There is plenty at stake at Roots Hall this Friday night as Southend look to cement their place in the League Two play-offs with a victory over struggling Barnet, while Wolfsburg aim to prolong their hopes of European qualification at Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga.
Southend v Barnet 7:45pm
Southend’s push for automatic promotion has hit the buffers of late with just three wins in the last nine games and two in the last six as they lie in fifth place in the table, six points behind Crawley in third with three games to go.
The Shrimpers are almost certain of the play-offs though, holding a seven-point advantage and a much superior goal difference over eighth-placed Crewe.
The Seasiders will be desperate to get back into the habit of winning going into the post-season and can be backed at 5/2 to be promoted to League One.
Southend do have what appears to be a tricky fixture against fellow play-off hopefuls Oxford next week – with the Us still far from securing a play-off berth – but that match is flanked either side with eminently winnable games against teams looking to avoid the drop out of the Football League in Barnet and Macclesfield.
The match betting suggests a shoo-in for Paul Sturrock’s men on Friday when they host the Bees, with Southend priced as 4/6 favourites to take the three points, while the draw is on offer at 11/4 and a Barnet victory at 4/1.
Barnet have endured a difficult time this season and lie three points clear of Macclesfield and Hereford going into the final three games, although their goal difference is much worse than both their relegation rivals.
The Bees though were in a more precarious position last year but Lawrie Sanchez took over for the final four games of the season and secured two wins and a draw to help the club preserve its League status.
Martin Allen had only been at the club in his second spell for just three games before Sanchez steered the team to safety, although it is a role reversal this season with ‘Mad Dog’ returning to the club where he started his managerial career for a third spell.
Whether the ‘new’ manager syndrome works on Friday for the London club remains to be seen and, although it would take a leap of faith to back a side that has not won in eight games, stranger things have happened – ask Sunderland fans about Martin O’Neill’s turnaround.
Barnet’s last win actually came on the road at Port Vale and they have managed five away wins this season, not the worst considering their position in the table.
However, Southend have only been beaten five times at Roots Hall this season so the draw might be the way to go with Barnet hoping that 18-goal hitman Izale McLeod brings his shooting boots to help steer the club ever closer to survival.
Mainz 05 v Wolfsburg 7:30pm
Games are running out for Wolfsburg to qualify for Europe next season with Die Wolfe currently five points adrift of sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen with nine to play for.
Felix Magath’s men have hit the wall at just the wrong time with three successive defeats but a win on Friday will apply the pressure ahead of their rivals’ games over the weekend.
The betting suggests that they will have their work cut out in arresting the slump as Mainz are favourites at 10/11 to pick up the three points, with the draw at odds of 9/4 and Wolfsburg priced at 5/2.
Thomas Tuchel has hardly created a fortress at the Coface Arena with Die Nullfunfer winning seven and losing six of 15 games at home but that may still prove enough on Friday.
Wolfsburg have mustered just three wins on the road this term – with two draws and 10 defeats - and, coupled with their recent slump, Mainz look the call to secure the win.
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