How Huddersfield Town could top Millwall and Leeds United and still finish second in League One

Apr 30 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOWN could still get automatic promotion from League I – but rather than get a calculator out, Lee Clark will focus on piloting his side to victories in the final two games of the regular season, then seeing what happens elsewhere.

While a play-off place is secure, to have any hope of making second spot come close of play on May 8, Town must beat Colchester tomorrow then win at Exeter – and Leeds must lose their matches at Charlton tomorrow then at home to Bristol Rovers.

Ideally, Millwall would also lose their last two, at Tranmere and at home to Swindon, although taking a point could still leave the door open for Clark’s men, depending on goal difference.

Swindon being beaten at home to Brentford tomorrow would come in handy, although they could gain a point before beating Millwall and still finish below Town on goal difference.

Meanwhile Charlton, having defeated Leeds, would have to fail to win at Oldham on the final day.

The way the final two sets of fixtures fall mean it’s also possible that Town, Leeds, Millwall and Swindon could finish level on 83 points, with Charlton second – or sixth!

The final placings would then come down to goal difference.

When two sides finish level on points and with the same goal difference, it goes to goals scored, the outcome of their two league clashes, then a match on a neutral ground!

While the chances of needing a pre-play-off play-off are slim in the extreme, and Town taking second place is a pretty long shot, the fact that the possibility exists means there’s plenty of incentive.