How Peterborough United could be dragged into a relegation scrap before they play again, and a bonus from the Port Vale postponement
The League One table could look very different before Peterborough United play again
Posh are currently sitting comfortably in the middle of the table. They are 11th, seven points off the play-offs and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
But 14 teams will play twice before Posh return to action at Leyton Orient on Saturday, March 14. There are 10 League One fixtures this weekend and another eight next Tuesday/Wednesday, March 10/11.
Four teams – Barnsley, Exeter, Plymouth and AFC Wimbledon – could climb above Posh in the next week, while others can get closer to Luke Williams side.
It is possible, although it would take a perfect storm of results, that Posh could be just five points clear of the drop zone before they travel to East London.
The matches coming up for teams below Posh are…
Saturday, March 7: Barnsley v Exeter; Blackpool v Wigan; Bradford C v Orient; Burton v Stevenage; Huddersfield v Rotherham; Plymouth v Doncaster.
Sunday, March 8: Wimbledon v Cobblers.
Tuesday, March 10: Barnsley v Cardiff; Doncaster v Luton; Exeter v Lincoln; Mansfield v Reading; Port Vale v Bradford C; Stevenage v Orient; Wigan v Plymouth.
Wednesday March 11: Wimbledon v Blackpool.
There are positives to be taken from the Vale postponement as well though, most obviously it’s now one more game that could include Posh players currently injured, namely Matt Garbett, Ben Woods, Harley Mills and maybe even Tom Lees and Sam Hughes.
Posh will also be well rested before taking on an Orient side who face two potentially bruising challenges at Bradford City and Stevenage before the March 14 game. Star striker Harry Leonard, a man with a hernia issue, will presumably welcome the break.
Garbett is thought to have a good chance to play against Orient, while Woods and Mills are not far behind the Kiwi in terms of recovery and the Vale game is unlikely to be played before Tuesday, April 21.
The Valiants have played the fewest games of any team in League One (32) thanks to cup commitments and a pitch that floods. They are already scheduled to play on Tuesdays March 10, March 17 and March 24. There is a full League One programme on March 17.
There is also a full set of League One games on Good Friday (April 3) and Easter Monday (April 6). No games are currently scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 and obviously none will be played on Tuesday April 7. Vale also already have a game scheduled for April 14 which leaves April 21 and April 28 free. The season is due to end on Saturday, May 2.
If the match is re-arranged late in April, Vale could already be relegated, and if not they will be knackered as their schedule is brutal. They are currently eight points adrift at the bottom and 10 points from safety.