EFL Extra: "Easter weekend is big!"

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0:36Hello and welcome to the Game Football Podcast from The Times and Sunday Times. This is our EFL Extra Show every two weeks, taking a closer look at the Championship League One and League Two. And today we're dissecting a jam-packed Easter bank holiday weekend of football. Two full fixture lists in all three divisions, which will have a big say on the outcome of promotion and relegation. I'm Tom Clarke and joining me as usual is the former defender who made more than 300 appearances for clubs at all three levels of the Football League, Gregor Robertson. Hello. Hello, Tom. Welcome back too. Thank you very much.

1:12Thank you very much. I've missed you all very, very much. So I just thought I'd ease myself back in with a bit of Football League chat. There's loads and loads to discuss, of course. Before we get into the kind of ramifications and the permutations of things of what can happen this weekend. Just as a former pro, I teed it up there, two full fixture lists, two games in four days for most of the players at this level. As a former pro, it's quite a big ask, isn't it, really? End of the season, you've got nerves, fatigue, and all of a sudden you get hit with two massive games. Is this one of these moments where you've told me in the past, nah, this is what it's about, Tom, you relish it?

1:49Or will there be some players thinking, God, this is a big ask at this time of year?

1:53Gregor Robertson: well I think it all depends on what's riding on it as well because you know if you're in a relegation battle you know these two games could be definitive and if you're chasing promotion the same is true so it's like it's a bit like this Christmas and this point and the Easter weekend are pretty unique because just the game the you know the how close the games are back to back it can really make or break your season and yeah there's fatigue and you know injuries and all sorts of things come into play form all that but it's like we you just know that there's so much on the line so um these are what these are the kind of parts of the season i think that make the football league so unique absolutely and it gives the neutrals absolutely loads of football to watch across a four-day weekend of course let's start at the very top of the championship coventry you have to say as you kind of alluded to in your piece looking at this bumper weekend of football that you can read on the Times website over the coming days.

2:51You've kind of hinted at it there. They're nearly there, aren't they, Coventry? They've had a few little blips along the way, and that's probably the best compliment you can pay them, that they've always responded. They'll be hoping to do so again. They've got Derby at home and Hull away. They're not easy games, but you have to say what we're thinking. Four points from these two, and they're basically there. Two wins, and it really is done. They're nearly home and dry, aren't they?

3:14Gregor Robertson: They are. I mean it would just be a minor miracle Now partly because the The kind of chasing pack are stuttering There's no one that's that convincing You know about The prospect of Them being caught A run of seven wins from the last eight games Going back to that Seismic kind of You know top of the table clash Against Middlesbrough in mid-Feb That kind of rebooted their season After the wobble we spoke about In January and yeah even after the loss against Southampton a couple of weeks ago they responded with a 3-0 win against Swansea and it's very hard to see anything other than a march to the title for Covington and I think they deserve it that period of the season over New Year in January when they did have a major wobble and that huge lead they had was whittled down considerably either side of that period they've been the best team in the league and I think they'll be deserving champions if they go up as champions Yeah absolutely as you say really good form of late one seven of their last eight league games just a defeat against Southampton blotting their copy book in terms of below them Gregor though it is fascinating you talked about that chasing pack dropping points taking points off each other as well we've got Coventry on 80 points then nine points behind them Middlesbrough in second Ipswich just lurking behind them 69 points They've still got the game in hand on Borough as well.

4:46Millwall also on 69 points, continuing their amazing season so far. Then Hull and Southampton completing the playoff places at the moment. I wanted to ask you about their second automatic place. So many people have said, for so long, I've been one of them, and I still think this is probably the case that Ipswich are in the driving seat to take that second place promotion spot. But in your piece that is going to be on the Times website, you're actually backing Millwall. Tell us why.

5:11Gregor Robertson: Yeah I mean I think first of all If we think about The form of Middlesbrough Since that game Against Coventry They've won Two and eight games They're still creating A lot of chances They're still dominating games But finding the net Has been difficult They've only scored once In the last three games None of which they've won Hayden Hackney Missed the last game I think it's a calf injury There's hope That after the international break He'll be fit But that's That's another question mark And as I say They play They play Middlesbrough And a huge Huge Middlesbrough play Millwall in a huge game this weekend at which point it could look very bright for Millwall and the reason I've gone for Millwall actually is if you look at their running it's after this weekend if they come out of this weekend looking rosy after that game against Middlesbrough then they play Norwich on Monday which is Alex Neal's former side of course they're in good form but I think they could win that after that their running starts to look quite favourable.

