EFL Extra: Round up and play-off Predictions

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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 with me Tom Clark and the former football league legend Gregor Robertson and we are looking at the final day in the championship league one and league two Gregor let's start at the top of the championship Ipswich Town back in the premier league finishing second slightly underwhelmingly we decided when we were just prepping this show 84 points for the team with the best squad in the league a manager who's been there and done it and maybe we're just a bit annoyed that they didn't finish first because we said they would at the start of the season who knows but listen they got the job done but maybe not in quite the fashion they were expecting at the start yeah i'm sure all the fans on the you know the bus parade today will not give a damn that we're saying that or how they've done it but i think it's the truth i mean 2019-20 is the last time 84 points would have got you promoted automatically really i wouldn't even have got you i think it's fourth and fifth in the last couple of seasons so it's kind of teams with particularly teams with parachute payments, have been aiming for like 90 plus point mark even into the hundreds recently.

1:41So it is different. Is that because the championship is stronger across the board? I'm not sure. Some people have said that. I don't think that's true. I think that, as you say, Ipswich have underwhelmed a little bit. There was a big turnover of players in the summer. I think they sent 11 players. They didn't win for their opening four games. And then they sent another couple in January, Mehmeti and Dan Neal to kind of get them over the line and it worked I think they lost one of the last 15 games which really that's the difference actually Millwall won a game more than them Millwall won 24 games to their 23 but Ipswich only lost 8 times and I mean having said all that you think about Kieran McKenna's achievement in itself in isolation it's 3 promotions in 4 years and after obviously the difficulties in the Premier League I said this in relation to Scott Barker on the main show the other day after his exit from Burnley a lot of people diminish the achievement of returning to the Premier League because of the financial advantages with parachute payments but it's no mean feat because of the overhaul of players and the churn and obviously having to shift the habit of losing every week and get a positive environment again I think all that being said Keiran McKenna kind of re-established himself as one of the brightest young coaches in the country It'd be interesting what happens with him won't it this summer because you know last time he came up he was linked with so many jobs even when he went back down still linked with jobs I wonder whether he like wants to have another crack with Ipswich having seen what Leeds and Sunderland have done maybe or maybe thinks didn't go that well last time I don't fancy going back and having to do it again Well he's already said he thinks that the club's in a better position and more prepared across the board Do you agree with that?

3:25Like looking at I don't know whether I agree with that looking at like the playing squad Yeah I don't think he necessarily means that I think he means the club across the board you think the fact that they went from League One to the Premier League in the space of two seasons even I remember being at their first game of the season against Liverpool and there was like so many temporary like things were still being built to get to the press room which was being rebuilt and that kind of stuff so I think he means the structure of the club is more steady and secure and ready for Premier League football that doesn't mean that staying up and doing all the things you have to do to stay up which is primarily being really good at recruitment is going to be easy Yeah I mean just below them as well It's interesting you talk about achievements and points tallies.

4:01You've got Millwall in third, just one point behind Ipswich, 83 points. Ahead of Southampton, of course, another team who came down, got those parachute payments that you mentioned. Middlesbrough, no parachute payments, but a big club in comparison maybe to Millwall with respect to Millwall. It's a huge achievement for Alex Neil to get Millwall into this position. I mean, they've had so many flirtations with the playoffs in the past, haven't they? And maybe dropped out into seventh and eighth at the final hurdle. This time, they've gone way, way above it. how do they now go into the playoffs in that mode they're going to face Hull who we'll come on to talk about in a second I'm sure but they've done so well, so well, they were so close to finishing second does that have any kind of negative bearing on them going into the playoffs or actually does he just need to remind them you're the third best team in this league?

4:49Yeah I think it's that I mean there wasn't much we've seen on the table there's nothing really between them and Ipswich across the course of the season they play very different styles of football in terms of getting clean sheets and seeing out tight low margin wins they're brilliant at and they've got match winners particularly in Femi Aziz Ivanovic has really improved across the season and they've got some players who are really experienced at the level maybe not always got to this level reaching the playoffs and getting over the line, they've not got that but they have in their manager manager's done it before with Norwich and yeah I saw him again as an interview after the game, it was a strange sort of old atmosphere, after beating Oxford they did their side of the bargain but it was clear from early on at QPR, against QPR sorry, which we're going to be making no mistake so I think he was speaking very positively it was like we've won this many games we've been really solid we've got to remember how positive a season this is and sort of recalibrate for the playoffs Just below them Southampton and Middlesbrough fourth and fifth Middlesbrough drawing with Wrexham a result that meant Hull picked Wrexham to the sixth playoff place again speaking of achievements Hull finishing sixth getting into the playoffs I was speaking to Robert Crampton the Times columnist this morning who's from Hull and very very pleased he said it himself Gregor that they were as excited about Pipp and Wrexham to that playoff spot as they were getting in there themselves.

