\n<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday night, there is one team fewer able to catch them. Bolton thrashed Stevenage, who are sixth, 5-1 to end the Boro’s hopes of finishing above Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Theoretically, it keeps Bolton in the hunt for automatic promotion, but they would need to win their remaining three games and Cardiff to lose all four of theirs \u2013 and hope to overturn a 15-goal deficit in goal difference.<\/p>\n
No wonder Trotters boss Steven Schumacher has already conceded it will be the play-offs for them.<\/p>\n
Fourth-place Bradford City would also need to win all four of their matches and for Cardiff to lose theirs. Or, highly improbably, lose three and draw one but squander a 28-goal advantage in goal difference.<\/p>\n
Stockport in fifth are potentially the fly in the ointment. With six games left, they could still get to 85 points if they win all six.<\/p>\n
Again, they would be relying on Cardiff to implode by collecting no more than three points from their remaining four games.<\/p>\n
That would represent an almighty collapse, particularly when you consider the Bluebirds host second-from-bottom Port Vale and bottom side Northampton Town after the trip to Reading, before finishing the campaign at 14th-place Mansfield Town.<\/p>\n
Here is how the run-in looks for the League One promotion rivals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n