6:11Gregor Robertson: They've got QPR and Stoke who are mid-table and don't have much to play for and the rest of the teams are fighting for relegation. You've got West Brom, Leicester Oxford. Leicester and Oxford are the last two games. I think when you compare their run-in to all of their competitors and rivals for promotion, I think it's probably the easiest. So this weekend will be big and it will decide a lot, I think, for the way Millwall are looking at the rest of the season. But I think I've got a sneaky feeling it could be that. Would you say they've got the biggest weekend then? Because I was going to introduce this question to run through the show about which team has got the biggest back-to-back six-pointer doubleheader, whatever cliche you want to call it.

6:59Obviously, they're all huge games, but it sounds to me like you're picking up Millwall, having Borough away and then Norwich at home as two huge statement games where they can say, nah, we are chasing this automatic spot. Would they be your choice then?

7:13Gregor Robertson: Yeah, I just think they can really turn it on the kind of promotion picture on its head, I think, this weekend. That game against Borough is massive. Borough could also lay down a marker there and sort of reassert their grip on second place. At your right, Ipswich do always have that game in hand, but they've had a really tumultuous week as well, Ipswich. You've got to sort of throw that into the mix. There was the visit of reforms leader Nigel Farage. Farage has a bit of a kind of publicity stunt and the reaction from the Ipswich support has been divided, to say the least. And there's always been, throughout the whole season, a kind of slightly disquieting atmosphere at Portman Road.

7:59Gregor Robertson: I don't mean in the atmosphere itself, I just mean in the sort of the attitude to how the team are performing and and maybe not meeting expectation levels because as we've said throughout the season Ipswich have the best team the best squad on paper I think and they've just they've never really lived up to they've never really clicked we've always said if Ipswich click they could they could have a say in the title race and we're seven games to go eight games to go and they're still not really clicked and yet they're still in with a shout so when you compare that to two years ago and the sort of insurgency that that you know the rise from league one and back-to-back promotions that atmosphere was kind of you know exuberant like this is a dream a fairy tale that's very different this season and there's not actually any sign that that's going to change really interesting to see whether it's which can turn it on and say I just keep keep going back to that that they've got there's so much quality and that game in hand but as you say Millwall can lay down the marker with those big games and it kicks it off doesn't it perfectly Middlesbrough Millwall 12.30 on Friday a perfect start to the footballing festivities sorry I interrupted you what were you going to say?

9:04Gregor Robertson: No just running too I think as you know they've got Southampton away Birmingham at home who Birmingham are not going to make the playoffs but they still I think Chris Davies arguably kind of fighting to secure his future at the club if between now and the end of the season still still a lot to play for there then Norwich are in form then Middlesbrough I think that's in April 19th that's another huge huge game so like I think they've got some sticky games between them and the season too so I've always thought we've both of us said yeah I think I still think Ipswich will come I'm slightly less sure now Interesting well you see we'll get a good sense of what Middlesbrough have got to do sorry and Millwall a good ominous sign for Millwall I was reading a stat that they've won 9 of their 19 championship away games this season they haven't reached 10 since 87-88 when they'll make Tony Cascarino help them get promoted to the top division so they'll see if they can follow it up on Friday.

9:59Let's just look at the teams just below them, probably categorised as the kind of play-off pack. You've got Hull on 66 points in fifth, Southampton 63, Wrexham 63, Derby on 60. There's a little gap to Watford and Norwich who've had an unbelievable middle chunk in second half of the season. How do you see the rest of that race, Gregor? Is there a cut-off? is that four point cut off to Watford and Derby just a little bit too big obviously it can all change in two games with six points to play for how do you see those final two playoff places

10:28Gregor Robertson: I think it's down to it's down to Derby but I think Hull are still it's still still still possible to reel Hull in I mean Hull supporters can you know theoretically still look up they're only five points behind Middlesbrough but they're only you know they're only three points ahead of seventh place Wrexham and Derby are three behind them Watford you know are now seven back so I think it's just down to Derby in eighth place and Derby this weekend well in the next 10 days sorry they have Coventry and Southampton so that you know I think we'll know within the next 10 days whether Derby are out of it or not Wrexham have the toughest running in the entire division when you look at it on a points per game basis they've got quite a few injuries now they've lost three of their last five games in all competitions, that did include the game against Chelsea of course in the FA Cup but that's as many as they did in the last 15 still I'm reluctant to write them off because they have just been gutsy and gritty all season and there's every chance that they'll reel Hull in.

