How the League One table would look if it started on New Year’s Day 2022 - and where Sunderland, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers would be
By Joe Buck
Published 2nd Mar 2022, 12:00 BST
Updated 2nd Mar 2022, 12:06 BST
The League One table would have a hugely different look to it if only results in 2022 counted.
Sunderland’s push for automatic promotion has been derailed recently and their form this calendar year has not only impacted their automatic promotion hopes, but also their hopes for a playoff place.
A great victory over Wigan at the weekend was just the response Alex Neil would have wanted from his side, however, their task is to now back that result up and cement their playoff aspirations.
The business end of the season is upon us and it is now or never for teams to end the season on a high.
The Black Cats will want to start to build momentum in their push for promotion and completely transform their 2022 form.
To illustrate how difficult that might be for Neil, here, we take a look at how the League One table would look if the season started on New Year’s Day:
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The business end of the season is upon us and it is now or never for teams to end the season on a high.
9. 9th: Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe have been hanging around the playoff places all season as they strive for a return to the Championship at the first time of asking. Their form in 2022 may have slightly dented their playoff aspirations, however, they are still right in the mix.
Record in 2022 - Played: 12, Won: 4, Drawn: 4, Lost: 4, Goal Difference: +3, Points: 16 Photo: Warren Little
The Brewers have little to play for this season with a mid-table finish very likely for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side. Their form in 2022 will give fans hope that big things could be around the corner next season.
Record in 2022 - Played: 14, Won: 4, Drawn: 4, Lost: 6, Goal Difference: -4, Points: 16 Photo: Warren Little
Pompey have won four of their last five games and will be wondering if they have left it too late for a push for a playoff place. They may also regret their early form in 2022 which has them behind many of their rivals on this table.
Record in 2022 - Played: 11, Won: 4, Drawn: 3, Lost: 4, Goal Difference: +3, Points: 15 Photo: Julian Finney
Plymouth sit slap bang in the middle of 2022’s form table but because of their FA Cup exploits, they have played just nine league games this year - far fewer than all of their promotion rivals.
Record in 2022 - Played: 9, Won: 4, Drawn: 1, Lost: 4, Goal Difference: +2, Points: 13 Photo: Stu Forster