League Two 2017/18 final day permutations

[Joe Jones]

So then, one regular-season fixture left in the saga that has been the 2017/18 League Two season.

Although Notts County WILL finish in the playoffs (barring of course points deductions to any of the teams in the top seven, not tempting fate!), they can finish as high as fourth and as low as seventh.

So in terms of getting those extra little advantages in the semi-finals, here are the detailed permutations of all the teams that can still make the playoffs come the final whistle of the 46th matches of the campaign, courtesy of the Nottingham Post and in order of current league position.

Exeter City

Current place: Fourth

Play-off spot: Guaranteed

Who they face on the last day: Colchester United

Will finish fourth if: The Grecians know that a win against Colchester will be enough to secure them fourth - failing that, they must simply match Notts County's result against Luton Town.

Will finish fifth if: If City draw against Colchester, they must hope Notts County fail to beat Luton. If they lose, they must hope the Magpies lose as well, that Coventry City fail to beat Morecambe, and that Lincoln City fail to beat Yeovil Town.

Will finish sixth if: They will finish sixth if they lose to Colchester, and Notts and Coventry win, and Lincoln fail to beat Yeovil.

Will finish seventh if: They will finish seventh if they lose to Colchester and Notts County, Coventry and Lincoln all win.

Notts County

Current place: Fifth

Play-off spot: Guaranteed

Who they face on the last day: Luton Town

Will finish fourth if: They will finish fourth if they win and Exeter City fail to do so. If they draw, they must hope the Grecians lose in order to go above them on goal difference.

Will finish fifth if: If they win and Exeter City also win, Notts County will finish fifth. If they draw, they must hope Coventry do not win by seven goals and Lincoln do not win by eight goals. If they lose, they must hope Coventry and Lincoln fail to win.

Will finish sixth if: They will finish sixth if they draw and Coventry beat Morecambe by seven goals OR Lincoln beat Yeovil by eight goals. If they lose, then they will finish sixth if one of Coventry or Lincoln win.

Will finish seventh if: They will finish seventh if they draw and Coventry win by seven goals AND Lincoln win by eight goals, or if they lose and Coventry and Lincoln both win.

Coventry City

Current place: Sixth

Play-off spot: Still to be secured

Who they face on the final day: Morecambe

Will finish fourth if: If Exeter City lose, Notts County draw and Coventry win by seven goals, they will finish fourth, provided Lincoln do not win by nine. If the Grecians and Magpies lose, and Coventry win, they will finish fourth as long as Lincoln do not overturn their goal difference, which is currently one worse than the Sky Blues.

Will finish fifth if: If Exeter City win, Notts County draw and Coventry win by seven and Lincoln do not win by nine. Or if Exeter City win, Notts County lose and Coventry win and Lincoln do not turn over their goal difference.

Will finish sixth if: Exeter City and Notts County both win and Coventry win, or if Notts draw and Coventry win by less than seven. If Coventry draw, they have to hope Lincoln also draw or lose and that Mansfield do not win to stay sixth.

Will finish seventh if: If they draw and Lincoln win, or if they lose and Lincoln draw or win and Mansfield fail to win.

Will finish eighth if: If they lose and Lincoln draw or win and Mansfield beat Crawley Town.

Lincoln City

Current place: Seventh

Play-off spot: Still to be secured

Who they face on the final day: Yeovil Town

Will finish fourth if: They will finish fourth if Exeter City lose, Notts County draw, Coventry fail to win and the Imps beat Yeovil by enough goals to produce a seven-goal swing on Notts County's goal difference. Alternatively, they will also finish fourth if Exeter City lose, Notts County lose and Coventry fail to win. If Coventry win in either of the above two scenarios, Lincoln have to win by a bigger margin than the Sky Blues do to finish above them in the table.

Will finish fifth if: They will finish fifth if Exeter City win, Notts County draw, Coventry fail to win and the Imps beat Yeovil by enough goals to produce a seven-goal swing in goal difference. Or if the Magpies lose, Coventry fail to win and the Imps win. If Coventry win, Lincoln must win by a bigger margin.

Will finish sixth if: They will finish sixth if Mansfield fail to win and Lincoln better Coventry's result by a goal.

Will finish seventh if: They will finish seventh if they draw or win but fail to better Coventry's result; or if they lose and do not better Coventry's result and Mansfield fail to win. They can also finish seventh with a loss if Coventry lose by two more goals than they do and Mansfield win.

Will finish eighth if: The Imps will finish eighth if they lose by a bigger margin than Coventry and Mansfield win.

Mansfield Town

Current place: Eighth

Play-off spot: Still to be secured

Who they face on the final day: Crawley Town

Will finish sixth if: If they win and Coventry and Lincoln both lose.

Will finish seventh if: If one of Coventry or Lincoln avoids defeat, the other loses and Mansfield win.

Will finish eighth if: If they fail to win. Or if both Coventry and Lincoln win, then Mansfield's result becomes irrelevant.