On New Year's Day 2014, York City sat 20th in Sky Bet League 2. Come 3rd May, on the last day of the season, they were in the Play-Offs.
This term, Northampton Town were the team in 20th at the turn of the year and, after an impressive 2015, they now find themselves well-placed for a late surge into the top seven.The Cobblers finished 2014 with five straight defeats, but manager Chris Wilder freshened his squad up in January and it has paid dividends. They've won nine, drawn two and lost only three of their last 14 fixtures – form that can only be matched by table-toppers Burton Albion.
However, two of those defeats have come in the past three games, and the midweek loss to Carlisle United was the first time that Wilder's side – the division's top scorers (55) - have failed to score at Sixfields this season.
York, who have struggled this time around in League 2, won 14 of their last 23 matches during their charge up the table in 2013/14, losing just twice and amassing 49 points en route to the top seven. The Cobblers may have lost one more game in their current run, but they are on course to equal that tally if they maintain their form of this calendar year.
The Minstermen, under Nigel Worthington, made it to the Play-Offs with 71 points, which the Cobblers are currently 18 short of, and five of their nine remaining fixtures see them face sides that they are currently chasing down, beginning with this weekend’s trip to fourth-placed Bury, who trail the automatic promotion places by four points.
Can Northampton close the gap to the Sky Bet League 2 Play-Offs on Saturday? Follow all the League 2 goal action on our Twitter feed - @SkyBetLeague2.