Carlisle staring down the barrel of League One relegation

Shrewsbury and Stevenage have already been consigned to League Two next term, and Carlisle are set to join them. They are heavily odds-on with Coral at 1/20 to be relegated because they travel to third-tier champions Wolves on the final day.

Graham Kavanagh knows that not even a win may be enough to keep Carlisle up. They are massive 6/1 outsiders for victory at Molineux, and there is one more relegation spot to fill too.

Carlisle have the second-worst away record in the division, while hosts Wolves have accrued 100 points and more at home than their opponents have gained all season.

Tranmere (10/11), Crewe (5/4) and Notts County (8/1) are all in the mix. It is the former of that trio which currently occupies the spot in the bottom four and the Wirral outfit are managerless.

Only a draw (12/5) against mid-table Bradford, coupled with Crewe losing at home to Preston (6/4), or a Tranmere win (10/11) and draw in that other fixture (23/10), will keep Rovers up. Alex, meanwhile, will guarantee safety with victory (7/4).

Wins for both Crewe and Tranmere, and County suffering defeat at Oldham (13/8) will result in managerial novice Shaun Derry suffering relegation in his first season. His Notts team have the worst away record in League One, but look set to live to fight another campaign.

Coral are no longer offering odds on Colchester being relegated, but there is the slimmest of mathematical possibilities this could occur. Joe Dunne’s Essex outfit would need to lose at Walsall (10/11), the three sides beneath them all win and a goal-swing of 15 or 16 to happen for them to lose third-tier status.

All other matters in League One are solved. Brentford, who suffered play-off heartbreak last season, will join Wolves in next season’s Championship. Preston, Leyton Orient, Rotherham and Peterborough will be in the end of campaign lethal lottery this term.