Last night belonged to AFCB

Last night was surely very exciting for most AFCB fans. I was listening on Cherry Player to as many of the key League One fixtures as I could, while praying for a few favours for the Cherries. I needn't have worried too much. I think Eddie Howe wrote the results down that he wanted and that's what we got.

It is great credit to those who decided that the league system would be better with play-offs, because it means that more of the teams have something to play for at this stage of the season. We know very well that some teams can get a run of four or five victories or defeats in a row in our league and that is what made it important for clubs like MK Dons to give it their all last night. Swindon fans seemed to argue about their formation being 4-5-1, when they wanted two up front. Now they have to look over their shoulder at who is catching them as they had another slip up.

Meanwhile, Crawley seemed to like the big pitch up at Bramall Lane even if they were only playing for a slim hope of making the play-offs. Sheffield Utd were probably finding that two games a week is starting to catch up with them and, as one of the big teams of Leauge One that are expected to go up, they have all the pressure that goes with that too. Come out to the theme music of Star Wars in the second half, I was hoping the Blades might find Crawley players full of Jedi warriors ready to cut them down and they did.

At Doncaster I had expected their winning run to continue so it was a big bonus to see Carlisle ahead at half time and even better to hear they won the game after a second goal. Still Doncaster are hardly setting the world alight with their scoring prowess and at some point they were going to have to need more than a goal a game and they failed completely last night. Donny hit the bar twice, just as Sheffield battered the post twice in their game, but it's these thin margins that matter now.

It was good to hear Matt Ritchie admit the other day that the lads at AFCB do keep an eye on the other results and their desire to go up automatically was really demonstrated by their excellent come back against Notts County. All AFCB can try to do now is win their remaining games. 

Things are still not quite in AFCB's hand's and we can be overtaken. However, I am sure Eddie and Jason will have the players focussed. It won't be easy, but the belief is strong. We all feel the pressure but these sure are exciting times for the club.

I am not sure if I can take it all in, but I know Crewe could do AFCB yet another massive favour tonight against Brentford. Can we really be that lucky?

Here are last night's results at the top of the table:

Doncaster 0 v 2 Carlisle
MK Dons 2 v 0 Swindon
Sheffield Utd 0 v 2 Crawley