 61.35 (-2.25)
15. Mansfield - 58.29 (+0.76)
16. Doncaster (+2) - 55.80 (+1.21)
17. Exeter (-1) - 52.45 (-3.68)
18. Wigan (+3) - 51.88 (-3.33)
19. Leyton Orient - 51.79 (+1.33)
20. Burton (-3) - 50.08 (-2.47)
21. Blackpool (-1) - 49.08 (-1.40)
22. Rotherham - 46.44 (-0.95)
23. Northampton - 45.91 (-3.60)
24. Port Vale - 36.67 (+0.65)

After the past couple of games:

1. Lincoln - 98.96 (+1.75 on last update)
2. Cardiff - 91.34 (-2.00)
3. Bradford (+1) - 77.40 (-3.59)
4. Stockport (+1) - 76.06 (+1.41)
5. Bolton (-2) - 75.67 (-5.28)
6. Stevenage - 72.56 (+1.93)
7. Plymouth - 69.53 (+3.82)
8. Reading - 69.49 (+0.02)
9. Huddersfield (-3) - 67.02 (-1.62)
10. Wycombe - 66.22 (-3.81)
11. Luton (-2) - 65.62 (+4.27)
12. Barnsley (+1) - 60.89 (-5.44)
13. Mansfield (+1) - 60.49 (+2.21)
14. Wimbledon - 59.88 (-3.99)
15. Leyton Orient (+1) - 59.11 (+7.33)
16. Doncaster (+1) - 57.11 (+1.31)
17. Wigan (+2) - 57.02 (+5.14)
18. Peterborough (-6) - 56.98 (-4.62)
19. Burton (-1) - 54.41 (+4.33)
20. Blackpool (+1) - 49.41 (+0.34)
21. Exeter (-1) - 49.30 (-3.15)
22. Rotherham - 44.25 (-2.18)
23. Northampton - 41.29 (-4.62)
24. Port Vale - 38.90 (+2.23)

Barnsley are probably out of the play-off picture now after their draw with Wigan and loss to Doncaster.

Bolton are becoming increasingly vulnerable, with them recently drawing with Rotherham and Doncaster before their loss today against Port Vale. They are only playing sides currently in the top half until the end of the season (including four of the top six).

[tidus_mi2]

Good to see the usual suspects on Twitter rationally declaring the play-offs over after one defeat against a play-off rival with a strong home record.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Good to see the usual suspects on Twitter rationally declaring the play-offs over after one defeat against a play-off rival with a strong home record.

Under normal circumstances, yes, knee jerk reactions but I think it's the manner of yesterday's defeat that causes concern. We really did look like a local park football team, especially second half.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Good to see the usual suspects on Twitter rationally declaring the play-offs over after one defeat against a play-off rival with a strong home record.

Under normal circumstances, yes, knee jerk reactions but I think it's the manner of yesterday's defeat that causes concern. We really did look like a local park football team, especially second half.

Most games we lose feel like that, similar to how most games we win feel proper gritty/lucky. But somehow we keep going. It's definitely not over.

[Clyde1998]

Good to see the usual suspects on Twitter rationally declaring the play-offs over after one defeat against a play-off rival with a strong home record.

Under normal circumstances, yes, knee jerk reactions but I think it's the manner of yesterday's defeat that causes concern. We really did look like a local park football team, especially second half.

Most games we lose feel like that, similar to how most games we win feel proper gritty/lucky. But somehow we keep going. It's definitely not over.

Completely agree. We've not be playing well even when we've won and have somehow been getting results.

I feel there's similarities with the Stam play-off team - turgid football; often dependant on individual quality (goalkeeper making vital saves; striker scoring at an incredible rate; etc.); somehow picking up points. At least we're not losing every third away game by three or more goals...

After games like this, the reaction is always what's important. If we play anything like that against Wigan (especially how we did in the second half) and don't win that game, the chances are we'll drift out of the play-off picture with three of the next four afterwards being Huddersfield (A); Lincoln (H); and Cardiff (H).

