Since 2002 the league 2 team automatically promoted in third place has done so with between 78 and 88 points.
Year Points of third placed team
2002 84
2003 81
2004 80
2005 81
2006 85
2007 88
2008 78
2009 78
2010 82
2011 80
2012 84
2013 78
2014 81
2015 85
2016 85
2017 85
2018 84
2019 79
Given the closeness of the current top four teams – Swindon, Crewe, Exeter and Plymouth and the current form of some of the chasing pack, it would seem that this season we will need at least 85 points to be automatically promoted. We currently sit on 60 points with fourteen matches to go. There are combinations of possible results that will help us reach 85 points but typically we need to win seven, draw four and lose no more than three matches.
Current form and likely outcomes for the remaining matches are difficult to predict with any accuracy but my best guesses are:-
Macclesfield Away Win
Northampton Away Lose
Crawley Home Win
Crewe Home Draw
Walsall Away Win
Salford Home Win
Scunthorpe Home Win
Plymouth Away Lose (but I really hope I’m wrong)
Bradford Home Draw
Cheltenham Away Lose
Morecambe Home Win
Mansfield Away Draw
Carlisle Home Win
Orient Away Draw
Swindon has a much easier run into the end of the season than City whereas Crewe’s fixtures seem slightly more difficult. Plymouth have a difficult February but then a potentially easier set of fixtures in March and April.
Key games for Exeter are Crewe and Plymouth. If we can avoid defeat in those games then that will go a long way to keeping us in the automatic promotion spots. Let’s hope one of the other teams loses form and slips back thereby easing the pressure on the team and the fans!
Year Points of third placed team
2002 84
2003 81
2004 80
2005 81
2006 85
2007 88
2008 78
2009 78
2010 82
2011 80
2012 84
2013 78
2014 81
2015 85
2016 85
2017 85
2018 84
2019 79
Given the closeness of the current top four teams – Swindon, Crewe, Exeter and Plymouth and the current form of some of the chasing pack, it would seem that this season we will need at least 85 points to be automatically promoted. We currently sit on 60 points with fourteen matches to go. There are combinations of possible results that will help us reach 85 points but typically we need to win seven, draw four and lose no more than three matches.
Current form and likely outcomes for the remaining matches are difficult to predict with any accuracy but my best guesses are:-
Macclesfield Away Win
Northampton Away Lose
Crawley Home Win
Crewe Home Draw
Walsall Away Win
Salford Home Win
Scunthorpe Home Win
Plymouth Away Lose (but I really hope I’m wrong)
Bradford Home Draw
Cheltenham Away Lose
Morecambe Home Win
Mansfield Away Draw
Carlisle Home Win
Orient Away Draw
Swindon has a much easier run into the end of the season than City whereas Crewe’s fixtures seem slightly more difficult. Plymouth have a difficult February but then a potentially easier set of fixtures in March and April.
Key games for Exeter are Crewe and Plymouth. If we can avoid defeat in those games then that will go a long way to keeping us in the automatic promotion spots. Let’s hope one of the other teams loses form and slips back thereby easing the pressure on the team and the fans!