6:27Kind of embodying this thing that we've talked about maybe with Hull City, that they're just so almost baffled themselves that they made it up there as a fan base because this is an amazing achievement to get into the playoffs. It sure is. I mean, when you think about the fact they stayed up on the final day of last season, then they got the transfer embargo, then when they were only able to sign prees and loans and they kind of took a very different tack to a lot of other clubs. they signed players with huge experience at the level Oli McBurnie Matt Crooks John Lundstrom John Egan like that kind of It's a rag tag bunch though isn't it?

7:02Yeah a lot of former Schiffen A players in there too and then like Joey Geltart from Leeds has been that kind of sprinkling of quality Balumi's offered that when he's been fit as well but McBurnie's been outstanding for them 17 goals he's finished second top scorer to Vipotnik of Swansea amazing Yeah and they've been the club all season the team all season as well that have kind of confounded the data of like you know not creating a load of chances an abundance of chances but brilliant kind of executing them and having players who can do that so there's people throughout the season have expected them to fall away and they almost did but they got over the line you have to say McBurnie's winner looked very much like it could have been offside yeah it was offside there were a number of things there's a couple of things through this final day we do not want VAR I'm sorry if any if it happened to you I know this is easy for me to say when my team finished top of the league but we still don't want it no and the clubs don't they just voted for that a couple of weeks ago so we should be happy nothing made me more proud of being a fan of a team in the AFL than voting against VAR let's keep it that way don't moan too much about those decisions at the end of the season that went against you I'm not dwelling too much on Southampton Middlesbrough because we are going to talk about the playoffs after the first legs which kick off this weekend but Gregor Southampton Borough has got all the makings of one of the all-time classic playoff semifinals hasn't it?

8:18it sure does yeah I mean Middlesbrough kind of after such a big slump of their goal scoring boots again just hope above all hopes that Aidan Hackney's fit and returns because he transforms their team and it's just a joy to watch and Southampton like came so close to surging through to claim that final automatic place but just kind of fell short probably the FA Cup didn't help them there a couple of back to back draws the one against Ipswich and Bristol City but in outstanding form and yeah such kind of contrast in semis if you think about the playoffs Millwall and Hull are really sort of they're pretty content to let the other team have the ball but they've got It'll be like that Spiderman meme No you have it, no you have it, I don't want it Yeah, but they've got genuine match winners and it's kind of moments Hull are really good at set plays as well Southampton Middlesbrough have been a joy to watch at various parts of the season and much more kind of expansive and attack-minded.

9:24Yeah, that kind of looks like it could be over the two legs, as you say, one of the classics. Quick prediction. I think I'd probably be sitting on a Millwall-Southampton final if I was going for it. Sorry to all the fans who are listening from the North East. Yeah, very hard to call the Millwall-Hull one. Yeah. It'd be great fun if Hull got there. In a weird way, because almost, as I say, the fans don't want to. My mother-in-law's a Hull fan. She's like, I don't want to go to the Premier League. playoffs is good fun come on of course they do there you go there you go Marge that's you told just below them I don't want to get too much into previewing next season but Rexham missing out just on the playoffs a brilliant season for them Derby County as well Norwich just behind them Birmingham it's already a tantalising prospect you've got a couple of teams there that missed out on the playoffs that are going to be well up for it and probably hoping to be up there in the automatic contention next season well you definitely said that about Birmingham Norwich as well I think the way Norwich have transformed their season under Claremont has been incredible.

