League Two: Final Day Preview
In League Two there are still promotion and play-off places up for grabs.
The Promotion Race
Let us look at the promotion race.
Three teams are aiming to secure two available promotion places.
What Positions do the teams currently occupy?
Cambridge United are currently in second place on 77 points with a goal difference of 21.
Bolton Wanderers are in the last automatic promotion place in third on 76 points and have a goal difference of 6.
Morecambe are in fourth place on 75 points and their goal difference is 9.
What form are the sides in?
Cambridge, Bolton, and Morecambe in their last ten games have all managed 19 points.
What are the final day’s fixtures?
Cambridge will host Grimsby, Bolton travel to Crawley and Morecambe play at home against Bradford.
What are the permutations?
How do Cambridge get promoted? If Cambridge win, they will be promoted.
A draw would also be enough as it is unlikely Morecambe can overturn the goal difference between the sides, as Cambridge have a goal difference of 21, compared to Morecambe’s 9.
A loss for Cambridge will mean them relying on other results, where they will be hoping that one of Bolton or Morecambe fail to win.
How do Bolton get promoted? A win will lead to promotion.
A draw will be enough if Morecambe fail to win.
A loss for Bolton will mean they only go up if Morecambe lose.
How do Morecambe get promoted? A win will only lead to promotion if Cambridge lose, or Bolton fail to win.
A draw would see them promoted if Bolton lost due to a better goal difference.
What is the team news for the three teams?
Cambridge will be without Dimi Mitov, Leon Davies and Harvey Knibbs for the final game.
For Bolton, they will be without Kieran Lee, though George Thomason is likely to return to the side.
Morecambe could have Carlos Mendes back available after he missed last week’s game at Walsall.
Who Will Reach the Play-Offs?
The play-off places have also got to be finalised in League Two with fifth, sixth and seventh place still available. Effectively there are five teams looking to get into three available play-off places.
What Positions do the teams currently occupy?
Newport County are in 5th place on 72 points, with a goal difference of 15.
Tranmere Rovers are in 6th place and have 72 points but have a goal difference of 5.
Forest Green Rovers are in the final play-off spot in 7th with 70 points and they also have a goal difference of 5.
Exeter City are in 8th with 69 points and a goal difference of 21.
Salford City are in 9th and have 68 points with a goal difference of 17.
What form are the sides in?
Newport in their last ten games have achieved 15 points and Tranmere have got 11 points in their last ten games. Forest Green have 9 points from the last ten, Exeter have earned 16, while Salford have acquired 17 points in their last ten games.
What are the final day’s fixtures?
Newport will travel away to play Southend and Tranmere will host Colchester. For Forest Green, they will be away at Oldham, while Exeter will be at home to Barrow. Salford will also be at home, where they will play Leyton Orient.
What are the permutations?
How do Newport get play-offs? A win or a draw will guarantee play-offs, whereas a loss will leave them hoping all the following does not happen, a point or more for Tranmere, a win for Forest Green and Exeter.
How do Tranmere get play-offs? A win or a draw will guarantee play-offs, whereas a loss will mean they will be hoping both Forest Green and Exeter do not win.
How do Forest Green get play-offs? A win will see them secure play-offs. A draw will secure play-offs if both Exeter and Salford City fail to win. If they lose, they will only get play-offs if Exeter lose, and Salford fail to win.
How do Exeter get play-offs? A win will secure play-offs if any of the following happens, Newport or Tranmere lose, or Forest Green fail to win. If Exeter draw, they will go into the play-offs if Forest Green lose, and Salford City fail to win.
How do Salford get play-offs? If Salford win, and Forest Green and Exeter fail to win then they will get a play-off place.
What is the team news for the five teams?
Michael Flynn has named thesame team for the last four fixtures, and could name the same team once again, when Newport face Southend.
Paul Lewis is doubt for Tranmere. They will be without James Vaughan and Scott Davies.
Forest Green Rovers are without Dan Sweeney, Elliot Whitehouse and Jamille Matt. Nicky Cadden is a doubt for the game.
Exeter City will give Archie Collins and Jake Taylor late fitness tests, as they both struggle with hamstring issues.
Salford City have no new injury concerns, though they will still be without Bruno Andrade, Darron Gibson and James Wilson. Di’Shon Bernard, Ash Hunter who were both sent off last week join Richard Towell on the suspension list.
When are the games?
The League Two fixtures will take place at 3pm on Saturday.
