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.’
9. SHREWSBURY TOWN
Current position/pts: 8th/48--------Run-in points: 119--------Games v top 9: Wycombe (h), Derby (a), Posh (a), Ipswich (a), Posh (h), Barnsley (a), Plymouth (h), Bolton (a), Sheff Wed (h)--------Predicted finish: 9th--------The Shrews still have nine games remaining against the top 9 including two games with Posh so it's tough to see their challenge lasting much longer. Home to Wycombe on Saturday which won't be a game for the purists. Photo: Joe Dent