North End’s Promotion Prospects

Preston North End have been in the top 6, mainly in 4th place, in League 1 for most of the season.  Their points haul puts them well ahead of the 7th team so a place in the play-offs looks assured, needing 79pts or 10 more from 8 games.

However automatic promotion seems very unlikely with North End being 10 points behind the 2nd team.  Three teams above PNE have scored far more, have a much better goal difference and have games in hand.

The 8 games to go are:

Home – Peterborough, Crawley, Carlisle, Shrewsbury, Gillingham.

Away – Bristol, Brentford, Crewe.

Normally 5 home games would be an advantage but PNE are doing better away.  In reality it is likely only 6 points are needed to get to the play offs.

Automatic promotion looks to favour Wolves and Brentford, with Leyton Orient a possibility and Rotherham on a late run.

The play-offs look to favour: Leyton Orient, Rotherham, Preston and Peterborough.  MK Dons look like an outside chance.  Swindon, Walsall, Port Vale and Sheffield United also have a chance.  With Sheffield making a late surge and having 2 games in hand.

In the play-offs it will be a lottery although on paper Leyton Orient will feel to be favourites.   Sheffield United and Rotherham are both looking like late improvers.  Experience says that things can still change quite a lot and Easter often sets the situation.

PNE have a realistic chance of getting to Wembley and then winning promotion.  We must hope they don’t ease off as it’s sometimes hard to step up again.

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