10:20Derby, a lot will depend upon who they can keep or whether they can turn some loans into permanent sign-ins. Obviously, they need to get Adjaman back fit as well. And Wrexham, as we know, will, as Phil Parkinson has said as well, will strengthen. I don't think there'll be, you know, I think it would be a big leap for them to be challenging for automatics. but it'd be interesting to see how if and how they change tack because there's been a lot of signing top half championship players maybe as opposed to what many clubs do aim a bit higher and try and lure players down who've played in the Premier League because they've just fallen short but that's also been a big part of their success, just the kind of earthy, grounded, no stars sort of collective but undoubtedly a lot of teams poised and ready to make a challenge next season and some big clubs coming down too.

11:17Yeah, absolutely. Relegation matters were already sorted before the final game of the season but just two things I wanted to bring up. Watford, parting company with Ed Still. It's been a bad season for the Still family, Gregor, has highlighted in Bill Edgar's ever-witty column in the Times pages pointing out that Watford ended Ed Still's brief campaign as head coach six months after fellow championship club Southampton sacked his brother Will. While the two men were in charge this season, Southampton and Watford collected a combined 25 points from 28 games, a rate that would have led to relegation over a full season.

11:51Without them, the two clubs gained points at a rate which would have brought fourth place. Not one that they'll be sticking on the mantelpiece in the mum's house at the Still family at any point in the future. But, I mean, back to Watford. we said it at the time and so it's proved just bonkers again bonkers I mean what else is there left to say about Watford and their managerial appointments really yeah I mean look he won three of his 15 games it's kind of a flicker of positivity at the start but then it seemed like it was inevitable for weeks that this was going to happen particularly when Watford's the club we're talking about and I think they're now looking for their 15th permanent head coach since September 2019 and I think that's since Xavi Gracia the last left who obviously just came in in life for a baby still so that kind of sums up the madness there and they've got some talented young players too so I don't know Watford fans are just hoping and praying for some stability at some point in the future No guarantees that they'll get it and a final word for some of the most loyal and brilliant fans of the season Sheffield Wednesday fans who've been through an awful awful campaign relegated obviously a long time ago but getting a win a home win at the end of the season to ensure that they finished on zero points.

13:10Zero points, but not minus points, Gregor. I think that symbolically is quite a nice touch. And also, kudos to however at the club decided to do a countdown clock of their points deduction for next season. I assume you saw this. I did see this. Absolutely brilliant stuff, listeners. If you want some bit of wit and charm from the lower leagues, go and check it out. They did a countdown clock where they started at minus 15. Had a few dramatic pauses in there as well that I really liked. It wasn't just a straight countdown. all the fans getting behind it they're already excited about what the potential new owners could bring and a season in League One good luck to them time for a little break I've got a little quiz question for Gregor Robertson from Bill Edgar's column so we'll check whether he's been reading it Deji Elowair is a 22 year old defender but what feat did he achieve this season which hasn't been done since 1908-09 find out after the break

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14:49Welcome 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 defender, Gregor Robertson. Looking at the championship, and now we're in to League One. Gregor, the answer to the quiz question before the break, What did Deji Elowair achieve this season? He won two League Winners' Medals. Two League Winners' Medals. Deji Elowair this season helped Lincoln City win the League One title and Bromley take the League Two crown. He's the first player since 1908-09 to have made at least 10 league appearances in two division-winning campaigns in the same year.

15:22The previous such player was Albert Shepard for Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle in the second and first tiers respectively. thank you very much as ever Bill Edgar for those wonderful stats Deji was part of the Lincoln team which won at Port Vale Gregor just to recap 103 points now 103 you say while you're wearing your Lincoln strip while I'm wearing my Lincoln strip I'm still wearing it every day Lincoln strip again ole ole listen I mean come on this is it's the achievement of the season isn't it of all three leagues come on it is yeah by a long way looking forward then how do you think you're going to fare in the championship honestly I think it would be tight if we there's a lot of chat around the club that we are just going to keep doing things as we do them etc I've talked about it on the show before speaking to people at the club they say look there's two choices here we either keep the model that we have now try and punch above our weight that line Michael Scabala our manager said to you about where can we find our margins where can we find our little wins I think if we do that great as a fan I'd be really proud but that will make it incredibly hard I think and I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few ambitious loan signings potentially from Premier League clubs which is not what we've done this season maybe trying to get we've had Morgan Rodgers and Brennan Johnson in the past in their early in their careers whether there's any of those kind of players that we could bring in the other thing that I worry about and this stems from you listening to you on this show and the regular show is that as you go up the pyramid the physicality goes up a notch in terms of speed size everything and we've been a great team this season really hard to beat but there are quite a few players in that team that I love to bits and I'll name my future pets after them but I worry I worry that they they might get a little bit just caught on that half yard on that half turn in the championship because yes fine it's not the Premier League this is the EFL show but it's the same thing applies doesn't it you go up from League One to the championship yeah everything's quicker everything's bit everyone's a bit bigger everyone's a bit stronger and that's where I would worry that across the board our team might get caught out but I think tactically Michael Scubala will always give us a chance.

