Things are really hotting up in the League One automatic promotion race. STUART WATSON revisits the form and fixtures following midweek action. 

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 

Position: 1st (P42 Pts 89) 

Form: WWLWL 

What’s required: Eight points from the final four would guarantee a top-two finish.  

Fixtures: Cambridge Utd (h), Bristol Rovers (h), Burton (h), Port Vale (a). 

A season-ending injury to star keeper Michael Cooper was followed by a chastening 4-0 defeat to Bolton, at Wembley, in the Papa Johm’s Trophy Final. 

Many were predicting the Pilgrims’ promotion push to collapse, as it did down the final straight last season. 

Steven Schumacher’s men keep finding a way to dig out results though. 

They came from behind and scored two late goals to secure a 3-1 win at Morecambe. 

They were on the back foot for large parts of a Devon derby in Exeter, but won 1-0 thanks to a big deflection. 

On Tuesday night they came from behind to win on the road again, Callum Wright stooping to head home in the sixth minute of stoppage-time at Shrewsbury (2-1). 

“We are really proud that we are at the top of it (the league table),” said Schumacher, speaking to Plymouth Live. 

“Everyone said after 10 games 'they will fall away'. After 20 games 'they won't be there'. 

"We are still here after 42, with four to go. We have proved people wrong all season and let's hope we can prove them wrong for the next four." 

Plymouth’s next three games are all at Home Park. That’s been a real fortress for them this season, but they did lose 2-0 to Lincoln in their last home outing. 

Remaining opponents Cambridge, Bristol Rovers, Burton and Port Vale may all be in the bottom half but are capable of being awkward on their day. We’ve seen that firsthand. 

IPSWICH TOWN 

Position: 2nd (P42 Pts 88) 

Form: WWDWW 

What’s required: Eight points from the final four would, thanks to goal difference, almost certainly guarantee a top-two finish.  

Fixtures: Peterborough (a), Barnsley (a), Exeter (h), Fleetwood (a). 

Under Kieran McKenna’s expert coaching, the Blues have dominated games all season. 

January additions Harry Clarke, Massimo Luongo, Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst, once fully bedded in, then helped performance levels reach new heights. 

Ipswich have become a winning machine at just the right time. 

Tuesday night’s spirited comeback 2-1 home win against Port Vale made it 31 points from a possible 33. 

An incredible goal difference of +54 effectively acts as a bonus point. 

McKenna and his players are not getting carried away though and keep repeating their ‘one game at a time, respect every opponent’ mantra. 

Up next is quickfire away trips to fifth-place Peterborough and fourth-place Barnsley. 

Recent wins on the road at Bolton and Derby support the argument that these sort of matches, against teams that want to engage in an open football match, actually suit Ipswich better.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 

Position: 3rd (P43 Pts 87) 

Form: WLWDD 

What’s required: Even with a perfect three game finish, the Owls would need Plymouth and/or Ipswich to drop points in at least two, possibly three, of their final four games.   

Fixtures: Exeter (h), Shrewsbury (a), Derby (h). 

The Owls went on a 23-game unbeaten league run from early October to the middle of March only to see their form spectacularly collapse at a time when injuries have mounted up. 

Points have been dropped against Forest Green, Cheltenham, Lincoln, Oxford and Burton over the last month, leaving manager Darren Moore under serious pressure. 

Wednesday did triumph 2-1 at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night though, digging deep in the final 20 minutes. 

“It was a hard-fought victory,” Moore told the Sheffield Star. 

“When you look at Bristol Rovers, I think there’s only one of the top-six that have won here. It’s a tough place to come.” 

George Byers remains a big miss, but influential duo Michael Ihiekwe and Josh Windass could both return for Saturday’s home clash with Exeter. 

BARNSLEY 

Position: 4th (P42 Pts 82) 

Form: DWWLW 

What’s required: Realistically, a perfect four-game finish – including a home win against Ipswich – and for Ipswich to drop points in two of their other three matches. 

Fixtures: Oxford (h), Ipswich (h), MK Dons (a), Peterborough (h).

Michael Duff’s men have had some big results in 2023, including victories against Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth. 

The Tykes were always left playing catch-up after a slow start following relegation from the Championship though and recent defeats at Exeter and Burton, coupled with Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw at Lincoln, probably leaves them with too much to do in this high quality top-two race. 

“It was frustrating,” said Duff, speaking to the Yorkshire Post about his team’s midweek stalemate at Sincil Bank. 

“We had enough of the ball and got into good areas. 

“Lincoln are a difficult team to play against, but changed the way they played and completely went back to front as they did not want to play into a press. 

“I think they made it pretty apparent from the first five minutes that they were happy for a 0-0 and then try and pinch one on the counter-attack as they are very good at it. 

"I am not blaming the referee. He could have added another 20 minutes and we would not have scored.”