What do Cardiff need for promotion in League One?
Cardiff are playing in the third tier this season for the first time since 2003
- Published
Cardiff City's League One promotion bid may have wobbled recently – but they are closing in on an instant return to the Championship.
The Bluebirds beat fourth-place Bolton Wanderers 2-0 on Saturday to strengthen their hold on the second automatic promotion spot.
It was a convincing performance and a timely morale boost for Cardiff, who had been winless and goalless in their three previous home games, and had only two victories from their past eight matches overall.
The day got even better for Brian Barry-Murphy and his players when Bradford City, who are third, lost at home to Stevenage to leave them 10 points adrift of Cardiff having played one game more than the Welsh side.
That means Cardiff could seal promotion as soon as Wednesday.
For that to happen, they would need to win at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday and Stockport County, who are fifth with a game in hand, would need to drop points at AFC Wimbledon.
Even if that was not to happen, however, Cardiff still have plenty of other opportunities to get over the line.
Two wins from their remaining five games would seal promotion, regardless of other results.
With that in mind, you can see why Cardiff have already sold out their allocation for next Saturday's trip to Reading.
"The reality when you win a game of this magnitude, and the games are running out, it's a really healthy place to be," said head coach Barry-Murphy.
"I couldn't care less [where we win promotion]. We have to be so focused on our performance. We can't think about anything else."
Bradford, Bolton, Stockport and Stevenage all have a mathematical – if very slim – chance of catching Cardiff.
Here is how the run-in looks for the League One promotion rivals.
Second place: Cardiff, 81 points, 41 games played
Remaining fixtures
Tuesday 14 April: Huddersfield (away)
Saturday, 18 April: Reading (away)
Wednesday, 22 April: Port Vale (home)
Saturday, 25 April: Northampton (home)
Saturday, 2 May: Mansfield (away)
Third: Bradford, 71 points, 42 games played
Remaining fixtures
Saturday, 18 April: Barnsley (away)
Tuesday, 21 April: Plymouth (home)
Saturday, 25 April: Bolton (home)
Saturday, 2 May: Exeter (away)
Fourth: Bolton, 70 points, 42 games played
Remaining fixtures
Tuesday, 14 April: Stevenage (home)
Saturday, 18 April: Huddersfield (home)
Saturday, 25 April: Bradford (away)
Saturday, 2 May: Luton (home)
Fifth: Stockport, 67 points, 40 games played
Remaining fixtures
Wednesday, 15 April: Wimbledon (away)
Saturday, 18 April: Exeter (away)
Tuesday, 21 April: Mansfield (home)
Saturday, 25 April: Peterborough (home)
Tuesday, 28 April: Port Vale (home)
Saturday, 2 May: Barnsley (away)
Sixth: Stevenage, 67 points, 41 games played
Remaining fixtures
Tuesday, 14 April: Bolton (away)
Saturday, 18 April: Lincoln (home)
Tuesday, 21 April: Barnsley (home)
Saturday, 25 April: Doncaster (away)
Saturday, 2 May: Wigan (home)
