The League One and League Two play-offs kick-off this weekend, with the semi-final winners set to do battle at Old Trafford later this month. But who will be battling it out for promotion in Manchester? We take a look at the contenders (totesport – match prices).
Bournemouth v Huddersfield (Sat/Weds)
Huddersfield will go into the play-offs as the favourites to seal a place in the Championship having finished highest in the league, but how many times have we seen the third place team miss out?
Lee Clark’s men go into their semi-final on a 25-game unbeaten league run, which, amazingly, stretches all the way back to December. That run would have normally have sealed a top-two finish, but Southampton’s fantastic form saw them hold-off the Terriers.
Despite Bournemouth having an impressive recent record of just one defeat in five games, everything looks to point to Huddersfield. As well as current form, the recent head-to-head record also points to the West Yorkshire outfit, who have not lost a match against the Cherries since 1993 – 17 matches.
Both games in the regular season ended in draws, 1-1 at Fitness First Stadium and 2-2 at the Galpharm Stadium.
Huddersfield to qualify @ 4/9
MK Dons v Peterborough (Sun/Thurs)
Goals look to be the key to this League One semi-final clash, with Peterborough having the greater firepower and the more likely to reach Old Trafford.
Darren Ferguson’s men were the top home scorers in the regular season, with 69 goals, and in Craig Mackail-Smith, have the league’s leading scorer. Posh have lost just one of their last nine games, in contrast to their opponents.
MK Dons have been a surprise package this term and despite beating Peterborough back in March, look to be up against it. Karl Robinson’s men, who were beaten 2-1 at London Road earlier in the season, have lost two of their last four matches but in-form striker Sam Baldock is a threat.
Peterborough to qualify @ 4/6
League Two
Torquay v Shrewsbury (Sat/Fri)
Torquay sneaked into the play-offs on the final day of the regular season but will be looking to beat a Shrewsbury team still reeling from missing out on automatic promotion.
The Gulls form though is poor, stumbling into the top-six having failed to win any of their last five games, although they did hammer the Shrews 5-0 at Plainmoor back in March.
The contrast in form is there for all to see though, with Shrewsbury losing just one of their final ten league games of the season and winning four of their last five matches.
Shrewsbury to qualify @ 8/13
Accrington Stanley v Stevenage (Sun/Fri)
Accrington could be heading for their most famous moment since the ‘milk advert’ should they reach the play-off final, and they look a decent bet to achieve that.
John Coleman’s men go into the semi final on a 13-game unbeaten run, with their defence shining in recent weeks, Stanley have conceded just two goals in their last five league games.
Accrington have clocked up 15 draws on their travels and will confident of avoiding defeat in the first leg at Broadhall Way, with Stevenage recording the fewest home wins (nine) of any team in the top half of League Two.
Accrington to qualify @ 4/5
Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.
The Carling Cup has been much maligned by football supporters in its history, but things have changed in recent seasons and the clash between Arsenal and Birmingham City (4pm) is an intriguing battle of differing styles.