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League Two permutations: Leyton Orient could win title, Rochdale face relegation

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 April 2023, 06:15
Just a handful of games remain in the 2022-23 League Two season, but plenty is still to be decided at both ends of the table.

While one automatic promotion place has already been claimed, two more remain in a very tight battle for a guaranteed spot in League One next season, without the need to go through the playoffs.

At the other end of the table, there are only two relegation places in League Two, but occupying one of those at the end of the campaign comes with the ignominy of dropping out of the Football League altogether.

With a full schedule of fixtures taking place this weekend, Sports Mole rounds up the permutations for the fourth tier in the latest round.

THIS WEEKEND'S LEAGUE TWO PERMUTATIONS

Already promoted: Leyton Orient

Guaranteed at least playoffs: None

Already relegated: None

WHAT COULD HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND?

Leyton Orient could win the title

Rochdale could be relegated

TITLE PICTURE

KEY FIXTURE

Leyton Orient vs. Crewe Alexandra (Saturday, 3pm)

LEYTON ORIENT

Leyton Orient have been the standout team in League Two this season and sealed their promotion with four games to spare on Tuesday night, albeit in bizarre circumstances as results elsewhere saw promotion confirmed while they were sitting in the dressing room, waiting for their match against Gillingham to restart after a floodlight failure.

Orient could have even won the title in midweek had results gone their way, but their surprise 2-0 defeat to Gillingham put paid to those hopes even if it was not enough to prevent them from being relegated.

Richie Wellens's men will have another bite at the cherry this weekend, though, with victory enough to wrap up the League Two title if Stevenage fail to win their game away to playoff hopefuls Mansfield Town.

RELEGATION BATTLE

KEY FIXTURES

Stockport County vs. Rochdale (Saturday, 3pm)

Hartlepool United vs. Crawley Town (Saturday, 3pm)

ROCHDALE

There is a huge relegation battle between Hartlepool United and Crawley Town this weekend, with the two sides currently sitting in 23rd and 22nd respectively, either side of the dotted line.

Hartlepool cannot be officially relegated this weekend, although defeat would leave them right on the brink, but the result in that match could also contribute to Rochdale dropping out of the Football League this weekend.

Should Jim Bentley's side fail to win away to automatic promotion hopefuls Stockport County then they will be relegated regardless of what happens in Hartlepool, but even a shock win at Stockport will not be enough if Crawley also beat Hartlepool.

LEAGUE TWO TABLE IN FULL

THIS WEEKEND'S LEAGUE TWO SCHEDULE IN FULL

Saturday, April 22

All kickoffs 3pm

AFC Wimbledon vs. Swindon

Barrow vs. Carlisle

Bradford vs. Gillingham

Colchester vs. Sutton

Doncaster vs. Newport

Hartlepool vs. Crawley

Leyton Orient vs. Crewe

Mansfield vs. Stevenage

Northampton vs. Harrogate

Stockport vs. Rochdale

Tranmere vs. Grimsby

Walsall vs. Salford

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