Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough believes Bristol Rovers should be considered favourites to claim the final promotion spot in League Two on the last day of the season.
With Exeter City and Forest Green Rovers’ elevation to League One confirmed last week, five teams, including Mansfield, are battling it out for third place in what should make for a thrilling conclusion to the campaign.
Clough watched his Stags slip up on Bank Holiday Monday against Salford City, drawing 2-2, which leaves them a point behind Northampton Town and Rovers and with their fate out of their hands as they welcome Forest Green to Field Mill.
Rovers’ job is relatively straightforward : they must win against already-relegated Scunthorpe United at the Mem and if Northampton are also leading at Barrow, they need to outscore the Cobblers by five goals to achieve automatic promotion. The Gas can only progress with a draw if Northampton lose and Mansfield and Port Vale fail to win.
Although bookmakers price Northampton at 2/5, ahead of Rovers’ (11/10), Mansfield (9/4), Port Vale (11/4) and Swindon (7/2) to gain a place in League One (including via the play-offs), Clough claims Joey Barton’s Rovers are the team looking most likely given who they have in opposition.
“We thought all along that 81 points would be enough to secure automatic, but we can't get that now,” Clough told the Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. “But this is much better than being halfway up the league and playing for nothing or battling relegation.
“Northampton have a tough one at Barrow and I actually think the favourites are Bristol Rovers, to be fair. They are at home to Scunthorpe, which is an ideal fixture on the last day of the season.
"So unless Scunthorpe produce something miraculous that they haven't done over the last 45 games, then I think Bristol Rovers are favourites.
“If Northampton win they are up and they know what they need to do, but it's tough going to Barrow.
“Scunthorpe have played a few youngsters recently. I am not sure on the rules on that though I completely understand why they're doing it looking ahead to next season. Scunthorpe are very genuine and I know Keith Hill. They will have a go as much as they possibly can. But it is a big ask for them.”
Scunthorpe, whose relegation was confirmed in mid-April, have lost eight of their last 10 games in League Two, haven’t won since February 8 and the average age of their starting XI against Hartlepool last weekend was 20.09 - featuring seven teenagers, including a 16-year-old and 17-year-old - as they prepare for life in the National League.
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