11:41Gregor Robertson: I don't think Southampton are going to be in the playoffs. Southampton have been the best team in 2026. John De Eckhart's transformation has been remarkable. That's 21st place up to 6th place now since he took over in November. A bit complicated they're running by the fact that they've got Arsenal in the FA Cup quarterfinal this weekend and then that kind of pushes a game against Wrexham back into midweek so they've got Wrexham on Tuesday and then Derby the next week on the following weekend so it's a huge week Arsenal Wrexham Derby that's seventh and eighth below them I still bag them to come out of that looking good yeah it's funny the way you you can always split the stats can't you or you take your stats from different parts of it because there's another way of looking at Wrexham in the fact that Opta was saying that they've won seven 11 of 17 league games since Christmas drawing two losing four only Norwich with 12 wins from 17 league games have more in the championship in that time.

12:38So whilst you're right, that recent form suggests that maybe they're not quite got the staying power. Overall, since Christmas, it's been an amazing achievement, proving people like me wrong that they've not got it in the championship. Phil Parkinson might need to be changed. I just think this is what Wrexham have done. They've done the clutch moments for the last couple of years at any level, and I just can't see them not getting in the playoffs. I don't know whether it'll be Hull. I don't know whether it'll be Southampton. it's funny you say about Hull supporters my mother-in-law is a Hull fan she doesn't speak for the Hull fan base but she said to me Tom I don't want to get in the Premier League anyway so maybe they wouldn't mind a bit of a they've had a great season I don't want to go back to the Premier League much prefer it in the championship fascinating to see how that playoff picture pans out so just to just to check you've got you're going Hull and Southampton as

13:24Gregor Robertson: it stands for the playoff places Hull also found yes I don't think I think I'm a final prediction for this piece yes I went for Holland Southampton but you've got Millwall taking that second spot and Middlesbrough dropping into the playoffs that will be fascinating to see it all changed let's be honest like it would be an extraordinary absolutely massive absolutely massive and I think probably Millwall fans would be absolutely desperate to avoid the playoffs they've come so near to meat eating the playoffs I think they'd find it very very satisfying indeed to bypass them all together in order to reach the Premier League let's look further down the table I asked you for your team that's got the biggest doubleheader of the weekend my pick mentioning Wrexham of course is West Brom they've had a great little run under James Morrison unbeaten in the last four two wins and two draws they've got Wrexham this weekend on a Friday and then they've got a huge game on the Monday as well yeah Wrexham on Friday then they face Blackburn away on Monday which could have ramifications at the bottom of the table.

14:29How do you see the bottom playing out? You've got Blackburn on 19. Obviously, we had some controversy with Michael O 'Neill, their manager at late, which you can mention. Then West Brom, as I say, they've dragged themselves clear of it a little bit. Portsmouth have been on a dismal run there in 21st. And then the bottom three as it stands, Leicester and Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday, of course, already relegated. It's really tight, though. Just four points separating those bottom five teams. How do you see it playing out?

14:57Gregor Robertson: this is very difficult I mean yeah it has been it has been an interesting few days involving the Blackburn manager Michael O 'Neill because of his sort of his job sharing role as Northern Ireland manager and it's funny that no one really thought about this until the last week or so but he was managing the minutes of a number of players who play for Championship relegation rivals or players even were going to play against Championship relegation rivals this weekend so the fact that they lost against Italy 2-0 on Thursday I think it was rendered the game that they played against Wales on Tuesday night completely irrelevant and yet he was still playing four players I think from Oxford Jamie Donnelly Kieran Brown Brodie Spencer Jamie McDonnell four players who play for Oxford all played in that game and there were various lengths of time in the game.

15:57Gregor Robertson: None of them completed the whole game. Portsmouth's Terry Devlin played 80 minutes. Blackburn only had one player in that team, Tom Aitchison, who played 10 minutes. It was his first cap. And West Brom's Isaac Rice as well. So that's been really interesting and Oxford actually raised a potential conflict of interest around that. So that's kind of just been another... It did make me think though, as you said, you kind of summed it up nicely there. how no one noticed this before. It's like Oxford lads, you could have mentioned this a couple of months ago. We all knew what he was doing. We knew he was job sharing.

16:32We knew he'd have these matches coming up. Surely someone should have spotted this before.

16:36Gregor Robertson: I think it was the fact that people would not have any grudge about this had their second game been a game to get into the World Cup. I think everyone kind of overlooked the fact that there's this pointless sort of losers playoff game which is completely bizarre if you lost the first game and that completely changes the context of how you use your players so I think everyone just sort of overlooked that fact or didn't know about it and suddenly it's like he doesn't need to play in these games and he also sent a couple of players home that was a bit sort of mysterious so anyway these are sort of weird conspiracy theories that are thrown up the most important thing is that Blackburn, West Brom is an absolute belter as you say West Brom looked dead and buried not long ago James Morrison has gone back to basics 8 points from his 5 games had back to back wins against Hull and Bristol City I think Portsmouth are the one that you're really worried about in free fall they were hammered 6-1 by QPR before the international break they had back to back wins in February and it looked like they were going to pull away to safety but then they've collected one point from the last six games and they've got a huge huge game against Oxford at lunchtime on Monday and they also play Leicester on the 18th in their favour both those games are at home, they're both at Fratton Park they could be decisive though because after that they play Middlesbrough, Switch and Coventry so Portsmouth, those two games against their rivals for the drop Oxford and Leicester are absolutely huge and then you look at Leicester who kind of stopped the rot under Gary Rowett but they've only won once I think taking seven points from his seven games and this weekend for them is really big too because it feels like a big big opportunity for them to take points from from Preston North End and from Sheffield Wednesday and if they don't the games become much harder after that so it feels like a must for them to take I don't know at least four points this weekend otherwise it's going to look really difficult for them and how would you call it then at the end because obviously you've made these predictions in this piece that's on the Times website how do you see the bottom three finishing at the end of the season I chopped and changed at this a lot but I don't know I feel there's something about I think Gary Rowe is a decent manager and I think I think they could get points that will make it look different will alter the look of the table after this weekend so I've gone for Portsmouth and Oxford I mean you do have to say Oxford have really turned a corner but Matt Bloomfield was appointed in January it took him a while, they shored up the defence but it took him a while to really have a tangible sort of influence on the team but they won three games in a row just before the international break could nearly have won a fourth until a 92nd minute penalty against Charlton lost against Southampton which wasn't that unexpected and they've got four home games they've got four home games still to come, they're not like easy, they've got Hull, Watford, Rexham and Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford might be on the beach by then so there's still definitely hope there definitely hope but I had to pick three and I've gone on Portsmouth and Oxford, yeah.

20:15Portsmouth and Oxford, I think I probably agree with you, just wonder whether the bigger stature clubs with some slightly bigger players maybe might get them over the line, who knows, or maybe the pressure might tell, but yeah, I think I probably agree with you, Portsmouth and Oxford would be the picks at the moment, but as I keep saying, this time next week, it could all have changed. We should just mention, before we take a quick break, as if this football season couldn't get any more crackers, we've got Roy Hodgson popping up in the Championship, Gregor, at Bristol City. The various stories that I've been keeping my eye on whilst I've been off the last couple of weeks.

20:45There's quite a few that have been fairly shocking. Igor Tudor being let go by Tottenham was not one of them. Roy Hodgson popping up at Bristol City definitely was. Just, I can't even begin to sum up how this has happened. Explain to me how this has happened. How are we here? How's Roy Hodgson, 78, back at Bristol City, some kind of rom-com return for a man who thought he was done with football?

21:07Gregor Robertson: I mean, that's not an easy question to answer. I don't know how Bristol City suddenly found themselves in 16th, just above the point at which you think they're going to be dragged into a relegation battle. Gerard Struber had them challenging for the playoffs for much of the season. and as you say there's only you know with only 7 games left to play I'm not sure what the point is is it a bit of a kind of PR publicity stunt is it I'm not sure it's one that the fans really particularly are enamoured by either so yeah look 78 it's an amazing story in one sense the fact that it's 50 years since he began in management 50 years he's 78 and obviously of course early in his career he was Bristol City manager before too he was sacked by them 44 years ago so taking him for a turn and you see these sort of black and white photos of a young Roy Hodgson in Bristol all those years ago it's an extraordinary story and it's extraordinary for someone to still be managing a club at 78 years old but I'm not sure what Bristol City fans feel about it well I am actually it's a serious grudge serious grudge with a point to prove isn't it if he's like 44 years I'm going to show him I'll go back he's still annoyed about being sacked well good luck to Roy Hodgson we'll see whether he throws up a few interesting storylines between now and the end of the season if you've got views on the championship do get in touch with me tom.clark at the times.co.uk we're planning on returning with a bonus EFL show next week to look back at what happened over the Easter weekend it's time for a quick break now Gregor I've got a little personal theme quiz question for you I know you love these ones more than any so the last time you featured in an EFL bank holiday double header was in April 2014 for Northampton.

22:55You faced Wickham and Portsmouth. How many points did you take from those two games? Find out after the break.

