ITéS an opportune time to take a look at the League Two relegation run-in, as all teams, including County, now have less than 10 games to play.

Thanks to Jim Gannonés arrival at Christmas and the teamés subsequent upturn in fortunes, County are maybe only a couple of wins away from securing safety.

However, Gannon for one will not be taking anything for granted until safety is mathematically guaranteed.

One thing that strikes home is that all of the bottom nine teams have got to face at least one of their rivals down at the bottom as the race to beat the drop into non-league reaches its climax.

Even this Saturday Macclesfield travel to Chester City, County host Bury, and Torquay United travel to Rushden and Diamonds.

Discounting County, these are deeply worrying times for quite a few long-established Football League clubs.

Oxford have shown signs of life lately and with Jim Smith now back at the helm, theyére unbeaten in four games.

However, Bury are frantically battling away and last weekendés 2-1 win against Rochdale was their first in seven games.

Torquay won at Wycombe before last weekendés washout against County, while Barnetés solitary goal success at home to Darlington on Saturday was their first maximum points haul in eight attempts.

Chester City appear to be the team in freefall though. They were beaten 2-1 at Wrexham on Sunday and have now won just once in their last 17 games.

• DON'T miss this week's Express for full details of each of the relegation threatened teams' upcoming fixtures.

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