It is a sense of deja vu for Northampton Town on the final day of the League Two season, as they find themselves in the same spot as 12 months ago. They are in contention for the final automatic promotion spot with Stockport County, while there is plenty of jostling for positions in the play-off race below them. If Northampton want to seal automatic promotion on Monday, victory is what they need at Tranmere Rovers. A draw would see them miss out to Stockport County if the Hatters beat already relegated Hartlepool. Northampton boss Jon Brady is determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself and his side will be doing everything in their power to try and win. Stockport County boss Dave Challinor is confident about his side’s chances of promotion to League One and is proud of the fact that he has guided the Hatters into promotion contenders.
Carlisle United, Salford City and Bradford are locked on 75 points each and are three points clear of eight-placed Mansfield Town, needing only a draw to seal their play-off spot. Defeat for any of them, combined with a win for Mansfield, would see the top seven decided on goal difference. Bradford already missed one chance to assure themselves of a semi-final place, with a Chris Long penalty in the 11th minute of injury-time giving Crewe a dramatic 3-2 win against the Bantams on Wednesday which also ended their hopes of automatic promotion. Mark Hughes’ Bradford now need something from their home game against title-winning Leyton Orient if they are not to rely on goal different to get them over the line. Carlisle are eight goals better off than the the Stags, which means a heavy loss combined with a big Stags win would be needed to see them drop out of the top seven. Salford have won their last three games in a row and play 18th-placed Gillingham at home in their final game. Mansfield boss Nigel Clough said the Stags would need “a miracle” to snatch a play-off spot on the final day, but he does not believe in miracles and his side must prepare and give everything to try and get the three points. It promises to be an exciting final day of the League Two season with all teams fighting for their respective causes.