23:15Welcome back to the Game Football Podcast from the Times and Sunday Times. This is our EFL Extra Show with me, Tom Clark and the former Football League legend Gregor Robertson. And it wasn't a particular legendary display, Gregor, for Northampton in those two games that I mentioned before the break. April 2014 against Wycombe and Portsmouth, taking just one point from those two games. It's a big point in the end, Tom. It was a big point in the end. I'll give you that. And listen, you lot followed it up, I should say, with a 3-0 away win at Dagenham and Redbridge. Two goals from Ivan Toney. And Toney scored again in a 3-1 home win at Oxford.

23:52the weekend after that as you just so that was just about survived right that was a survival

23:56Gregor Robertson: battle near the bottom yeah we went to the final day that game against Wickham was like one of these head-to-heads we're talking about these kind of relegation six-pointers with a few games to go and I remember that was a that was a big one and as I said to you in the break I nearly gave away a penalty in the last minute so it could have been very different uh it's funny the things you remember funny things you remember yeah and then Ivan Tony just stepped up from the from nowhere scored a bicycle kick against Dagnum Redbridge and a star was born yeah absolutely whatever happened to you mate let's look at League One this weekend now Gregor it's time it's time for you just to admit when I really know what I'm talking about all right all season I've been banging on about how Lincoln City are going to get promoted to the championship I've been touting this for a while I've been telling you all season good this was my this is the year my boys were going to do it you weren't having it but I always believed now after that completely sarcastic intro that regular listeners will know that i'm making a massive joke there lincoln do go into this weekend just needing four points or potentially just three with the results going their way it is three it is three it absolutely is you just have to get the maths factory right but they can confirm promotion to the championship this weekend how does it feel can i it mad absolutely mad absolutely crackers obviously i made that joke there it's unbelievable it is unfathomable how the lincoln might be in the championship like my even my dad my dad is in his 70s the last time lincoln were in the championship my dad was six um he's never seen them in the championship he's never seen them in the second tier um never mind the idea of i never it dreamt that they would get to the championship even in the couple of times we got close we got close under my clapleton and lost the playoff final to blackpool even then afterwards there was a bit of a sense of like we are where we're supposed to be league one the idea that we not might not just get to the championship but that we might win league one doing it is truly unfathomable truly truly special times i'm going to be there on friday despite the fact that i've got a three-week-old daughter massive massive props to my wife for letting me go to the big game on friday against wimbledon absolute shout out to amy yet make sure i get that in on the live podcast uh make sure that's documented but yeah it's incredible it's absolutely incredible and like one of the best stories of the season when you look at the the you know the landscape of league one like yeah of course i think so and that's what i was going that was what i was going to ask you for now for kind of the listeners are probably sick of my biased opinions and jokes all season but like as an unbiased outside viewer like this is it this is we would if it wasn't my team we would be saying what an achievement wouldn't we this is this is a remarkable achievement for a team of lincoln size to be at the top of League One and to get promoted to the championship?

26:47Gregor Robertson: Unquestionably. Because if you, as I say, you look at the teams below them, Cardiff, Bolton, Bradford, even Stockport, Reading, Plymouth, Huddersfield, Wooten. These are some big clubs and a lot of the financial results have been posted recently and the scale of the losses, the size of some of the budgets. You guys have got a budget which I think is like in the bottom eight of the league. it's about being intelligently run and I interviewed Michael Scobal earlier in the season finding ways, the way he described it was where do you put your chips to get the biggest return and that's the attitude that Lincoln as you know take to the running of the club and that even informs the style of play I think the way that they are content to be without the ball but then when they win it back they take more risks than anyone else and that means what was his phrase to get fast forward and fast forward and fast absolutely get the ball try and score don't mind if you lose it again and it works it works as well we should just say a lot of people quite snooty about our style of play we are the top scorers in the league as well as having the best defense in the league so it is truly unfathomable i can't believe it absolutely amazing performance from my boys and just hope just don't cock it up now just just just do it on friday just just do it no no i need them to get it done on friday just so you don't have to ask for another pass yeah my marriage isn't on the line and i keep having to be like can i go to the next one can i go to the next one so yeah boys if you could get it done on friday that would be great just below them at cardiff still very much in the driving seat for that second automatic promotion place and obviously we're challenging lincoln all the way for the title and then below that gregor we have the usual fascinating battle in the league one playoff places bolton in third on 66 points 11 points between them and another nine teams down to Luton in 11th place.

