The PT decided the best approach to see which of the current top 9 – the only serious contenders for an eventual top six finish – have the easiest/hardest remaining fixtures was to rank every team in the division from one to 24.
Having to play current leaders Sheffield Wednesday would earn a team one point and 24 points is available if a team still has bottom club Forest Green Rovers to play.
Obviously the team with the highest points tally have the easiest run-in based on the current position of the teams they still have to play.
We’ve then taken into account the number of games left to play and estimated where the current top nine will finish.
The formula led to a couple of surprising conclusions, although in-form Wycombe Wanderers could be affected by the loss of manager Gareth Ainsworth if he departs to Championship club QPR.
His local paper believes it’s a ‘done deal.’
5. DERBY COUNTY
Current position/pts: 5th/57---------Run-in points:182---------Games v top 9: Barnsley (a), Shrewsbury (h), Plymouth (a), Posh (a), Ipswich (h), Sheff Wed (a)---------Predicted finish: 5th, Many tough games to go including trips to the current top two. Photo: Bruce Rollinson
6. IPSWICH TOWN
Current position/pts: 3rd/60-------Run-in points: 171-------Games v top 9: Bolton (a), Shrewsbury (h), Barnsley (a), Derby (a), Wycombe (h), Posh (a)-------Predicted finish: 6th------- Ipswich need to make hay in their next three games against teams 18th and below because the five after that are against top nine teams. Photo: Joe Dent
7. BARNSLEY
Current position/pts: 6th/56---------Run-in points: 191---------Games v top 9: Derby (h), Plymouth (h), Wycombe (a), Sheff Wed (h), Ipswich (h), Shrewsbury (h), Posh (h)---------Predicted finish: 7th---------Barnsley host Derby on Saturday and a ferocious run of games against promotion contenders follow fairly quickly after that. They still have seven of the top nine to play. It's make or break time for the Tykes. Photo: Bruce Rollinson
8. PETERBOROUGH UNITED
Current position/pts: 9th/47-------Run-in points: 182-------Games v top 9: Plymouth (h), Sheff Wed (a), Shrewsbury (h), Derby (h), Shrewsbury (a), Ipswich (h), Barnsley (a)------- Predicted finish: 8th-------Unless Posh find form they haven't shown all season against the top sides it looks far too big a mountain to climb. Seven games against the top nine to play, although two are against Shrewsbury. It would be an achievement if Posh are still in with a top six shout when they visit Barnsley on the final day. Photo: Joe Dent