Preston North End have been in the top 6, mainly in 4th place, in League 1 for most of the season. Their points haul puts them well ahead of the 7th team so a place in the play-offs looks assured, needing 79pts or 10 more from 8 games.
However automatic promotion seems very unlikely with North End being 10 points behind the 2nd team. Three teams above PNE have scored far more, have a much better goal difference and have games in hand.
The 8 games to go are:
Home – Peterborough, Crawley, Carlisle, Shrewsbury, Gillingham.
Away – Bristol, Brentford, Crewe.
Normally 5 home games would be an advantage but PNE are doing better away. In reality it is likely only 6 points are needed to get to the play offs.
Automatic promotion looks to favour Wolves and Brentford, with Leyton Orient a possibility and Rotherham on a late run.
The play-offs look to favour: Leyton Orient, Rotherham, Preston and Peterborough. MK Dons look like an outside chance. Swindon, Walsall, Port Vale and Sheffield United also have a chance. With Sheffield making a late surge and having 2 games in hand.
In the play-offs it will be a lottery although on paper Leyton Orient will feel to be favourites. Sheffield United and Rotherham are both looking like late improvers. Experience says that things can still change quite a lot and Easter often sets the situation.
PNE have a realistic chance of getting to Wembley and then winning promotion. We must hope they don’t ease off as it’s sometimes hard to step up again.