The penultimate set of fixtures in Skybet League 2 this season takes place on Saturday. Most of the ups and downs have been determined in the division already but there are still two automatic promotion places up for grabs while the last playoff place is still to be sorted out too.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows:
Barnet v Yeovil
Cambridge v Plymouth
Carlisle v Oxford Utd
Dag & Red v Crawley
Exeter v Morecambe
Hartlepool v Portsmouth
Leyton Orient v Mansfield
Newport v Notts County
Northampton v Luton
Stevenage v Wimbledon
Wycombe v Accrington
York v Bristol Rovers
Automatic promotion hunt
Five sides go into Saturday still with a chance of making it up automatically although realistically that is four sides as Portsmouth need a crazy run of results for them to make it in. They can keep their hopes alive if they win at Hartlepool but things are out of their own hands.
They are out of their own hands for Plymouth as well after a crazy 3-2 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge at Home Park last week and they go to Cambridge on Saturday knowing they simply have to win to keep their automatic hopes alive which is big pressure when they looked to be cruising a few weeks ago.
Oxford head to Carlisle in third place in the table and looking to keep the chasing pack at bay. Oxford are better on the road that they are at home which should give them some confidence as they seek a much needed win.
Bristol Rovers head to relegated York for a match they will need to ensure is a penalty kick while the surprise package in the division Accrington go to Wycombe knowing they will be promoted with a win if Bristol Rovers won’t beat York.
Rest of the division
Northampton will get the League 2 title in front of their own fans on Saturday when they entertain a Luton side who will hope to play the role of party spoilers. Their meeting at Kenilworth Road earlier in the season was a classic and it would be nice if they play another out here.
Elsewhere Barnet host Yeovil in a battle of two mid-table sides, Dagenham’s last Football League home game for a while sees Crawley come to town while Exeter welcome Morecambe. Leyton Orient and Mansfield flirted with the playoffs this season but saw their hopes end last week. They face off at Brisbane Road while Newport host Notts County and AFC Wimbledon head to Stevenage looking to seal the final playoff spot.
Betting
There is only one match which interests me from a betting point of view here with relatively little to play for across the league apart from the four sides chasing promotion and I’m not convinced they won’t all feel the pressure and be vulnerable.
The match in question sees Oxford going up to Carlisle. I was at Brunton Park as a Luton fan a week or so ago and you could tell there was a hint of disinterest and disappointment about the place that their playoff hopes have faded so badly. Indeed Keith Curle even mentioned last week that it might be easier for his side to be on the road currently which wasn’t a ringing endorsement for his home crowd.
That should all play into the hands of Oxford who are the best side in the division on their travels and, like Carlisle, seem to enjoy playing away much more than at home at present. I was at the Kassam two weeks ago and you could feel the tension in the home end that day so Oxford will enjoy being away here.
Given that Carlisle’s home campaign has fizzled out leaving them with nothing to play for I fancy Oxford to pick up the win they need to keep up their hopes of automatic promotion.
Tips
WON – Back Oxford to beat Carlisle for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Skybet
Back them here:
