With the title all but secured with a 1-0 victory over Rochdale on Tuesday evening, Notts can now look forward to a season in League One. With the season coming to a finish for the vast majority of teams in League Two there are only the play-off places to play for. Notts and Rochdale look certain to be joined by Bournemouth and Eddie Howe for automatic promotion. Whilst, at the other end of the table; Darlington and Grimsby seem to be destined for google maps and trips to Altrincham and Salisbury City.
Shrewsbury have long since fallen out of the play-off picture after occupying a spot for the majority of the season, but manager Paul Simpson seems to have pressed the implode button on their campaign and they look destined for a mid-table finish and another season of visits to Barnet and Burton.
Meanwhile Dagenham & Redbridge have picked up 7 out of 9 points in their last three games to make a late surge for the play-offs. With Barnet, Crewe and a crucial 6 pointer against Morecambe this Saturday it looks like the Daggers will be fighting it out for a place in League One alongside Rotherham and a choice of about 7 other teams.
Northampton, who were seemingly unstoppable before County turned the Cobblers over 1-0 at Sixfields. Which has been followed up by defeats to Rochdale and Rotherham by the same scoreline. The return of 0 points from a possible 9 has seen Northampton slip to 11th place and with Shrewsbury, Bradford and Bury yet to face the Cobblers I'd predict that the return of at least 7 points looks most unlikely and they will not be contending in the play-offs.
Morecambe have potentially the joint-hardest run-in alongside Chesterfield with Dagenham & Redbridge, Bury & Shrewsbury all to face. However, I feel they're strong enough to contend with these games but it will all come down to their match against Aldershot which could be the most exciting game of the final day with both teams still aspiring for higher things.
The only thing that could scupper the Spirites chances of battling it out at Wembley is their run-in with Bournemouth, Accrington and Bradford City (who would not be in the lowly position they currently hold if Peter Taylor had been in charge all season). Combined with Bury's fairly easy run-in with games against Torquay and Lincoln I feel that Jack Lester and Ian Brechin are going to continue to grace the grounds of League Two.
Port Vale still have to play Notts County, Bournemouth & Shrewsbury and I cannot see more than 2-4 points being enough to elevate them to play-off height.
End of season table prediction:
1. Notts County
2. Rochdale
3. Bournemouth
4. Rotherham (P)
5. Bury
6. Dagenham & Redbridge
7. Morecambe
On a sidenote, Lee Hughes is currently 3 goals clear of Adam Le Fondre and stands to win the golden boot whilst Ben Davies is joint-leading the assists table alongside Daggers midfielder Danny Green and Dale strikers O'Grady and Dagnall.