28:40How do you see this playoff picture going? I've talked about it a lot. I thought Bolton would challenge. They've had a dismal run recently, including looting the bottom team Port Vale. Bradford have failed to find consistency. Stockport had a big win at the weekend against Wimbledon. They've still got a game in hand on some of their rival teams as well. Reading have been good in patches, but have failed to put a run together. How do you see it panning out in these four places below? Presuming, I should say as well, you're confident that Cardiff will lock up that second promotion spot alongside Lincoln.

29:14Gregor Robertson: That's the place to start. I am confident, but they've won one in their last five. I mean, a game where you guys played them has kind of set them off kilter a little bit. I think only two in their last seven as well, if you go back a bit further to that game. They play Peterborough next, and then after that, it's Bolton. So if they don't beat Peterborough and Bolton win, that's not a guarantee either because Bolton won't play Plymouth. But just imagining that that happens, there would be a five-point gap between Cardiff and Bolton going into that game and suddenly it's a little bit squeaky bum time.

29:51Gregor Robertson: so I do think Cardiff will I do think they will partly because as you say Bolton are not in great form, they're not one in three same as Bradford below them and Bolton's running is just remarkable really they've got Plymouth whose transformation in the second half of the season has been extraordinary, they've been the second best team behind Lincoln in the second half of the season so Bolton have them next then they have Stockport then Cardiff then Stevenage who are have re-found their form and are back in the home for the playoffs, point outside the playoffs. Then Huddersfield, then Bradford, then Luton.

30:30Gregor Robertson: All of these teams, as it stands, possibly Luton might not by the tail end of the season. Huddersfield may not too. They've got quite a lot going on. Liam Manning, obviously, has had to step away. Compassionate leave. clearly it endured a huge tragedy in October 2024 when his son passed away so thoughts with Liam Manning and his family so some of these teams at the end of the season might be on the beach a little bit but Bolton's running is really really difficult and there are so many big big games between these teams at the end of the season and it's one of those where you still go down to Luton in 11th and think it's possible.

31:15Gregor Robertson: I don't think it's likely, but it is possible. Luton's running by comparison is quite favourable. They've got Peterborough, Wimbledon, Northampton, Mansfield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Bolton in the final game. A lot of teams in the bottom half of the table until the last game of the season. So you just never know. It's very, very hard to call. I know you're going to ask me too soon, but you don't have great confidence in the league table looking as it does now come the end of the season. Bolton and Bradford are in really bad form and the gap between them and Stevenage, who also have two games in hand and only five or six points behind, is not a big enough cushion, I think.

32:02Yeah, this is a big weekend, isn't it, for those teams solidifying their playoff credentials because we get it all the time, don't we, at this stage of the season where maybe teams have gone into the playoffs or have got their playoff place secured. Sunderland did it in the championship last season where they'd been chasing automatic, then they weren't going to get it, then they tailed off at the end of the season and then obviously came good when it came to the playoff crunch. Big weekend for teams trying to say, no, no, we're in the playoffs and that's why my pick for the weekend in terms of the team with the biggest doubleheader is Stockport County.

32:35Been desperate for promotion to the championship for recent seasons, obviously see themselves as kind of very similar to Wrexham from the kind of rags to riches and chasing all the way up the Football League. They've got a home game against Wickham on Friday. And then, as you mentioned already, they visit Bolton on Monday for an absolutely massive game. And I think you, similarly to me, but you're picking Bolton as your team for the big games this weekend, just trying to return and get a bit of form back. Because as you say, Plymouth and Stockport doesn't get much bigger than that.

33:04Gregor Robertson: Yeah, I mean, they are two huge games. I mean, Stockport do have two huge games too. and they play Wickham first who are only four points behind them and then Bolton. So I think both of those teams it's a pretty definitive weekend for them. But I would say Bolton because they could even if they reacquaint themselves with their best form they could even apply a bit of pressure to Cardiff. So that's the kind of position they're in. It's still nothing is certain but everything is possible. It's so tricky to call, isn't it? You wonder whether psychologically as well, because those teams, Bolton, Bradford, Stockport, even Stevenage at times this season, have been in the conversation and discussions around those top two automatic places, whereas obviously in the last couple of weeks and over the Christmas period, Lincoln and Cardiff's form was so good that you wonder whether psychologically they're now thinking, right, we need to refit our brains towards the idea of maybe getting the playoffs and maybe that's where some of the wobbles have come because Bolton was so good for so long at getting late wins and then they've ended up losing and dropping points at teams near the bottom of the table.

