League Two play-offs: Salford can hit Hatters hopes; go low in Cumbria

The Bantams are 15/8 favourites in the League Two play-off odds to be promoted, but we start our League Two play-off betting preview at Edgeley Park.

Stockport v Salford (Sat, 12.30, Sky Sports)

Manager Neil Wood was slightly disappointed Salford did not put the tie out of reach after a dominant display in front of their own fans on Saturday.

Smith rose above Fraser Horsfall and headed in Elliot Watt’s 17th-minute cross to put the hosts in front, but despite having almost double the number of shots as their opponents they failed to extend their advantage.

Wood said: “I guess I’m pleased with a 1-0, although it probably could and should have been more than that. We had two or three other good chances which we should have stuck away, so it’s possibly a bit frustrating we didn’t capitalise a bit more.”

🤩 𝗪𝗢𝗪

In less than an hour, tickets for Saturday's second leg against Salford City have now 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧!

One last push – let's make it another day to remember at Edgeley Park 👊 #StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/yh0XF9aQwE

— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 17, 2023

Stockport only had one shot on target, but Hatters boss Dave Challinor is confident his players can pull through in the return.

“We’ll take on the second leg in the same attacking way we have done throughout the season,” he said. “We’ve been very consistent all the way through and we’ve ground out some big results when we’ve needed to. I think it’s 10 times we’ve won by two goals or more this season so far, so we’ve got to go and do that again now.”

The figure is actually 11, the first of which came in a 2-0 victory at Salford towards the end of October, so that proves how much they have improved since their patchy start to the season.

However, Salford look too big at 19/5 in the League Two play-off odds to win the return after running the show in the first leg, but they can also be backed at 21/20 in the double chance market or 12/5, draw no bet.

Attention turns to Saturday 👀 pic.twitter.com/9ZrYTq97Ie

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) May 16, 2023

There are also some interesting anytime goalscorer options to consider too, starting with Smith to find the net again at 4/1.

The former Leeds, Fulham and Millwall striker has scored 10 goals in his last 23 games, so 4/1 seems a fair price, as does 6/1 on Stephen Mallan.

The Salford midfielder scored in three successive games in March and although he has not struck since, he went close on Saturday with a superb curling free-kick which was kept out by Ben Hinchcliffe.

In the opposite camp, Stockport skipper Ryan Croasdale has only scored once this season, but that was in the recent 1-0 win at Swindon and he struck the crossbar at Salford, so 17/2 on adding a second of the season has its attractions.

Carlisle v Bradford (Sat, 15.00, Sky Sports)

Goals have been in short supply in games between these clubs this season, with Walker’s first-half winner on Sunday only the second in three meetings.

Under 1.5 goals for a fourth successive match can be backed at 17/10 and it’s 23/10 on a goalless second half as it was in all three encounters.

The Bantams dominated the opening 45 minutes, but the Blues were more purposeful after the break and had a couple of chances to equalise, the best of which fell to substitute Ryan Edmondson, who headed over Jack Armer’s cross.

⚽🔵 “Two teams fighting it out to try and get a game at Wembley. It's an absolutely brilliant game to look forward. Hopefully plenty of people will want to come."

Paul Simpson on two very evenly matched teams 👇 https://t.co/Nw2Mmwz5eK

— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) May 17, 2023

Manager Paul Simpson said: “We’re more than capable of doing it back home. We came to win this game but went behind. But we stayed in the game. For my team, we saw commitment, desire and energy. One thing was missing for us was the finish. We could have had three goals but I still take all the positives.”

With another close encounter on the cards, we’re turning to the #Get A Price – Both teams market and fancy under 1.5 goals in the first half, two or fewer in the second and either team to win at 11/10 which would have paid out in two of the three clashes between the clubs this season.

Although there could be a dearth of goals on Saturday, Andy Cook ended as the division’s top scorer with 28 and he is 15/8 in the anytime market or 9/2 to break the deadlock, but Walker looked extremely sharp at the weekend.

💬 REACTION | Mark Hughes was proud to see his side come away with a 1-0 first-leg victory over @officialcufc at the @UniofBradford Stadium, in last night's @SkyBetLeagueTwo Play-Off Semi-Final.

➡️ | Read: https://t.co/TDhJ5LaUj4#BCAFC | @PethBassSols pic.twitter.com/nrK1DjeuIs

— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) May 15, 2023

The attacking midfielder has scored five times since the start of the year, including City’s equaliser in the recent 3-2 defeat at Crewe, so he looks an interesting prospect at 4/1 to find the net.

In the other camp, Carlisle looked dangerous from set-pieces and centre-back Corey Whelan appeals at 11/1 to get on the scoresheet for a third time this season. Two-goal winger Armer also catches the eye at 10/1.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication