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.
13. 13th: Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham have been tough to beat this year, but they have also struggled to pick up wins. Robins supporters would have liked to see them turn some of their seven draws into wins.
Record in 2022 - Played: 11, Won: 2, Drawn: 7, Lost: 2, Goal Difference: +1, Points: 13 Photo: Harry Trump
Lincoln have lost three-straight games and relegation worries are starting to set in at the LNER Stadium. Their record in 2022 isn’t terrible, but their recent form will be a big concern.
Record in 2022 - Played: 11, Won: 4, Drawn: 1, Lost: 6, Goal Difference: -2, Points: 13 Photo: George Wood
Another side doing their survival bid a world of good recently have been Gillingham. They’ve lost just once in their last five games and are seemingly hitting form at the right time as the business end of the season approaches.
Record in 2022 - Played: 13, Won: 3, Drawn: 4, Lost: 6, Goal Difference: -11, Points: 13 Photo: James Chance
Doncaster are in a very dangerous position at the wrong end of the table, however, their record this year will give fans a glimmer of hope. Taking seven points from their last four games is also a step in the right direction for Donny.
Record in 2022 - Played: 14, Won: 4, Drawn: 1, Lost: 9, Goal Difference: -14, Points: 13 Photo: George Wood