34:12If you had to pick four, I'll tell you what, I'll go first in this one. I'm going Bolton. Bolton will be in there. Stockport will be as well. I think Reading will get in there. So I'd be worried about Bradford slipping and I wouldn't be surprised if one of those teams outside, maybe Plymouth, make a charge, make a late charge. I just worry about Bradford getting the consistency. They've had a wobble. It's been a long season. and they've really punched above their weight by being up there. It's an amazing achievement to be up there. I just wonder whether they might drop out. What do you reckon?

34:44So they would be mine. Bolton, Stockport, Reading and Plymouth. They're the four I'm going for.

34:48Gregor Robertson: I'm going to go Bolton, Bradford, Stockport and Plymouth. Not necessarily in that order, but I think Plymouth will get in. I think Stockport, they've not been, we really thought that this season they would have a bigger say in the race for the top two. but Dave Chalmers we have to remember and remind ourselves has never not finished in the top six in any full season of management and I think he's into maybe 15 seasons something like that now it's an extraordinary record so I think they'll manage it I would be slightly worried about Bradford as you say they've lost to Burton Norman Mansfield and lost to Wigan they clearly all have things to play for but they're all around the bottom end of the table in recent weeks so they need to reassert themselves but I still think they might hang in and not beat Plymouth who take the last place because Reading have played one or two games more than everyone as well True, very true So yeah I would go with Plymouth to jump in there Really interesting what will happen Let's look at the bottom of the table very quickly You've got Port Vale down there still at the bottom of the table on 31 points almost certainly doomed to relegation Northampton Town and Rotherham just ahead of them and then there's a decent gap now of nine points to safety.

36:11Exeter in 21st on 43, then Blackpool 45, Wigan 45, Burton 46. Leighton Orient have dragged themselves out of it with a brilliant run of four wins and a draw in their last five games. But in theory, Gregor, if we're talking about teams that you're still in with a chance, still might be chasing the playoffs, is there a mad case to be said for going from Exeter up to Peterborough in 12th or do we think actually it's up to Burton and those teams above them are probably safe?

36:41Gregor Robertson: I think the problem for, I think they're safe. I think the reason for that is Exeter could well be doomed in the next couple of weeks. The Blackpool, well, Blackpool Exeter this weekend is huge, obviously. Blackpool have climbed out of the relegation zone. They've had late winners against Port Vale and Burton in the last few weeks, either side of a gutsy goalless draw against Cardiff. So they've found a little bit of momentum from somewhere and Exeter, under Matt Taylor, have the opposite. So I think if Blackpool win this weekend, it could almost be done. Yeah, interesting. And also you'd say, sorry, I should have asked to start with, Rotherham, Northampton, Port Vale, no chance of done.

37:31Really interesting. So it could be done this weekend. There we go.

37:35Gregor Robertson: It's unusual actually. You've definitely got much more cutthroat with your predictions these days. A lot bolder, much more cutthroat. I might be proven to be completely wrong, but it is quite unusual. Usually the relegation battle is tighter or has a bit more jeopardy going into this point in the season. but Rotherham and Northampton have fallen off a cliff in recent weeks and Rotherham turned to Lee Clark Northampton have lost their last four or smashed 4-1 by Mansfield who are still just trying to claw themselves to safety last time out and Port Vale obviously they've got the FA Cup game and it's too big a gap so I think I think Blackpool could almost bury Exeter this weekend because Exeter as well have a pretty tough running they've still got Stockport and Bradford to play and Plymouth so you know I think if they don't get points from this weekend against Blackpool and then Doncaster then I think it could be too big a mountain for them to climb Cutthroat Gregor Robertson, I'm very excited for the telling off you're going to get from producer when we finish recording this podcast for jinxing his beloved Blackpool going into a big weekend but yeah we'll see how that pans out let's move into League 2 and if there's any better proof that this is the weirdest and most wonderful time of the year in the Football League then you just need to look at the fixed the results sorry from last weekend in League 2 some truly bonkers results going on Barrow winning 2-1 against Bromley ending the top team's 21 match unbeaten run some other crazy results in there as well Newport beating in form Shrewsbury who would have a bit of a wobble of course lately but they're just two examples Gregor aren't they of the fact that at this time of year particularly in League 2 anyone can beat anyone no don't put don't put a bet on football in League 2 at any point between now and the end of the season it's truly bonkers I tell you what why don't we start by picking out our teams that have the biggest double headers of the weekend and I'll start because I wanted to pick out mentioned teams at the bottom of the table there is a huge game on Friday Newport and Crawley face each other on Friday at Newport they're the team teams just outside the relegation places one of them if they win one of them they take a big step towards safety a draw would be a bit of a disaster for both but Crawley have then got a home game against Grimsby Town on Monday Crawley if they don't get big points from those games could get dragged into the scrap at the bottom of the table because Barrow and Harrogate are both still in with it in with a shout they've given themselves hope picking up points along the way who are your team Gregor I think you've picked a team near the top of the table in terms of a big double header this weekend yeah I mean they don't on paper look like the biggest games but I think they probably play Barnett who are still very much in with a shout of making the playoffs despite the fact they're down in 12th.

