RACE FOR THE TITLE
We take a look at the Lg One battle between Latics, Rovers and Shrews
IT’S often said the Easter period can be make-orbreak in a season – and that could be the case in League One.
For so long now, it’s been nip and tuck between Wigan, Blackburn and Shrewsbury to bag the two automatic spots to the Championship.
But Shrewsbury’s 3-1 defeat at lowly Rochdale on Good Friday – plus a suspected fractured cheekbone for centre-back Toto Nsiala – may have just opened the door for the Latics and Rovers, who were both relegated from the Championship last term and are desperate to make an immediate return.
Wigan’s convincing 3-0 victory at home against Oldham on Friday has put them in the driving seat. It took them back to the top of the table, a point clear of second-placed Blackburn with a game in hand and two ahead of third-placed Shrewsbury with two games in hand.
Solid
Blackburn kicked off their Easter programme early with a solid 2-0 home success against Bradford on Thursday and are a point ahead of the Shrews with a game in hand. The Latics and Rovers have superior goal differences to Shrewsbury, too.
It means tomorrow’s matches could be crucial. Paul Hurst’s Shrewsbury will be desperate to get back to winning ways when they entertain Karl Robinson’s Oxford, while Wigan and Blackburn are both on their travels.
The table-toping Latics go to Portsmouth and that could be a spicy affair. Paul Cook led Pompey to the League Two title last term before controversially deciding to up sticks and move to Wigan.
Kenny Jackett’s Pompey are still in the fight for a playoff place and will no doubt be keen to put one over their old boss.
But Wigan have been in stunning form of late. When they were in the middle of their amazing FA Cup run, which saw them knock out Bournemouth, West Ham and, most notably, Manchester City, they got behind in league games played.
Their rivals applied the pressure and, psychologically, it looked as though Wigan had a lot of work to do. But they have kept on winning and reclaimed top spot.
Now Blackburn and Shrewsbury must hope a hectic eight-game April catches up with the Latics, though, on paper at least, they don’t appear to have the most difficult of run-ins.
Five of Blackburn’s eight remaining games are away from Ewood Park, but Tony Mowbray’s men have been impressive on the road this term. Again, their remaining matches don’t look too taxing, though the home game against Peterborough (April 19) and visit to Charlton (April 28) could be tricky.
One of the reasons it’s so important for Shrewsbury to bag three points tomorrow against Oxford is that they don’t play again in the league until April 12, when they visit Bradford. That’s due to their Wembley date against Lincoln in the Checkatrade Trophy final next Sunday.
Chance
By the time of that Bradford trip, Wigan and Blackburn will have played two more games each, giving them the chance to open up a gap.
Yet Hurst’s underdogs have proved a resilient bunch all season and will be determined to keep it going until the finish line on May 5. Five of their last seven are at home, which is a plus.
Like Blackburn, Shrewsbury also face Charlton and Peterborough in the run-in.
Mid-table Doncaster could have a say in the destination of the title – they host Blackburn (April 24) and Wigan (May 5), while relegationthreatened MK Dons could also be king-makers. After hosting Blackburn tomorrow, they visit Wigan on Saturday and Shrewsbury on the last day of the season.