17:24And listen, do you know what? I don't even care. I don't even care. And you can quote me on this. When we're bottom, when we're bottom, I've got producer Neil laughing at me in the corner. When we're bottom with zero points at Christmas, I still won't care. Come on, Tom, you will. No, I won't. No, I won't. But anyway, I should just say... All to look forward to. All to look forward to. And Lincoln City finishing with the longest unbeaten run in League One. No documentary, but still a great fairy tale. Sorry, couldn't help myself, Wrexham fans. Anyway, Gregor, let's talk about a few other things in League One.

17:52talking of records another remarkable thing from Bill Edgar's column in relation to Billy Sharp before this weekend four 39 year olds and no one older had hit league hat tricks Glossop's Archie Goodall in 1904 Stockport's Joe Smith in 1928 Kevin Phillips for Crystal Palace in 2013 and Jamie Curiton for Dagenham and Redbridge in 2015 but Billy Sharp ended the 138 year wait I'm sure that's what he was thinking about when he banged in his third for a 40-year-old to score a hat-trick when he helped Doncaster beat Peterborough United. Should Saturday's game prove to be Sharp's final game in league football, he is, of course, leaving Doncaster, he would be the first to finish his league career with a hat-trick since Bristol City's Barry Mayer, who later became a Test cricket umpire, and he did his hat-trick in 1963.

18:41Thank you again, Bill Edgar. I'll tell you what Billy Sharp was thinking, though, when he got his hat-trick. I need one more because he's on 299 career goals. Oh, someone give Billy a contract. so he wants to play on he wants to play on and he'll desperately hope it can be in the football league as well and I'm sure someone will take him this is a bit of editorial idea planning live on a podcast we need to go and find Billy Sharp his next club don't we get him his 300th goal he has a job for Gregor Robertson let's look at the playoff pitcher Gregor in League 1 finishing kind of as it was and as it has been for a long time although there was some tumult and movement on the day there absolutely was Stockport finishing in third Dave Chaloner doing it again 15 years, we've said it already it was already basically guaranteed for a long time, 15 years never lower than the playoffs as a manager absolutely phenomenal achievement Bradford just below them on the same number of points 77, then Bolton dropping without a win in the last three games perhaps slightly to do with the fact that they've had the playoffs locked in, then Stevenage just a point ahead of Luton again slight controversy we don't want the AR, we definitely don't want the AR but Stevenage, should that goal have stood Gregor?

19:48I mean I've not put it this way I've not seen a camera angle or any image of it that persuades me that it was a goal no it was doesn't mean it wasn't but no I mean 92nd minute just like a scrambled Dan Sweeney looked like he got the last touch and I mean it just meant everything because Plymouth had come from two goals behind at Northampton to lead 3-2 so there was a period there where they were going to jump into that sixth and final place and then Luton scored I think in the 93rd minute against Bolton At Bolton by the way who seemed to only score themselves in the 93rd minute so they'd obviously decided it felt weird for their game not to have a 93rd minute winner so they let Luton have one I mean when Luton scored that you saw in the celebrations you thought they thought sorry that that was it for them and then I don't know about the chronology exactly I was going to say I'd love to have seen a table how quickly it would have changed very very close yeah and Stevenage scored that scored that winner against Wigan to get their place in the playoffs which is an extraordinary achievement I mean when you look at the size of the clubs all around them we're talking about you know we'll leave out Lincoln because that's an achievement in itself but Cardiff Stockport Bradford Bolton below them Luton Plymouth Huddersfield there are some big clubs in League 1 standards I would say as well and this is not me saying it and attributing it to a fake person And there was genuinely a couple of Lincol fans who I spoke to at the Stevenage game that we had recently who were saying to me, I actually don't want Stevenage to go up.

