Bolton Wanderers (3rd)
Bolton have by far the toughest run-in of the playoff teams. Travelling to Plymouth Argyle and hosting Stockport County over the Easter weekend precedes a run of games against Cardiff City, Bradford City (both away) and Stevenage, Huddersfield Town and Luton Town (all at home).
The interesting aspect here is Bolton usually do better against the stronger teams in the league. Travelling to former boss Steven Schumacher’s Plymouth is a tall order for anyone at the moment, whereas a local-derby home clash
to Stockport feels more winnable.
Cardiff aren’t on the best of runs at the moment and one would think that Bolton, playing on a large pitch against a ball-playing side, would fare well here.
Stevenage at home is obviously a game we’d love Bolton to win but. Funnily enough, by then we may need Stevenage to win due to the fact that Bolton are only five points above us (with a game in hand).
12 points – 78
Stevenage (7th)
By then Stevenage would have played Rotherham United away and Blackpool at home over the Easter weekend. However, a tough trip to Bradford precedes their journey to Bolton three days later, this clash being Bolton’s game in hand and one of Stevenage’s.
Stevenage then host Lincoln City (who may already have things wrapped up) before finishing the season with their second game in hand at home to Barnsley – always a dangerous attacking team – followed by Doncaster Rovers away and Wigan Athletic at home on the final day.
14 points – 74
Bradford City (4th)
Bradford, a team we’ve just mentioned, host Northampton Town, Plymouth and Bolton. Despite a fantastic home record, they may be hard-pressed to find more than five or six points here.
Away games to Wycombe Wanderers, Barnsley and Exeter City also look tricky, with the Grecians potentially needing a win to stay up on the final day. Despite falling off a cliff and not winning since January, following Gary Caldwell’s departure to Wigan, a positive 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient may signal new boss Matt Taylor stopping the defensive rot.
14 points – 79
Plymouth Argyle (9th)
Plymouth have arguably the best set of fixtures. Following Bolton at home and Plymouth away over Easter, only that trip to Bradford would concern them really.
Local rivals Exeter and Port Vale visit Home Park while trips to AFC Wimbledon and Northampton could be 12 points alone. Argyle are in fantastic form and have the third most points of any team in the league since December (Reading are third since Leam Richardson arrived in November).
13 points – 72
Wycombe Wanderers (8th)
After Stockport and Bradford over Easter weekend, Wycombe have trips to Huddersfield and Lincoln with home games to Blackpool and Rotherham (final day). Six points from these two are a must.
In terms of away form, Wycombe lost two tough away games since New Year (Bolton and Reading), despite having an otherwise decent 2026 road record (wins over 10-man Cardiff and Barnsley), so perhaps Wanderers are the dark horses here.
11 points – 70
Huddersfield Town (10th)
Town host Reading, Wycombe, Cardiff and Mansfield Town at a stadium they are pretty good at getting results at.
However, trips to Orient, Bolton and Wimbledon may make things tougher due to a poor record on the road. Despite this, all three of their away games could come against teams not playing for anything at that moment.
10 points – 68
Luton Town (11th)
Peterborough United, Northampton and Barnsley at home could be seven to nine points, but an EFL Trophy final distraction vs Stockport at Wembley makes this not so simple.
Wimbledon, Mansfield and Rotherham away could propel Luton up the table to a big final-day clash at Bolton.
14 points – 69
Bradford – 79
Bolton – 78
Stevenage – 74
Plymouth – 72
Wycombe – 70
Huddersfield – 69
Luton – 68
