The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur News and Links for Tuesday, April 28

League Two:

Can Harrogate Town complete the great escape? They’ve won their last two straight games to bring themselves on level with Crawley Town and just one point back of Newport County and Tranmere. Remember: Only the bottom two sides are relegated to the National League.

They’ve got a hell of a game to close out the season though. They’ll be hosting Barnet, who are still within a shot of the playoffs. Crawley Town also have a tough one against Salford who are playing for an easier playoff route. Who knows, maybe relegation will come down to goal differential.

Top nine:

1. MK Dons (85 Pts) (P)
2. Bromley (84 Pts) (P)
3. Cambridge United (81 Pts) (X)
4. Salford (80 Pts) (X)
5. Notts County (79 Pts) (X)
6. Grimsby Town (77 Pts)
7. Chesterfield (76 Pts)
8. Swindon Town (75 Pts)
9. Barnet (73 Pts)

Bottom five:

1. Tranmere (40 Pts)
2. Newport County (40 Pts)
3. Crawley Town (39 Pts)
4. Harrogate Town (39 Pts)
5. Barrow (36 Pts)

National League:

It was heartbreak for Rochdale last weekend, who thought they were going up with a goal in the 90+5th minute against York City. Well, after some pandemonium, York City scored the promotion-clinching goal in the 90+12th minute.

So now Rochdale, who are second place at 106 points, now have to go through the playoffs to gain promotion to League Two. That seems pretty cruel, especially when you look at some of the teams in the league above this one. We have this conversation every year about expanding the promotion/relegation between League Two and the National League, but it isn’t happening.

Otherwise another fun story is Scunthorpe, who dropped out of the Football League a couple years ago.

Champions: York City (108 Pts)

Playoffs:

1. Rochdale vs TBD
2. Carlisle United vs TBD
3. Scunthorpe United vs. 6 Southend
4. Boreham Wodd vs. 7 Forest Green

Fitzie’s track of the day: Dancing in the Club (MJ Lenderman Version), by This Is Lorelei

And now for your links:

The Ringer: “Tottenham’s Relegation Would Be Shocking. It Now Seems Inevitable.”

Alasdair Gold: “What Bentancur did to Kinsky and Xavi Simons’ crucial conversation with De Zerbi after his injury”

BBC: “Spurs’ Simons to miss rest of season and World Cup”

The Telegraph: “FA claims ‘no proof’ that heading causes long-term brain damage”