40:40Gregor Robertson: They're only three points off 7th place crew so it's a big game for both and then they play Shrewsbury who are still not entirely safe but they've found a new lease of life as well recently but the reason I think that those games are important is because after that Bromley play MK Dons, Cambridge, Salford who are all in the top 6 and then Walsall who have parted company with their manager recently but are still a decent team and still have a chance of in the playoffs as well. I just think it's not necessarily done for Bromley. Bromley have a five point lead over MK Dons, seven point lead over Cambridge in fourth but Cambridge have a game in hand.

41:26Gregor Robertson: I'm not absolutely convinced as you say there was a shock defeat against Barrow at the weekend. They've also not had Michael Cheek for I think the last five games and that's a huge loss for them so I'm not sure that's done. The thing that as you said there is fascinating about League 2 and the running is the fact that we're talking about it goes down to 12th they all have to play each other the top 8 almost basically all play each other between the end of season 2 this weekend on Thursday night Cambridge play Swindon that's 4th versus 5th 2 points between them gamers still have a game in hand we've got Salford against Notts County that's 6th versus 3rd Salford could go level with Notts in the last set of bottom up just below them on goal difference if they win that and Salford are in good form it's impossible to call the thing you would say is the fact that Salford have a 7 point lead over crew in 7th, it looks like you have a sort of a bun fight for that last place in the playoffs.

42:35Gregor Robertson: That's what I was going to say. You do agree that it is broken into, you know, That's a big gap. Seven points is a big gap. Yeah, it's six teams battling for three places in the automatics and then you've got another bunch going for that last Another six. playoff spot. Yeah. Yeah, from 7th down to 12th. Barnett, they're all covered by three points. So, yeah, absolutely. All those teams are completely in with a shout of taking that last place and I'd be amazed if it doesn't go to the last game. Yeah, so impossible to call. I'm not even going to ask you to predict it because we will be coming back and if two games, six points, it can all have changed.

43:09Just quickly before we wrap up though, I mentioned... Sorry, sorry. Sorry, go on.

43:12Gregor Robertson: Just quickly, like, crew's running. Crew have, after Accrington, they have Salford, Grimsby, M.K. Dons, Chesterfield and Cambridge. That sums up the madness. Which, for listeners not staring at the table like we are, is literally every team above them and below them. So you could not have a better chance to secure it or a better chance to throw it all away. Just to finish, Gregor, your view on the bottom of the table I mentioned Crawley against Newport being a massive game 21st against 22nd this Friday as we mentioned as well Barrow giving themselves a chance at getting out of it with that massive win against Bromley how do you see the bottom playing out is it two is it two teams from those four are Tranmere still should Tranmere still be worried as well they've been in terrible form should still be worried yes absolutely it's just whether whether two teams below them can gather more points and again you start to look at the run-ins at this time Barrows was really tough, they needed that win at the weekend, yes beating the league leaders was a big statement but they've got MK Dons and Chesterfield this weekend then Barnett, Oldham Walsall, Cambridge and Newport on the final day what a game that could be if we're both still in it so yeah Newport isn't that much easier they've still got to play Knots they've got Harrogate after that Oldham and Barrow in the final day they've got Cheltenham who have just done enough to pull clear so very very hard to call I think Newport have given themselves a chance there seems to be a new lease of life there Christian Fuchs has been there a long time and it's taken them a while to really engender much in the way of an uptick, they've started to play very different football but not necessarily got the results to match but they've started to win a few really important games recently you know the win against Shrewsbury win against Barnett which was a big game lost to Bromley and Newport in between those games but I feel like Newport could pull clear and I think Barrow's fixtures are maybe going to be too hard for them to get of it.

45:23Yeah, see listeners, he's offering predictions when he's even not asked for them. This is the new Gregor Robertson, so excited by the Easter Bank holiday weekend bonanza in the Football League but we'll leave it there Gregor, thank you very much for joining me as always. Thank you for listening, we hope you've been excited and informed by this EFL Extra show. We'll be back next week to prove how wrong we were about all of our predictions and look ahead to the end of the season and we'll be back with the regular show on Monday too. We'll see you then.

46:20Gregor Robertson: We'll be right back. Call 866-4-SEASONS.