I certainly can't say we're out of it, but I think we'll fall short this year (which may not be the worst thing in the longer term picture). If anything, yesterday should simply be a reality check as to how far we still need to travel to be a serious contender in this division.

For reference, the 'games in hand' Stockport and Stevenage have are:

• Tue 14 Apr - Bolton vs Stevenage
• Wed 15 Apr - Wimbledon vs Stockport
• Tue 28 Apr - Stockport vs Port Vale

[morganb]

Play off semi-final and final dates on this link

https://www.efl.com/news/2026/march/24/ ... confirmed/

And also the Fixtures thread on here

https://www.royals.org/forum/viewtopic. ... 0#p5633904

[stealthpapes]

Leam overall form in league - played 26 won 13 draw 7 lost 6 (1.77 ppg).

6 games left to go, so keeping the same form gives between 10 and 11 points, err, win 3 draw 2 lose 1. Maybe draw 1 lose 2 given the run-in.
72 points. Maybe 71.

Same as ever, need an uptick in form to really cement play offs.

Huddersfield (A)
Lincoln (H)
Doncaster (A)
Cardiff (H)
Rotherham (A)
Blackpool (H)

I am not sure if we can get Lincoln the game after they secure promotion. That would be best, right? Likewise Cardiff.

Enjoy the good times.

[stealthpapes]

Perhaps worth considering that our rolling 6 game form under Leam has been fairly consistently at this level... so we can be fairly confident we'll maintain it. Whether that can be said with the same confidence for the others...

Working back from current...
Rolling 6 game ppg: 1.8, 1.5, 1.8, 2.3, 1.8, 1.8, 1.8, 1.8, 1.5, 1.5, 1.8....

I got told, TOLD, that you couldn't look at our long term form.

[stealthpapes]

Leam overall form in league - played 16 won 8 draw 4 lost 4 (1.75 ppg).

16 games left to go, so keeping the same form gives won 8 draw 4 lost 4, an additional 28 points, for a total of 71.

It just needs a minor uptick in form, away draws and home wins, and we’re hitting mid70s.

Actual LOL at how little this prediction has changed.

[WestYorksRoyal]

At the bottom, it's looking pretty likely a team will get relegated on 50+ points. I've always thought the 4 relegation spots in L1 is unfair, and it is a bit of a joke that the team finishing 7th in L2 will get a shot at being in this division next season, when a team who have already proven that they can compete at this level won't.

[Hound]

Hudders is a huge game. Fancy us against Cardiff, Rotherham, Blackpool if we have to win and they’re safe or down

[WestYorksRoyal]

Hudders is a huge game. Fancy us against Cardiff, Rotherham, Blackpool if we have to win and they’re safe or down

Lincoln could well be promoted by the time we play them. If they get a better result against Wimbledon at home than Bolton do away against Plymouth on Good Friday, then they're up. Maybe will lose a bit of intensity in the game immediately after.

[windermereROYAL]

Just a single point needed now to be officially safe from the drop, as if it matters anyway.

[windermereROYAL]

Hudders is a huge game. Fancy us against Cardiff, Rotherham, Blackpool if we have to win and they’re safe or down

Lincoln could well be promoted by the time we play them. If they get a better result against Wimbledon at home than Bolton do away against Plymouth on Good Friday, then they're up. Maybe will lose a bit of intensity in the game immediately after.

If Stockport beat Wycombe at home or Bolton win a Plymouth on good Friday Lincoln can clinch promotion against us on Easter Monday providing they avoid defeat against Wimbledon.

[LUX]

Hudders is a huge game. Fancy us against Cardiff, Rotherham, Blackpool if we have to win and they’re safe or down

Lincoln could well be promoted by the time we play them. If they get a better result against Wimbledon at home than Bolton do away against Plymouth on Good Friday, then they're up. Maybe will lose a bit of intensity in the game immediately after.

Not strictly true. Stockport could still catch them, even if Lincoln win. Highly unlikely but mathematically possible,