Forty-five down, one to go.

The end of the 2021/22 League One season is now just days away and after the penultimate round of fixtures were played on April 26, the final set of results mean Wycombe Wanderers will be relying on favours to guarantee their place in this year’s play-offs.

This comes after top-of-the-table Wigan Athletic conceded a two-goal lead against mid-table Portsmouth to lose 3-2.

 

Manager Gareth Ainsworth has been positive throughout the season (Carol Mason)

Manager Gareth Ainsworth has been positive throughout the season (Carol Mason)

 

Second-placed Rotherham United drew 1-1 with promotion-pushing Sunderland, whilst Sheffield Wednesday defeated struggling Fleetwood Town 3-2 at Highbury Stadium.

The latter result has sent the Owls from seventh to fourth, and coupled with the Black Cats’ draw against the Millers on the same day, Sunderland, Plymouth Argyle, and Wycombe have all moved down one place.

READ MORE: 'We're huge' - Wycombe sell out Burton's away end for final game of the season

At the time of writing, Wycombe are sitting in seventh on 80 points, level on points with sixth-placed Plymouth who have a better goal difference by two.

And depending on how the other results go on the final day, a victory for Wycombe against Burton Albion still might not book them a place in the top six.

This will mean that with 83 points (if they were to defeat Burton), it will be the highest points total for a team to miss out on the play-off places in the history of third-tier English football.

The current record belongs to Bristol Rovers and Tranmere Rovers who both achieved 80 points in 1999 and 2003 respectively.

So, what needs to happen in order for Wycombe to get into the play-offs?

Thanks Wanderers fan Adam Clift who has allowed us to use his mathematical skills (he beat me to it!), here is what Wycombe need to do to enter the top six.

Wycombe will be in top six if they beat Burton Albion and:

• Plymouth don’t win at home to Milton Keynes

• Sunderland don’t win at Morecambe

• Sheffield Wednesday lose at home to Portsmouth

Alternatively:

• Wycombe can make the top six if they win by two more goals than Plymouth win by on Saturday

• Wycombe can also make the top six if they beat Burton and Sheffield Wednesday don’t beat Portsmouth (Wycombe would need to score two or more goals for that option)

• Wycombe can also make the top six if they draw at Burton and Plymouth lose to MK Dons

• Another option is Wycombe drawing against Burton and Sunderland losing by three or more goals at Morecambe

• The final permutation that Wycombe can make the top six is with defeat at Burton providing Plymouth lose by two more goals than Wycombe do.

The match against Burton will kick-off at 12.30pm and the away end is expected to be a sell-out.

READ MORE: The League One fixtures Wycombe fans need to keep an eye on

However, Wycombe co-owner Pete Couhig has confirmed that he has several spare tickets available and he wants people on Twitter to get in touch with him and explain why they should get them.

More than 1,600 Wanderers fans will attend the match at the Pirelli Stadium.

Fans are also bringing inflatable items to the contest as part of the end-of-season tradition.