Defiantly trying to remain upbeat as ever, here at TSS Towers (ha) I’ve been looking at the remaining fixtures as the season end nears and our promotion hopes start to derail.

I was quite surprised to find a quick play with the BBC League One predictor left Leeds United in second, despite my best attempts to remain impartial and unbiased. Of course, you can never truly faction in the crazy results each weekend throws at us in this dismal league, but when you get down to it and look at the teams the others have, things start to look a little rosier for Leeds United.

Millwall

We’ll start with those horrible southerners. Friday is a bit of a non-event really and should be a precession for Millwall. Brentford are sat in mid-table with absolutely nothing to play for whilst Millwall are scoring for fun at the minute and have the added motivation of being able to take second in League One with Leeds hosting Swindon the following day.

Things get a little tougher thereafter for Millwall though as they hit the road to take on sixth and seventh place Colchester and Huddersfield. Both teams will still be dreaming of the play-offs and are likely to cause problems in Millwall’s bid for second place.

The rest of Millwall’s run in is relatively straight forward, but they do host Swindon on the final day of the season which could also be a tricky encounter as both teams could potentially take second as it stands.

Charlton Athletic

A season to match that of Leeds United in the ups and downs department and still struggling to find any real consistency. MK Dons away could prove tricky, although they’re unlikely to see the play-offs as attainable now so that could be one of those where their opposition have nothing to play for except pride.

Add to that Southampton, Norwich, Colchester and ourselves however and things don’t look easy for our former Premier League opponents. Quite possibly the toughest run of them all. Could turn a corner and start to produce season defining form, but seems unlikely.

Swindon Town

Starting with an away game at Elland Road this Saturday, Swindon also have to visit Millwall and Colchester before their season draws to a close. Probably the most unexpected package of the season and have done well to achieve what they have. With such difficult ties remaining though, I can’t see them snatching an automatic spot.

…and the Whites?

On paper, Leeds’ run is quite easily the best of them all. Anything less than three points at home to Swindon this Saturday would have to be seen as a disaster, but I’m optimistic after a lot of improvement was shown in Norwich at the weekend.

Other than that, our run consists of teams with very little or nothing left to play for aside from Charlton away in the penultimate game of the season. With the other teams destined to strip points off one another, that game might not be as important as it originally appeared. If it comes down to the final day of the season you have to fancy our chances at home to Bristol over that of Millwall who face Swindon and Charlton who will be away at Oldham.

Clutching at straws perhaps, but definitely some room for optimism. On and on…