21:23Good luck to them. But actually, it would slightly tarnish our achievement through the playoffs. So, you know, we need to be the team that finished above all the big boys. So, Stevenage, good on you. I'm glad you've got there. But, you know, actually, make sure you lose the semifinal. They've got a big test, though, haven't they? Stockport, they were there last season, just lost out to Leighton Orient in a really thrilling two-legged semifinal last season. God, it only feels like yesterday that we were talking about that. That's terrifying, isn't it? Bolton as well will fancy themselves to get to a final I mean the kind of outside view would be that Stockport-Bolton will be the final, Bradford-Stevenage would be the very unexpected final, I think that would be a fair way of summing it up Yeah, probably right, yeah I think judging by kind of I think Stevenage scored 49 goals this season, Stockport scored 71 and then even the same sort of disparity between Bolton and Bradford, Bolton scored 70, Bradford 58 so it's like there are two teams that are kind of quite a lot of low margin wins, I think that was Stephen's 12th 1-0 win of the season they find a way of getting over the line and Bradford did the same again let's remember Bradford only came up last season incredible achievement by Alexander, like he's his career in English football has been rejuvenated really so I still think they're very hard to call I would back Stockport to get to the final, but the other one I think is nip and tuck.

22:48Yeah, really, really tight. Let's have a look at the bottom of League One because there was one place in the relegation zone on the line. Exeter needed to win against Bradford as well. We've kind of said it before on the preview show that that was probably counting against them. Bradford still needing something, and so it proved Leighton Orient ending up staying up with a draw against Burt and Albion. But their manager, Richie Wellens, I mean, there's a lot of little things that I'm enjoying reading out on this podcast. listeners this is going to be my favourite if you've not listened to this or heard it or read any of his quotes absolutely remarkable speaking to local radio after the game he apologised for his players serving up rubbish throughout the season he went on to say I've come out a couple of times and had a go at our supporters in the past I'm going to apologise for that now I'm going to tell you the reason why I've done it we've got a weak group really really weak okay and when our supporters give them criticism I try to take the criticism off them so I come out and say the atmosphere wasn't great and then the supporters come at me I don't feel that my protection of them or going on the verge of ruining a relationship with the group of supporters I've got an unbelievable relationship with is worth it.

23:50Week in, week out, especially the past six or seven weeks, they get served up with rubbish. There are too many players that have wasted 10 months of their career and wasted my time. I've had one year of my management that's been wasted by the players and then they wasted the supporters' time. They have not given them enough days to turn up to. There's not enough people at this football club with the mentality to win. thanks very much Richie have a good holiday I mean goodness me crikey Gregor you've been in lots of different dressing rooms lots of different scenarios but you have as you've discussed on this show been in scenarios where you've just stayed up you've just about got over the line what would that be like you've survived and admittedly to give it the context for listeners who maybe don't remember Leighton Orient got to a playoff final under Richie Wellens last season they had an amazing season and they have as our colleague James who's a Leighton Orient fan would attest to, just slowly, very kind of carelessly drifted towards the relegation places and could have got relegated.

24:48But even so, that is a remarkable statement from a manager after survival of the final day. It certainly is. The one thing with Richie Wellens is it's actually not that unexpected. And I think that would be the reaction in the changing room. They would have known that this is on brand for Richie Wellens. Richie Wellens can be acerbic. and I'm sure he said worse in the changing room over the course of the season also a lot of the things he's criticising his players for doesn't reflect well on him because he signed them he actually there was a big overhaul again in January of the squad and it got a kind of four or five match winning bounce that ultimately kept them up and then they've fallen away again and the reason for this outburst and it's different to staying up on the final day in the way that some other clubs do is because as you said of that context but also they did it by default like if if Exeter had won they needed to win and they never really showed at any any stage in this game urgency the sort of urgency that that the supporters would have felt we don't really want to be waiting for a favor here there were two down Exeter were two down but crikey we've talked about a lot of crazy games in the football league this season and in many other seasons gone by so I think that was part of the issue for the supporters and actually when he says he's got a great relationship with supporters, I'm not sure that's true anymore, I think this has been quite corrosive for Richie Willen's standing in place at Leighton Orient Football Club this season.

