It is getting tight at the top

Last updated : 02 April 2002 By Tony Scholes

The reason for this is mainly due to the inability of Millwall, Coventry and ourselves to win football matches and this has allowed teams that looked out of it to come right back in. Crystal Palace have now dropped off the list but Wimbledon have come right into it after a good Easter.

We had a bad Easter with just one point from the two games. All the good work of the wins against Stockport and Preston has now been undone with a run of two points from four games, another disappointing return.

The only think that looks just about clear now is the fact that KKMC are going to win the Championship. With their superior goal difference it means unless there are some crazy results they need just one point to clinch it and I wouldn't bet against them getting a point from games against Barnsley, Gillingham and Portsmouth.

Only West Brom or Wolves can go up with them now mathematically and just now West Brom are the ones in form. I would suggest they have the easier fixtures too with Wolves having to take on both Millwall and Wimbledon but just when you think you have worked things out in this division it all seems to take a completely different turn. It is now confirmed that the two Black Country clubs will take second and third spot with Birmingham the next best only able to reach 80 points now.

The big question now though is who will join the 3rd placed club in the play offs, it will be three from Burnley, Millwall, Birmingham, Norwich, Coventry, Preston and Wimbledon. Current form and a look at the remaining fixtures suggest that Norwich will probably make it now after looking out of it but who else and how many points will be required?

It is looking as though we will probably need to win two of our remaining three games and that will require a change of form with only four wins from the last nineteen league games. To be honest It is fingers crossed time now and see what happens.

We are certainly not in the play offs yet but there are again we are still in with as good a chance as most.

The remaining fixtures are:

Manchester City

6th April

Barnsley

h

13th April

Gillingham

a

21st April

Portsmouth

h

Wolverhampton Wanderers

5th April

Millwall

a

13th April

Wimbledon

h

21st April

Sheffield Wednesday

a

West Bromwich Albion

7th April

Rotherham United

h

13th April

Bradford City

a

21st April

Crystal Palace

h

Burnley

6th April

Gillingham

h

13th April

Grimsby Town

a

21st April

Coventry City

h

Millwall

5th April

Wolverhampton Wanderers

h

13th April

Coventry City

a

21st April

Grimsby Town

h

Birmingham City

7th April

Portsmouth

h

10th April

Crewe Alexandra

h

13th April

Rotherham United

a

21st April

Sheffield United

h

Norwich City

6th April

Grimsby Town

h

13th April

Barnsley

a

21st April

Stockport County

h

Coventry City

6th April

Preston North End

a

13th April

Millwall

h

21st April

Burnley

a

Preston North End

6th April

Coventry City

h

13th April

Crystal Palace

a

21st April

Nottingham Forest

h

Wimbledon

4th April

Crewe Alexandra

h

6th April

Bradford City

h

14th April

Wolverhampton Wanderers

a

21st April

Barnsley

h