There are just five weeks of the campaign left and at least ten teams all believing they have a realistic chance of winning promotion to League One. The Blues, of course, are involved in the fight for the fifth successive season, and we've taken it upon ourselves to assess the situation at the top end of the table. As Peter Taylor has pointed out on several occasions this season, there are no teams running away with the league in the way that MK Dons and Peterborough breezed to promotion last year. Even when the Blues established a nine-point gap after winning at Shrewsbury in December, the Blues boss refused to get carried away in the slightest, knowing that the division was too tight for any side to be allowed an easy route into League One. And he's been proved right. Defeats to Grimsby and Bournemouth in January might have come as a disappointment to Blues fans but every team in the division has been dropping points to relegation strugglers, whose need for victories is just as desperate as those sides at the top.
All of this means that it's bound to be a frantic five-week period with plenty of shocks and surprises, and ultimately, one goal or missed chance could mean the difference between agony and ecstasy come the first weekend in May. Let's see how the promotion run-in could affect the top ten: Brentford - 70pts: It hasn't been a good week for Andy Scott's men, picking up just one point from two home games and losing Jordan Rhodes and Sam Wood to injury, but their six point gap at the top of the table will relieve some of the pressure as they embark on a series of difficult fixtures. Their next four matches are all against promotion-chasing sides but if they can come through those games unscathed, they will feel they can pick up enough points in their final matches against teams lower in the division in order to cross the finish line.
Remaining fixtures: Dagenham (A), GILLINGHAM (H), Bradford (A), EXETER (H), Bournemouth (A), ACCRINGTON (H), Darlington (A), LUTON (H)
Rochdale - 64pts:
It was clear to see just how much Saturday's victory at Adams Park meant to the players, staff and supporters of the men from Spotland but there is still work to be done if they are to maintain their position inside the top three. They still have to face three sides in the top seven but generally speaking they've been one of the more consistent teams in League Two this campaign and are the division's top scorers, which should see them seal a place in the top seven at the very least.
Remaining fixtures: EXETER (H), Bournemouth (A), PORT VALE (H), Shrewsbury (A), DARLINGTON (H), Luton (A), GILLINGHAM (H)
Gillingham - 64pts:
The Gills seem to have come from nowhere into the top three but it's the perfect proof of just how effective an unbeaten run can be at this stage of the campaign. Unfortunately for Mark Stimson's men, that came to an end at Grimsby on Saturday and they now have to look ahead to one of the toughest series of fixtures of any side in the top ten, but if they can defeat some of their promotion rivals they'll be confident of sealing an automatic promotion place.
Remaining fixtures: Brentford (A), BARNET (H), Wycombe (A), DAGENHAM (H), Chesterfield (A), BURY (H), Rochdale (A)
Wycombe - 63pts:
Wanderers have the potential advantage of one or two games in hand over the rest of the teams in the promotion picture and five of their remaining ten fixtures are at Adams Park, where they've only lost twice in thirteen months. The Blues' destiny is firmly in their own hands, with three matches against promotion rivals to come in the next three weeks, and hopefully the character in Peter Taylor's squad will be able to lift the morale following Saturday's home defeat.
Remaining fixtures: SHREWSBURY (H), BARNET (H), Darlington (A), GILLINGHAM (H), Exeter (A), ALDERSHOT (H), Luton (A), Port Vale (A), NOTTS COUNTY (H)
Bury - 63pts:
Every year there's a team who springs a mini-surprise by immersing themselves in a promotion chase despite a small playing budget and this time around it's Alan Knill's men, who keep picking up wins against the odds. The goals of Andy Bishop have once again been a huge bonus and the Shakers have truly earned their place in the top seven, which could turn into a top three finish if they can capitalise on a run-in which sees them face four teams from the bottom half of the table.
Remaining fixtures: BOURNEMOUTH (H), Port Vale (A), SHREWSBURY (H), Darlington (A), MACCLESFIELD (H), Gillingham (A), ACCRINGTON (H)
Exeter - 61pts:
One of the success stories of the season has been Exeter City, who have established themselves as a top seven side with a team consisting mainly of players who guided them into the Football League last season. Paul Tisdale's men face four fellow promotion candidates in the remaining five weeks and have lost just two of their last eleven fixtures, which suggests the Grecians are in a strong position in order to launch an assault on the top three.
Remaining fixtures: Rochdale (A), PORT VALE (H), DAGENHAM (H), Brentford (A), WYCOMBE (H), Lincoln (A), MORECAMBE (H), Rotherham (A)
Shrewsbury - 59pts:
One of the great mysteries this season has been the puzzle of how a team can win fourteen matches at home but only one away. That's been the case with Shrewsbury Town, who have been one of the most frustratingly predictable teams in the division and should surely be an even bigger force given the fact that Grant Holt has scored 26 times for them this campaign. Four of the Shrews' upcoming matches are away from home and they'll need to improve their form on their travels if they are to seal a promotion place.
Remaining fixtures: Wycombe (A), GRIMSBY (H), Bury (A), ROCHDALE (H), Rotherham (A), LINCOLN (H), Dagenham (A)
Bradford - 58pts:
Bantams boss Stuart McCall threatened to quit Valley Parade if his side don't reach the play-offs this season and their cause hasn't been helped by a run of form which has seen them concede 15 goals in their last five away games. It's been a different story at home, with just two defeats all year, but they might not be able to rely solely on their home form in the next few weeks if they are to finish in the top seven.
Remaining fixtures: Chester (A), BRENTFORD (H), Morecambe (A), LINCOLN (H), Dagenham (A), ROTHERHAM (H), Chesterfield (A)
Dagenham - 53pts:
It had been a brilliant campaign for John Still's men up until the end of December but sadly their form in the New Year has seen them slip away from the promotion picture and it might be a struggle to bridge the five point gap with just eight games to go. However, five of those matches are to be played at home, and they still have to face their nearest rivals Bradford, Shrewsbury and Exeter.
Remaining fixtures: BRENTFORD (H), MACCLESFIELD (H), Exeter (A), ALDERSHOT (H), Gillingham (A), BRADFORD (H), Notts County (A), SHREWSBURY (H)
Chesterfield - 52pts:
There's always a dark horse in the promotion race who makes a late charge for glory and this year it could be Chesterfield, who had collected seven points from their last three away games against promotion hopefuls before losing at Rotherham on Saturday. The Spireites have ten matches still to play and if they can cope with the fixture pile-up, they could still sneak into the top seven.
Remaining fixtures: ROCHDALE (H), PORT VALE (H), Aldershot (A), Macclesfield (A), LINCOLN (H), DARLINGTON (H), Luton (A), GILLINGHAM (H), Accrington (A), BRADFORD (H)
This article has been adapted from Saturday's edition of The Quarters, the official matchday programme of Wycombe Wanderers. Make sure you pick up your copy this weekend ahead of the clash with Shrewsbury Town for just £2.50.
