Don Goodman has given his verdict on who will win promotion from League One this season, as an intense race for the top-two spots is unfolding.
Everyone anticipated Birmingham City to win League One easily before the season began, given the amount of money they spent and the quality of their acquisitions. However, Wycombe Wanderers have proven to be the party crashers, with the Chairboys taking the top spot.
With Wrexham, Stockport County, and Huddersfield Town all hovering just below the automatic promotion spots, the January transfer window might be vital in the push for Championship football next season.
There are numerous questions to be answered in the second part of the campaign, making for interesting viewing.
Goodman gives League One promotion verdict
Goodman, a Sky Sports analyst, spoke with CoinPoker about the League One promotion race and who he believes will clinch the crucial top-two positions.
The 58-year-old said: “Birmingham City, with their roster, should be smashing League One records and winning every game, but they’re not doing so right now. It would be a huge failure if they did not get promoted. Despite some mixed results, I believe they will continue to rise. Blues will eventually take control of this division, just like Leeds did in the Championship. I only see them improving.
“Wycombe have surprised everyone by going 17 games unbeaten after losing their opening two matches of the season. Wrexham cannot be ruled out however, given their defensive record of 12 clean sheets in 20 games. I believe one of those two teams will join Birmingham in promotion.
The former striker expects Birmingham to win, but feels their nearest rivals, Wycombe and Wrexham, will compete for the final spot. Given the extraordinary form of those three clubs, Goodman’s prognosis does not appear farfetched.
A clearer picture of the promotion race will be available after January
There are a lot of ifs, buts, and maybes to come in January. All of the promotion contenders are likely to bolster their squads, as will some of the clubs that are catching up to the leaders. This could result in an even more exciting second half of the season.
Of course, Birmingham has a pulling power unrivaled by anyone in the division, which is a significant advantage. However, as seen, paying exorbitant fees does not ensure three points every week. Wycombe’s summer recruitment was shrewd, and it has proven a mainstay of their success over the years. If they keep doing this, they have no reason not to challenge the Midlands club.
| League One Table (EFL Website) | |||||||
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| 1 | Wycombe Wanderers | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 43 |
| 2 | Birmingham City | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 42 |
| 3 | Wrexham AFC | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 41 |
| *Accurate as of 18th December 2024 | |||||||
If they can keep crucial loanees like Aaron Morley, Wycombe will be well-positioned to continue their challenge. Wrexham will also be hoping to sign a goalscorer during the transfer window, as they have been without a clinical forward since Jack Marriott’s injury. If they have a new talisman, Phil Parkinson’s team will have the top two looking uneasily over their shoulders.
When the window shuts, everyone will have a much clearer idea of who will be promoted. A lot depends on what happens during the upcoming month of chaos, so while we may have a general sense of who will be there now, we’ll have to wait until February to get a better notion of who’s in the best shape.
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