Nathan Jones’ Charlton Athletic have been backed to seal League One automatic promotion at the expense of Wycombe Wanderers and Wrexham in exclusive comments by League One expert and host of the League One Lowdown podcast Jamie Johnson.
The League One season is entering the final stretch with Birmingham City all but guaranteed to lift the title at the end of the campaign. Attention has now turned to who will be joining them in the Championship next season. Wycombe Wanderers had been in pole position, but the loss of Matt Bloomfield to Luton Town seemingly dented their momentum and has allowed Wrexham to catch up and overtake.
Mike Dodds‘ side have lost ground and sit just three points behind Wrexham in third with a game in hand. However, according to Jamie Johnson it is the team in fourth that will achieve 2nd place this year.
Charlton Athletic sit on 66 points, five points behind Wycombe, and are arguably the in-form team in the division. At one stage earlier in the campaign their hopes of promotion looked to be a distant dream, with the Addicks closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs. But Jones has been able to turn around the form to see them charge up the table.
Over the last six games The Addicks top the League One form table with 16 points from six games, higher than that of Birmingham City. With the last 10 games reflecting the same points total as the league leaders (23).
| Last 10 Matches | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | Birmingham City | W 2-1 | W 4-0 | W 1-0 | D 0-0 | W 2-0 | W 1-0 | L 3-1 | W 1-0 | W 2-1 | D 1-1 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 23 |
 |
2 | Charlton Athletic | D 2-2 | W 2-0 | W 2-1 | L 1-0 | W 3-0 | W 2-1 | W 1-0 | D 0-0 | W 1-0 | W 2-1 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 23 |
Charlton to Beat Wrexham and Wycombe to 2nd
Speaking on The Deck’s League One Lowdown podcast, Jamie revealed that he believes Charlton have what it takes to seal the last automatic promotion spot.
Jamie: “I think they (Charlton) are going to get the automatic spot”
“I think Charlton are streets ahead of them (Wycombe and Wrexham) at the minute”
“Obviously Wrexham won on Saturday and claimed that important three points that puts them into second for now”“Charlton are just so much better at the minute”
“It is all about momentum this time of year. There is not too long left. It is single digits in terms of games left of the season.
“So Charlton, I don’t think I can even call them ‘Dark Horses’ are firmly in the race for the top two”.
“I think they will do it, I think they will seal the second spot alongside Birmingham City”
Whilst Jamie is firm in his belief co-host Seb believes that he could be writing off Wrexham too early. Phil Parkinson‘s side have been battling towards the top for much of the season and are looking to seal a third promotion in a row to make the step from the National League to the Championship in a short period.
Whilst they may not be in as good form as the Addicks, Seb believes that they will have what it takes to get over the line after their experience of promotion the last two years.
“I agree that they will do well and push. But I think you are downplaying the impact of Wrexham and Wycombe. I know Wycombe have stalled but Wrexham will have too much for Charlton to catch.”
“I agree that they are in form and you mention a similar run of form to that of Birmingham City”
“But it is a polite disagree”
Who will make second spot? Wrexham, Wycombe or Charlton? Let us know below.