The final countdown

The last league game of the season takes place at the KasStad this Saturday as United entertain York City in a make or break fixture. Even should the Us win there is no guarantee that they will make seventh place and get into the play-offs: they still need to rely on Torquay getting all three points at Lincoln. Having been in and around the play-off zone for much of the season many fans will regard missing out as a failure, although realistically the club has undergone an astonishing turn-around since the end of last season, when they finished 21st.

It is difficult to anticipate what side Ian Atkins will choose for this fixture. The side has to go for a win as anything less won't do, so does Atkins pick an attacking line-up and go for bust, or does he do the usual and pick a line-up that is less likely to concede a goal and hope to nick one on the break? Most United fans would hope for the former option, and Rage Online is no exception, but as usual Atkins is keeping his options open and his cards close to his chest, or something. We anticipate Dean Whitehead may come into the side in place of Dave Savage, and Atkins may find it difficult to leave Steve Basham out after his impressive display for the reserves yesterday. He may even play a flat back four, with Paul McCarthy replacing Matt Bound and Dave Waterman pushed into midfield. Who knows?

York will feature Lee Nogan, who will doubtless be trying his best to prevent United getting into the play-offs. Fortunately his best isn't very good, and he is one former United player who generally doesn't do so well against us… famous last words. Rage Online's prediction for this weekend is that Torquay will do the business up at Lincoln, winning by a couple of goals, but United will blow it by conceding a soft equaliser in the final minutes after trying to defend a one goal lead for most of the game.