Sunday's Division One Round-Up: Week 24

The Results

The Table

With Grimsby only winning two of their last 24 league matches, they remain second from bottom, only Stockport are denying them the basement spot. Walsall play today but have the chance to leave the Mariners stranded in the relegation zone if they win. Sheffield Wednesday's last-gasp winner at Burnley pushes them out of the bottom three and that now means Rotherham have been dragged into the dogfight after their defeat at Palace. Crewe and Barnsley are gradually working their way clear of the bottom five.

Latest League Table

Division's Talent

Former Torquay and Man Utd midfielder Lee Sharp (left) has regained his fitness and is holding down a starting place in the Bradford City side. He has now scored in the Bantams' last two league games.

Wimbledon are gradually unearthing a gem in Patrick Agyemang (right) - a player who scored against the Mariners last season. The 19-year old scored once more for the Dons in their excellent away win at Birmingham.

Finally, Palace's striker Clinton Morrison (left) is earning rave-reviews from opposing managers for his performances this season. Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore admitted his side could not contain the 20-goal striker and is sure to be playing in the Premiership next season - with or without Palace.

Top Goalscorers

There are two clear teams who have the firepower to potentially lift them into the Premiership. Man City and Palace have strike forces worthy of top-flight football - Goater (24) and Wanchope [left] (17) for City - and Morrison (20) and Freedman (18) for Palace. These four players along have together scored a staggering 79 goals in all competitions. Other top scorers in this division are Richard Saddlier of Millwall (16), Peter Crouch of Portsmouth (15) and Stern John of Forest (15). Town top scorer Phil Jevons (8) is put into perspective amongst the elite of the First Division.

Town's Next Opponents

The next fixture for Grimsby will make-or-break their season - that's if the Crewe match already hasn't done so. Rotherham are another of Town's relegation rivals, and although the Millers have been out of the bottom three for most of the season, they are beginning to get dragged back into it. Rotherham began the season without a win in 11 but their form picked up and they pushed up to mid-table before Christmas. They haven't lost at Mill Moor since September and with the Mariners not scoring, this game already looks decided - but anything can happen in football.

Path for Grimsby

After the second six-pointer within 10 days for the Mariners, they face Bradford at Blundell Park on the following Saturday. Just over a week's time they travel to Watford to face Gianluca Vialli's side in front of the YTV cameras. The next Saturday sees the visit of Sheffield United and one week on from that the Mariners travel to Notts Forest. The month of February concludes with a home tie against Stockport.

Full Fixture List.

Next Week

Grimsby are actually facing over a week without a match because next week is FA CUP round four. With Town out of the competition (and with most of the division's team still left in) it gives Paul Groves some extra time to work with the squad. It also gives injury victims such as John McDermott, Johnny Rowan and Bradley Allen chance to regain fitness to challenge for a place in the 16-man squad for the tie at Rotherham on Tuesday week.

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