26:21Yeah, really interesting what might happen in the summer honestly I still can't get over those quotes, just to finish with another quote from ex-defender Piers Sweeney, his team were relegated of course after that to kind of outcome he said this quite nice line people will stand here and apologise to the fans but I'd rather say thank you we were getting clapped off the pitch at the end after being relegated which perhaps maybe speaks to a group of fans that maybe thought for a long time we were going to get relegated and actually they gave themselves a fighting chance when no one expected them to Yeah and they kind of can see the bigger picture this is a club that's been running at a deficit for a while now financially speaking and when you're a fan on the club that becomes a big issue they had to I think the Exeter our supporters club or trust had to loan the club£600 ,000 earlier this season.

27:10There are going to be redundancies, big budget cuts coming up. They lost their manager Gary Caldwell to Wigan midway through the season. Matt Taylor didn't really give them a bounce in when it did come. If you can call it that, it came too late. It's been a tough season for them, but Exeter had much tougher times. and I think they've got to kind of get themselves on an even footing for next season and then look forward. Yeah, into League Two then and Bromley pinching the title on the final day of the season, Gregor. MK Don's drawing, which meant Bromley's win, took them to the top of the table.

27:46Just one point ahead. I've talked about the great achievements that have been throughout the Football League. Bromley winning this league the only second time in the Football League after promotion last season is another one of the remarkable feats, isn't it? It certainly is. I mean, when you think about the size of the club and the journey it's been on over the last decade plus. And it's a really intelligent club. It's a club that's got a huge academy. Behind one of the stands, there's a lot of pitches where throughout the week, they're packed to the rafters with local players, either part of the club's academy or rented out.

28:26And that generates a lot of revenue. and they're brilliantly led and managed by Andy Woodman. So it's been an incredible achievement and they too kind of stuttered for a period, but in the end, I think they showed that they were the best team in the league. Yeah, MK Dons going up in second place. Cambridge pinching the third place spot. Again, a reminder of how tight it was. Cambridge finishing in the third automatic spot and 82 points. Salford City behind them, failing to take the opportunity that they had. once again what is it with Salford City honestly I had some of the moments in this game Tom when there was a penalty that should have been given to Udo which was jaw-droppingly bad Carl Robinson the manager understandably pretty upset about this one I don't know how he can't give a penalty it was a beautiful turn a pirouette pass into the box and he turned away from the defender and the defender slid in and completely cleaned out his both of his legs and the ball was still standing there and looking around like what can you not give this carl robinson said the referee wasn't good enough he started and then his quotes kind of get more strong and punchy until he finishes with i really need to know what's going on because the incompetency of the highest level when you come to these moments you need to trust officials and i couldn't do that today the pg mol has a lot to answer for i mean there's high stakes at this stage in the season and you can understand a manager of robinson's experience thought he might be the guy to finally get salford promoted he's now got to go through the playoffs with Cambridge getting over the line with a 0-0 draw it grew the window of opportunity was there Udo missed a sitter after that as well we should say, a great chance at the near post which he kind of just looked how did I not put that in the back of the net so yeah they were on their knees at the end Crawley were also not certain of their place in the Football League that was a big point for them too so there was kind of scenes of despair and jubilation on the pitch but software need to dust themselves down and go for the playoffs again.

30:30Really like this type A personality that I've got. Really enjoys the fact that the four playoff places are 81, 80, 79, 78. Really enjoy that. Just a nice little cascade shows how tight it is but you've got two former clubs of yours, Gregor, in there. Chesterfield and Grimsby getting that seventh playoff spot. Chesterfield getting in there as well with a big win. Notts County finishing with a draw. They were already basically secured of that playoff spot. How are you looking at it? some really interesting teams in there. Salford, as you say, got to regroup. Anyone you'd be picking out too close to call?

