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Up for grabs

Simon Smedley
23/ 4/2008

JIM Gannon still firmly believes that his side are well placed to continue their push for automatic promotion to League One.

Gannon spoke to the Express yesterday [Tues], three days after his side slipped to a first defeat in 11 games in the 3-2 humdinger against MK Dons.

Gannon said: "I was disappointed with Saturday’s result, but when you reflect on the performance we really put the league leaders, and potential champions, under huge pressure.

"We scored two fantastic goals and had the best part of the game.

"But we don’t make a big fuss about winning or losing, we just keep an even temperament throughout.

"The lads are a bit tired as they usually are after putting such a huge effort in, but it’s just a question of managing ourselves right between now and the end of the week to make sure we’re back at peak performance for Saturday."

County head south for Barnet on Saturday, then follow that with Tuesday night’s [29th] re-arranged trip to Chester.

The final game of the season is a week on Saturday at home to Brentford.

A fascinating season run-in is in prospect as five teams - all at least guaranteed a play-off place - battle it out for the one remaining automatic promotion slot.

Third-placed Hereford hosted Wrexham last night [Tues], while they, fourth-placed Rochdale and sixth and seventh-placed Darlington and Wycombe then have just two games left.

Gannon added: "It’s getting very interesting. Everybody’s sealed a play-off spot, but everyone in those spots can still go up automatically.

"With ourselves and Hereford having a game in hand and both games being on different days, it’s made everything a little bit more intriguing.

"Some of the lads still feel like they’re playing catch-up, but we’ll find out after Tuesday’s Hereford-Wrexham game whether automatic promotion is in our own hands.

"If we look after our own business and get as much out of the last three remaining games as possible, then I think we’ll have a good chance of securing that third spot."

Gannon is expecting a tough game at Underhill on Saturday, despite the hosts being out of the play-off hunt, well clear of relegation, and facing something of an injury crisis.

Defenders Sagi Burton, captain Ismail Yakubu and Joe Devera will all miss Saturday’s game.