Much like in the Championship, the race for automatic promotion in League One gets more intense by the week. 

With Luton Town and Barnsley both dropping points last weekend, it gave the chasing pack the chance to close the gap which they did with Charlton and Sunderland both picking up important wins.

For the Black Cats, a 2-0 win away to Bristol Rovers closed the gap on Barnsley to just two points and the pair look set to do battle for the rest of the season for one of two automatic promotion places.

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News broke in the Sun on Sunday (24/02, page 24) as well that Aston Villa were monitoring Tykes centre-back Liam Lindsay ahead of the summer window.

The last thing that Barnsley fans will want at this stage of the season is their players being linked with big moves away and having their heads turned.

In the same respect, however, what should Sunderland fans now think with the possibility of their rivals' star man taking his eye off the prize?

It is always slightly sadistic to take pleasure in other people's hardship, but if this news does not cheer up Sunderland fans (even just a tiny bit) then not a lot will.

How many times have we seen a promotion bid falter after a key man is linked with a big move? Plenty.

With Lindsay at the heart of Daniel Stendel's defence he is crucial to their success. So if he takes his eye off the ball and loses focus on the current race, it will affect the entire team and the Black Cats will be there to take advantage.