We have entered the time of the season where everything becomes about permutations, and each score is only relevant in the context of how your rivals get on.
With the tensions at their highest, we asked AI to predict every result involving teams still involved in the promotion race to find out what could happen in the last three games.
Swindon Town take on Accrington Stanley knowing they have two massive games to come, and pick up a tension-relieving 2-1 home victory to move them up to 77 points, a tally that has never previously failed to make the playoffs.
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After Bromley and Cambridge United drew on Thursday night, Notts County were the big winners, as they won to move above The U’s, and Milton Keynes Dons drew.
Beneath Swindon, Grimsby Town were defeated, and Chesterfield could only draw, whilst Barnet, Crewe Alexandra, and Oldham Athletic all failed to win as well, meaning that if Cambridge got anything against Grimsby, then Town’s playoff spot would be booked before they headed to Blundell Park.
That is just what happened, as Cambridge got a comfortable 2-0 victory to ensure Town could not be caught by The Mariners.
In the Thursday night game, Salford City defeated Bromley 2-1 at home, moving above Swindon in the process.
A 1-1 draw away at Grimsby, on top of results elsewhere, meant Swindon had no chance of automatic promotion in the final weekend.
A win for Chesterfield over Crewe meant that the final day at the Nigel Eady County Ground would be all about positioning in the playoffs.
However, wins for Notts County, MK Dons, and Cambridge meant that two points separated the top four heading into the final game.
Swindon’s 2-2 draw with Chesterfield, combined with a win for Salford at Crawley Town, set up rounds four and five of Salford against Swindon in the playoffs, with Swindon playing the first leg at home after finishing sixth.
Then, Bromley’s 1-1 draw with Walsall opened the door for the others, and each did the business, with MK Dons claiming the title with 86 points, whilst the rest tied on 85 points.
Cambridge finished second on goal difference, and Notts County pipped Bromley by two goals to get third, seeing Bromley drop out of the top three on the final day, needing to get beyond Chesterfield and win at Wembley to earn promotion.
