Salford City primed as unthinkable League Two drop battle looms for Class of '92

The battle to stay in the Football League is a fascinating one at present.

Heading into this weekend's game, just five points separate the bottom six sides in League Two.

More often than not, the teams that go down rarely come straight back up.

Recent years have seen the likes of Notts County, Barnet and York City drop into non-league - and all are still searching for a route back.

At present, the wrong end of the fourth tier features established EFL names that have fallen on hard times in recent years. For Scunthorpe and Oldham, they probably expected to be battling near the bottom.

Gradual decline has set in at both clubs.

Which two sides will be relegated from League Two? Let us know in the comments section

Scunthorpe's turnover of managers is quite something in recent years. Keith Hill was appointed earlier this month to try and pull a rabbit out of the hat.

The Iron are in their third season back at this level but finishes of 20th and then 22nd last season - when they survived by just three points - do not bode well.

As for Oldham, their problems have been clear for all to see. Constant fan protests against the club's controversial owner gathered plenty of attention earlier in the season.

They too have a wily old manager in charge in Keith Curle, someone used to working in the lower leagues and with a good knowledge of this environment.

But their problem, similar to Scunthorpe, is a lack of potency illustrated by the fact they've scored just 11 goals in 15 games.

That same stat applies to Carlisle, who are sandwiched between the two aforementioned clubs in 23rd place, and fourth-bottom Stevenage.

Carlisle recently changed managers by recruiting Keith Millen to replace Chris Beech.

Millen. 55, had a spell as manager with Bristol City and also has extensive coaching experience with Crystal Palace, Blackpool and MK Dons.

As for Stevenage, they have rookie Alex Revell in charge. One of his coaches, the former England women's boss Mark Sampson, left last week to "move on to new challenges".

They face the side directly above them this weekend when they host Nigel Clough's Mansfield. The Stags are another team who have seemingly been sleepwalking towards the National League in recent years.

They're in their ninth consecutive season at this level but have regressed over the past few years. In 2018-19 they reached the play-offs but subsequent campaigns have seen them finish 21st and 16th.

The only side we haven't mentioned yet is one you wouldn't expect to be down fighting near the bottom end - Salford City.

The Ammies finished 11th in their first-ever season at this level in 2019-20, before falling short of the play-offs last term as they ended eighth.

A club that has a high-profile thanks to its Class of '92 ex- Manchester United legends, including Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, was never going to be content with simply making up the numbers in this division.

They showed that ruthless streak in the past by dispensing of Graham Alexander and Richie Wellens without a second thought.

Gary Bowyer, who impressed enough at the end of last season to be given the job on a full-time basis, knows he must deliver promotion this term or else.

But so far it simply hasn't gone to plan. Salford have lost almost half of their league games (seven defeats in 15) and only seven teams have scored less goals than them.

Saturday sees Bowyer take his charges to Scunthorpe, in Hill's first league game at the helm.

Given the bold ambition that Neville and his fellow co-owners have outlined, they can ill afford any roadblocks in their hunt for progress.

They have made it clear that another season in this division is simply not in the script - so the prospect of entering the winter embroiled in a fully-fledged relegation fight will surely be considered unacceptable.

The race to survive is on.