The Promo Files

Blackpool, with nine games remaining in the 06/07 season, have their best chance of promotion from League One (formerly Division 2) in over ten years.

After Saturday`s massive victory away at Yeovil Town, Simon Grayson`s men are now handily placed in 6th place with a game in hand of those around them, against Rotherham United.

This weekend was one of late goals for the promotion chasing pack. Here are the results:

Crewe 0 - 1 Bristol City
Enoch Showumni scored the only goal of the game at Gresty Park four minutes from time as a free kick deflected his way and inside the six yard box the ball hit him and bounced in.

Swansea City 2 - 0 Chesterfield
Two goals in two second half minutes from Andy Robinson (pen) and defender Izzy Iriekpen were enough to give City the three points on Friday night and temporarily move them up to sixth spot.

Doncaster Rovers 0 - 2 Cheltenham
The relegation threatened Cheltenham clinched a vital three points at The Keepmoat Stadium as they cashed in on an early defensive error by Donny skipper Graeme Lee (once a seaside target) to take the lead through Steven Gillespie and then in the second period the lively Odejayi rounded off a fine win.

Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Oldham Athletic
The Latics went two goals down with 20 minutes remaining as Gary Alexander beat Les Pogliacomi with a fantastic strike from an acute angle on 13 minutes with on loan Southend man, Gary Hooper lobbing a second - the second coming after Alexander was sent for an early bath after his second booking. However, Orient couldn`t hold onto the lead, and ginger ninja Chris Taylor headed Athletic back into the game three minutes after Hooper`s goal, and with nine minutes left, Richie Wellens was brought down in the area with Andy Liddell beating Garner in the home goal. It could have been even better for the away side, but for Leon Clarke (on loan from Wolves) to have his goal ruled out in the final minute for offside.

Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Gillingham
Colin Calderwood`s Forest left it late against a stern Gills and but for an excellent Lewis McGugan free kick with five left, would have dropped points at home for the second consecutive game.

Port Vale 2 - 3 Tranmere Rovers
Early league pace setters Port Vale lost a game they really should have won at Vale Park against Tranmere. A Chris Greenacre double gave Rovers a 2-0 lead inside 35 minutes, only for Vale playmaker Danny Sonner to half the lead a minute later and after the break, Leon Constantine scored a deserved equaliser. But - as was the trend this weekend - the side in the top half won the game late on as Kevin Ellison`s header sealed the win.

Brighton 1 - 1 Scunthorpe
Yet another promotion chasing team got away with not losing a game they really should have done. At The Withdean on loan Jermaine Beckford danced through the Albion defence to give United an undeserved lead. However, it didn`t last long, as Bas "Moonwalk" Savage scored six minutes later. Brighton had their chances to win the game, but failed to do so. Matt Sparrow was sent off in the final moments for a stupid second booking.

Yeovil Town 0 - 1 Blackpool
Match Report Here

One other result was Carlisle 1 - 1 Huddersfield.

The table at 17:00 on Saturday
1 Scunthorpe 38 75
2 Bristol City 38 71
3 Notts Forest 38 67
4 Yeovil 38 64
5 Oldham 38 63
6 Blackpool 37 59
7 Tranmere 38 59
8 Swansea 38 58
9 Doncaster 38 54
10 Carlisle 38 53



The table at 16:35 on Saturday
1 Scunthorpe 38 75
2 Bristol City 38 69
3 Nottm Forest 38 65
4 Yeovil 38 64
5 Oldham 38 62
6 Blackpool 37 59
7 Tranmere 38 57
8 Swansea 38 58
9 Doncaster 38 54
10 Carlisle 38 53

Just goes to show where we could have been if the top ten`s opponents had held on. Admittedly there were no change in positioning within the top six, but The Seasiders with a game in hand (presuming we`ll beat Rotherham) could have gone level on points with Oldham and only three behind Forest who lie in 3rd. But the reality of it is that if we win against United we`ll be one behind Oldham and five behind Forest.

Looking at the table, it`s looking increasingly like Carlisle will miss out on the playoffs, with them being six points behind ourselves in sixth place. Scunthorpe need another fifteen points to clinch promotion, assuming Forest pick up maximum points from now until May.

Next weekend`s fixtures:
Bournemouth v Tranmere, 15:00
Bradford v Blackpool, 15:00
Brighton v Huddersfield, 15:00
Carlisle v Gillingham, 15:00
Crewe v Rotherham, 15:00
Doncaster v Bristol City, 15:00
Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe, 15:00
Nottm Forest v Cheltenham, 15:00
Port Vale v Millwall, 15:00
Swansea v Northampton, 15:00
Yeovil v Chesterfield, 15:00

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