The promotion race took me twists and turns last night as Derby County close in on a return to the Championship.
A nervy ending to Derby‘s League One campaign was promised. As history depicts, the Rams never do things the easy way, and that was expected to be the case in this campaign.
It looked for so long that promotion to the Championship would be decided on the final day, but a result last night has changed the complexion completely.
Bolton drop points at home to Shrewsbury
Bolton Wanderers have been Derby’s closest rivals for promotion.
The two have been embroiled in a fascinating battle all season, and while Derby are currently winning that fight, results have helped them on their way.
Paul Warne‘s men took care of their destiny on Saturday by beating Leyton Orient 3-0. Meanwhile, Bolton could only manage a point against champions Portsmouth, who sealed the league title with a comeback win against Barnsley last night.
Sadly for Ian Evatt’s side, they were unable to achieve similar heroics at home to Shrewsbury Town, as despite equalising in the 71st minute, they couldn’t find a winner.
As their promotion ambitions were left in tatters, with Evatt resigned to finishing in the play-offs, Derby now know when they can win promotion.
League One promotion permutations
Bolton failed to pile pressure onto Derby last night as a win would have taken them just a point behind the Rams.
Indeed, Warne’s side are three points clear of the Trotters with a superior goal difference by five. It means that if Derby dropped all three points against Cambridge United, Bolton would need to beat Port Vale by a handsome margin to climb into second.
That is the worst-case scenario for the Rams, as beating Cambridge on Saturday would leave them needing just a point against relegated Carlisle to seal their Championship return.
Derby therefore need just four points, as reported by journalist Leigh Curtis, to guarantee their promotion to the second tier.
They can achieve glory this weekend, but only if they beat Cambridge and Bolton drop points against Port Vale.
Derby County are so close to the finish line
A long and arduous League One campaign is so close to the finish and Warne’s men will want to avoid any final-day drama by comfortably dispatching The U’s.
Of course, three points don’t guarantee their return to the Championship, although it does mean only a point is required against the bottom of the table Carlisle.
Derby are well known for bottling at the latter stages of a campaign, but surely even they couldn’t mess it up from here?