31:02I've fancied Grimsby for a while. I think they were sort of, you know, the sort of euphoria of their cup exploits against Manchester United. After that, it's slightly derailed their season for a little bit. But I think if you look at a lot of the underlying numbers, particularly the number of goals they've scored, I think only M.K. Don scored more goals in the season. Jace Cabia is really flying and he scored a hat-trick the other week he's back in the goals I fancy Grimsby but it's that's a great grouping of teams actually Notts County are great to watch and they scored they scored a late goal as well against Bristol Rovers that was very questionable offside we should say another one of these ones on the final day we don't want to no I know I think everyone agrees about that but still it was like he realised sometimes when it comes down to the final day the stakes are incredible and Chesterfield got the job done against Swindon that was like a playoff before the playoff so Swindon fell out remarkably kind of the wheels fell off towards the end of the season but of the teams that made it in I fancy Grimsby just Yeah he's making sure he gets his Grimsby Christmas card from the former supporters association Gregor let's finish with a look at the bottom of League 2 I've been obsessed with this for the last couple of weeks of how tight it was Barrow and Harrogate ending up in the final two places but there was at one stage the remarkable scenario of Barrow beating Newport and ensuring that they both went down, which would have been...

32:25Imagine being at that ground. Imagine being there. Imagine being there where both teams are both in the bottom two places. Would have been remarkable. But Newport coming back to win their game, Tranmere and Crawley surviving two. A word on any of these teams. I just think, very interestingly, I want to pick out Colin Kazin-Richards as well, which might have gone under the radar in terms of storylines this season. in charge, of course, at Crawley. You know, known for a long time as kind of a bit of a journeyman player, former Turkey international. He'd been at Arsenal's academy nine points since his arrival.

33:00It was really nice quotes after the game. He said, I'm so happy. I'm ecstatic. What a feeling. I think it was Roy Keane that once said it's not good to see a team celebrating not getting relegated. But he has been lucky not to be in a relegation fight. We just won survival. With all due respect, we're Crawley town, not Man United. which really really nice and very true i would say sorry roy yeah no he's had a definitely had a positive effect and you know they've done their last three games of the season and that's ultimately kept them up um there was just great drama everywhere you know everywhere you looked and i mean awful start for harry get the short back pass in the fifth minute just gave you know what was the last thing you could possibly need on a day like like that one um and ultimately they went a 20 game winless run from October to January which has sent them down because they have responded a bit in recent weeks and then Dram in the Newport game was brilliant I mean they went one down then conceded a penalty that they missed that was missed sorry and then Bobby Kammer another absolute beauty he only scores scream he can't score tap-ins and he can't score penalties but he can score absolute worldies yeah and you saw Christian Fuchs celebrating wildly at the end you know we kind of raised her eyebrows, shall we say, when he was appointed and it took a long time for anything positive to really come from that appointment.

34:18Listen, if they keep being this entertaining, he's welcome to stay as long as he wants. Indeed, indeed. Yeah, yeah. So Barrow as well. Look, five managers in a season. This is probably what you're going to get. Interestingly, you see the statement that came out very quickly afterwards from the owners, which I actually quite liked. Again, speaking of kind of good and bad reactions to tough times as well. The Barrow owners put out a statement saying the only words we can say to you is how sorry we are. As owners, our intentions have always been the best interest. But the buck stops with us. We're acutely aware of what's gone wrong and we are well down the road ensuring the club is heading in the right direction.

34:51So, I mean, yes, it's all good words, but as you say, a little bit of a car crash of the season. A major car crash of the season, yeah. Five managers is a ridiculous thing and some of them lasted you know a month so it was it's been a terrible season for them and when you think about the story of them returning to the football league I think after 48 years I think it was and there's been so many times where they they'd missed out in re-election because of their geographical location it's really sad for Barrow as a football club but I think they've got a bit of you know despite all the wild decisions this season they've got a bit of backing and energy there and I'm sure they'll make a fist of trying to return.

35:34Harrogate on the other hand, the landscape's changed a bit I think since they won promotion to the Football League for the first time Simon Weaver still there since 2009 Does he stay the longest serving manager ever? He's, you know, very nice comments after the game, the players have run through brick walls for this badge, they mustn't beat themselves up because it's been a privilege to manage them He's a good guy You want him to come back, don't you? For that reason Him and his dad and his family are the football club. They, as a collective and as a family, raised the football club from non-league to the football league.

36:11And I'm sure they'll do everything they can to return them. Yeah, we'll leave it there for the end of the football league league season. But don't worry, me, Gregor and my Lincoln shirt are not going anywhere just yet because we've still got the playoffs to discuss. But for now, we will leave it there. So Gregor Robertson, thank you very much for joining me as always. Thank you too for listening. We'll be back to discuss the playoffs next week. See you then. Thank you.