AFC Wimbledon are in the midst of pulling of a great escape in League One, climbing off the bottom of the table for the first time in 2019.

They've been as far as ten points adrift at the bottom, beaten by Burton Albion in January to open up the double-digit gap. Whilst the rest of the division battle for the other three spaces, it seemed the Wombles were heading for League Two.

Then they gave themselves hope by beating Rochdale at Spotland and winning away at Walsall, but have now won three matches on the spin. They're one point ahead of the former, three points behind the latter.

 

This weekend they furthered their survival hopes by beating Southend United 1-0, hauling them to within three points as well. The unlikeliest of survival efforts is well underway and nobody would bet against them completing the job.

With just six point between them and 12th place, here are two reasons we think AFC Wimbledon can still be a League One side next season.

Spirit of the Crazy Gang

We've all heard of the Crazy Gang, the Wimbledon side of the eighties that crashed through the divisions, going from the Southern League to FA Cup Winners.

Names such as Dave Beasant, Vinnie Jones and Dennis Wise are etched into football history, as well as that of Wally Downes.

He was a key player back then and as the current manager, he's brought the spirit of the Crazy Gang back to Wimbledon.

The Run In

They've got a great set of fixtures left to play. Gillingham Scunthorpe, Oxford and Bristol Rovers all appear in the next seven matches, as do bottom side Bradford on the final day.

Pick up two points a game in those fixtures and they'll be safe.