League Two promotion odds: Little to choose between play-off hopefuls
League Two promotion odds: Little to choose between play-off hopefuls
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League Two promotion odds ahead of play-offs
The League Two promotion odds show that there is little to choose between the four teams still in contention to go up heading into the play-offs.
The drama begins on Saturday evening when Mansfield host Northampton before Port Vale go to Swindon on Sunday.
Here we assess the hopes of the four teams hoping to earn promotion via a win at Wembley on May 28.
Port Vale
Port Vale had looked on course for automatic promotion after a run of eight wins and one draw during March and April but three straight defeats then proved costly.
It meant they needed a win at title contenders Exeter on the final day to guarantee a play-off place and they achieved it with a 1-0 victory thanks to a first-half goal from former Manchester United forward James Wilson.
That result bodes well for their chances in the play-offs and Vale, who finished fifth in the table, are the slight favourites in the League Two promotion odds at 13/5.
Like Port Vale, Mansfield had a tough test on the final day of the regular season but managed a 2-2 draw against Forest Green which secured a play-off place and proved enough for Rovers to be crowned champions.
Matty Longstaff fired the Stags into a first-half lead before Ebou Adams equalised just after the hour. Jordan Bowery had Mansfield in front again with 12 minutes to go but Josh March struck a swift equaliser not long after being sent on.
In the end, Mansfield finished seventh – one point clear of Sutton – and now attention switches to the play-offs.
A four-match unbeaten run means Nigel Clough’s men are in decent form but results on the road are a concern, having picked up just one point in away games against the top nine.
Only Tranmere had a better home record so making the most of the first leg will be important for the 11/4 shots.
Northampton
Northampton were denied automatic promotion in cruel circumstances on the final day of the regular season but must quickly pick themselves up for the play-offs.
A 3-1 win at Barrow should have been enough to secure third place but Bristol Rovers took advantage of Scunthorpe fielding a young team to earn a 7-0 win and pip the Cobblers to promotion on goals scored.
4⃣ goals in 4⃣ games heading in to the play offs for Sam Hoskins, including these two yesterday. Thank you to PRV Construction for sponsoring Sam this season pic.twitter.com/ReGEhyZk2M
To make matters worse for Northampton, they finished with 10 men following a late red card for goalkeeper Liam Roberts when he handled the ball outside the area, which will see him suspended in the first leg of the play-off semi-final.
Northampton ended the season unbeaten in six games, though, and few could begrudge them going up via the play-offs for the second time in three seasons, which is priced at 11/4 in the League Two promotion betting.
Swindon
Swindon ended the campaign in sixth place after a 3-0 victory at Walsall and are also 11/4 in the League Two promotion odds.
Harry McKirdy’s 19th goal of the season put the Robins into an early lead with Jack Payne adding a double, the second from the penalty spot, ahead of half-time.
That was a fourth straight victory for Swindon and they ended the campaign with 13 away wins – two more than any other team.
McKirdy and Payne have scored 32 goals between them – more than bottom team Scunthorpe managed – but Swindon also had the worst defensive record in the top 10 so they could provide plenty of play-off drama.
