Colchester United face vital games in League Two run-in

Colchester United currently lie a point adrift of safety heading into their final six games of the season and know it is now or never to secure their Football League status.

The Gazette looks at the four teams who are battling to stay up and the games they have remaining, as the campaign reaches a dramatic climax.

COLCHESTER UNITED (23rd position, one point from safety)

Games remaining: Stockport County (home), Crawley Town (away), Grimsby Town (home), Notts County (away), Doncaster Rovers (home), Crewe Alexandra (home)

FORM GUIDE (last five games): LDDWD

Danny Cowley’s Colchester United side have games in hand on their three relegation rivals, as they battle to avoid the drop.

Of their six remaining matches, four of which are at home, Colchester have on paper their toughest test tonight when they host title-chasing Stockport County at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Of the teams the U’s still have to play this season, all but one – 15th-placed Notts County – realistically still have something to play for.

Colchester’s pivotal home clash with Grimsby Town on April 16 is obviously a standout fixture but as the old cliché goes, every game is crucial at this stage of the season.

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U’s fans will be hoping that by the time they play host to Crewe Alexandra on the final day of the season, Lee Bell’s side have either clinched a play-off place or, in the more unlikely scenario, are mathematically unable to clinch a top-seven spot.

Colchester will naturally hope that they are safe by then but it could go right down to the wire.

FOREST GREEN ROVERS (24th position, three points from safety)

Games remaining: Mansfield Town (away), Wrexham (away), Morecambe (away), Notts County (home)

FORM GUIDE: WLLLW

OF Forest Green Rovers’ remaining four matches, three are away from home.

And they are not easy fixtures for Rovers, who have won five league games on the road this season.

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Steve Cotterill’s side must travel to chase promotion-chasing Mansfield Town and Wrexham before visiting tenth-placed Morecambe, who are currently still in with a chance of making the play-offs.

Rovers finish the season with a home game with mid-table Notts County and will be hoping that by that stage, their future is still in their own hands.

SUTTON UNITED (22nd position, one point above relegation zone)

Games remaining: Harrogate Town (away), Crawley Town (home), MK Dons (away)

FORM GUIDE: LWWWW

SUTTON United only have three games remaining, the fewest of all of the teams in relegation peril.

Two of those games are away – against mid-table Harrogate Town and promotion-chasing MK Dons, who they visit on the final day of the season.

Sandwiched in between those matches for Steve Morison’s men is a home clash with Crawley Town, who are in with a shout for the play-offs.

GRIMSBY TOWN (21st position, five points above relegation zone)

Games remaining: Harrogate Town (away), Crewe Alexandra (away), Colchester (away), Swindon (home), Crawley (away)

FORM GUIDE: WDLLD

GRIMSBY Town still have five games remaining and are currently in the most favourable position of the four relegation-threatened teams, sitting five points above the League Two drop zone.

However, four of the Mariners’ outstanding fixtures are away from home, including a trip to play Colchester United in a crunch game on April 16.

READ MORE: U's only have themselves to blame after Wrexham home loss

Grimsby travel to play Harrogate tonight before a visit to play-off chasing MK Dons for David Artell's men, this weekend.

After games against Colchester and Swindon Town, the Mariners visit promotion-chasing Crawley Town on the final day of the season and by then, will be hoping that their EFL status is secure.