Charlton included in intense League One finale

Charlton management on edge at the end of
an action filled game at the Valley

LEAGUE ONE was always going to be a closely contested league this season, but I don’t think anyone could predict just how close it is. With only one game left to play, and only one automatic promotion place still up for grabs, any one of five teams can still guarantee Championship football next season.

Last Saturday saw League One take, yet another, twist in the race for automatic promotion, with Charlton being outsiders at the start of the day, beating favourites for promotion, Leeds, in dramatic fashion, and Millwall’s shocking loss to relegation threatened Tranmere opened the promotion door to both Swindon and Huddersfield.

Leeds still stand as favourites for promotion as a win for them at home against Bristol Rovers will secure automatic promotion, however, if Leeds fail to win and someone emerges victorious from the highly important game between Millwall and Swindon, then they will gain promotion.

Charlton will only claim automatic promotion if they win, and provided Leeds lose and Millwall's clash with Swindon ends in a stalemate, this does sound unlikely but with the way this league has gone so far, it is not improbable. Charlton have no new injury worries and it is likely that they will field the same team that beat Leeds and open the promotion door for the London team. However, striker, Leon McKenzie, may return and star on the bench, after he has returned from training following a thigh injury.

Charlton boss Phil Parkinson, speaking after an intense affair against Leeds kept a calm head "We knew what's at stake. Leeds are in the box seat still, but we'll go to Oldham next week and take care of our own job. If results go our way then great, if not, then we're mentally and physically prepared for the play-offs.”

Nothing is certain going in to Saturdays final game of the season, for Leeds it is simple, win and promotion is theirs, however, for the other teams it is a little more complicated than that.