With seven games to play, Bristol Rovers have dragged themselves into the League Two promotion mix.
Saturday’s close-fought defeat at Carlisle United stunted some of the momentum Joey Barton’s side has garnered in recent weeks and months, but confidence remains that the Gas will carry their upturn in form right through to the end of the season.
The league title aside, all outcomes are realistically in play for the Gas in the last six weeks of the season, meaning their fortunes will largely be defined by their returns against their final seven opponents. Barton’s side will cross paths with promotion and relegation contenders and teams in between.
Here is a breakdown of the challengers lying in wait...
Bradford City (h) - April 2
League position: 14
Form: DLWWL
The Bantams made a splash last month when they secured the services of Mark Hughes as the successor to Derek Adams after he was sacked.
It has been another season of disappointment for Bradford, treading water in the lower reaches of the EFL. They hope the Premier League experience of Hughes turns their fortunes around in the long term.
Right now, he has mustered something of an upturn. He is awaiting his first home win, but Bradford have pulled off impressive wins on the road at Forest Green Rovers and Hartlepool United this month.
Gasheads will remember the October trip to Valley Parade well, with Brett Pitman scoring a late equaliser with a memorable header. Rovers were outplayed that day, but so much has changed since and despite the defeat at Carlisle they should be confident of getting straight back on track at Bradford, despite a couple of eye-catching wins under their new boss.
Charles Vernam’s return to fitness will boost Bradford, but January attacking acquisition Tom Elliot could miss the trip to BS7 through injury.
Tranmere Rovers (a) - April 9
League position: 7
Form: LDWWL
You know it’s springtime when the cliche “six-pointer” gets dusted off by managers up and down the land, and this game certainly qualifies.
A draw with Sutton United and a surprise defeat at Colchester United in the past two games have left Micky Melon’s side clinging to the last place in the top seven.
Tranmere’s success all season has been built on a solid defence, conceding just 34 goals in 39 games with former Barton ally Peter Clarke and ex-Gas defender Tom Davies performing well at the back.
Goals have been hard to come by, though, scoring just 44 this term. However, January signing Kane Hemmings has made an impact since joining from Burton Albion, scoring four goals and adding five assists in 15 appearances.
Whatever happens this weekend, there is sure to be plenty on the line when Rovers travel to Prenton Park, but the Gas are in better form with Tranmere winning just three of their past 10.
Salford City (h) - April 15
League position: 11
Form: WWDDD
Like Rovers, Salford started the season with high expectations but we’re slow off the line. Investment from their high-profile owners in January was inevitable, and it has worked.
Led by former Millwall target man Matt Smith, Salford are nine games unbeaten and, should they win their two games in hand – no easy task at this stage of the season – they will be firmly in contention for a play-off place.
To this day, Rovers will wonder how they failed to beat the nine-man Ammies in November, but outing that right in the return fixture would be the ideal tonic and it could also knock a rival out of the race for the top seven.
Port Vale (a) - April 18
League position: 4
Form: WDWWW
Port Vale have been in and around the promotion places all season and they are the last team to beat Rovers at the Mem, winning 2-1 against the nine-man Gas in December.
Since then, Rovers have been transformed but they are sure to meet a difficult challenge in the shape of Darrell Clarke’s Vale. He remains on leave after a family bereavement, with Andy Crosby taking temporary charge.
The Burslem club spent a brief period of time out of the top seven lately with games in hand, but they have made those count and are hitting form at an ideal time. With former Manchester United striker James Wilson scoring freely and Jamie Proctor recreating Paulo Di Canio’s scissor kick at the weekend to underline the confidence in the team, they look strong contenders for the top three.
Likely the toughest test left on the slate for Rovers, but Barton’s Gas fear no opponent after the run they’ve been on.
Forest Green Rovers (h) - April 23
League position: 1
Form: WDLDD
The runaway league leaders have slipped back closer to the pack in recent weeks, but their blip should not prevent them from winning the title thanks to the remarkable start they made to the campaign.
Rob Edwards is set to lead the Gloucestershire club across the promotion threshold for the first time after several near misses under Mark Cooper. Edwards’ success has been powered by Jamille Matt and Matty Stevens, two of the best strikers in the division, while Kane Wilson and Nicky Cadden have been racking up the assists in impressive quantities, giving FGR attacking threats all over the park.
But recent weeks have shown they are beatable, losing to Walsall, Crawley Town and Bradford of late. By the time this game comes around, the Gas are likely to need the points more and could be backed by a packed Mem.
Rochdale (a) - April 30
League position: 20
Form: LLLDD
Three straight defeats have put Dale in some danger of the drop. They are going nowhere fast and in this form, their future depends on whether Oldham Athletic, Stevenage or Barrow can pick up enough points in the run-in. A couple of positive results could be enough, but Robbie Stockdale will be worried about where the next win is coming from.
Rochdale have won just twice in 2022, suffering from the January sale of leading scorer Jake Beesley to Blackpool, but by the time Rovers travel to Spotland, their hosts' future will be clearer. The Gas might hope Dale scrape enough points together to survive before the meeting in the penultimate gameweek of the season so they are not facing a team playing on desperation.
But either way, Barton’s Gas will go into this one as favourites.
Scunthorpe United (h) - April 7
League position: 24
Form: LLLLD
Mathematically, Scunthorpe remain in with a chance of staying in the EFL, but the reality is they are plummeting into non-league.
Keith Hill has tried to change Scunny’s fortunes since taking over, but just four wins all campaign have left them adrift at the bottom.
If they are not relegated by the time they visit the Mem on the final day, they would have already done something rather special, but nothing can be taken for granted in League Two – just look at the stress already-relegated Dagenham & Redbridge caused Rovers on that memorable day almost six years ago.
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