With the final furlong of the season fast approaching, League 1 is looking as clear now as it has since we began back in August. The runners and riders for promotion and relegation are pretty much set fare, leaving a hearty band of mid-table sides battling it out for the minor places.

Yeovil Town, Carlisle United, Walsall, Leyton Orient and Brentford all fall into this category right now and it will be fascinating to see how they deal with the 'lack' of pressure on their shoulders. It seems a strange thing to say perhaps, but having very little to play for but personal pride can be disconcerting at times. Feeling relaxed will inspire some teams, and damage others.

As a player, even if we had nothing to play for, I always wanted to perform well for my own self esteem and for the supporters. Current players will also be feeling that way now I'm sure. However, there is an extra factor these days that makes the world of difference and that is the plain and simple fact that many of the League 1 players you'll see in action this weekend are playing for their futures in the game, or at the very least their future with the club they play for.

Back in my day we enjoyed the privilege of longer contracts and if we did have a contract up for renewal we would have expected to have negotiated a new one long before now. If we weren't going to be kept on we'd have been informed of this news by this late stage in the campaign. It's just the way things worked then.

Nowadays the lads are on one year deals more than ever before and unless they're lucky most of these contracts won't be discussed for renewal until the season has ended. With financial constraints and budgets more prevalent than ever before, clubs can't afford to commit themselves to the players too early. It's hard on the managers, who have players wondering what's happening, but everyone has to get on with it.

So, with contracts as well as pride to play for, you shouldn't really see mid-table sides taking their feet off the accelerator this season. This will make for an interesting few weeks as the likes of Yeovil, Carlisle and Walsall will have a huge part to play in events at the top and bottom of the table. Faced with the individual pressure of playing for a new deal, yet free from the weight of expectation from a team perspective they will be unpredictable and dangerous opponents.

This week also saw the Football League Awards take place in London, and it was nice to see a League 1 star in the shape of Jermaine Beckford earn third place in the poll for the best player outside the Premier League. It's a fine achievement for him, and I congratulate Jermaine on winning the divisional honour too.

He's a terrific goalscorer, no one can deny that. Over the last two or three seasons his record in front of goal has been exceptional. Prolific scorers deserve all the credit that comes their way because they are invaluable and he's certainly been that to Leeds United this season.

I actually think this has been a vintage season for League 1 strikers. To have four attackers on more than 20 league goals already (Lambert, Holt, Barnard and Beckford) with Billy Paynter hot on their heels with 19 is incredible.

I'll resist saying it means defences have been bad and declare that it's been down to top class forward play - and I believe that too. These guys are very good players for this level, who should really be playing in the Championship.

Perhaps next year most of them will be?

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