Lincoln set for promotion party

Lincoln have been the team to beat in League Two this season and they look destined to wrap up both promotion and the title over the next few weeks.

The Imps have excelled under Danny Cowley, initially coming to the attention of the masses following their run to the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2017 and they now look on course for a return to the third tier for the first time this century.

Cowley’s side have only lost four of their 39 league games to date this season and are currently 1/5 with Betfred to win the League Two give they sit eight points clear of second-place Bury.

Bury (7/2 to win League Two) also look set for what would be an immediate return to the third tier following their relegation 12 months ago.

The Shakers made a slow start to the season under manager Ryan Lowe, but a 14-match unbeaten run has seen them go from play-off hopefuls to automatic promotion contenders and, barring a collapse, they should remain in the top three.

The third automatic promotion place remains firmly up for grabs, with MK Dons, the current incumbents of that position, 1/3 to be promoted, while Mansfield (10/11) and Tranmere (5/2) are still in contention.

The Dons currently sit two points clear of fourth-place Mansfield and those two sides are due to play each other on the final day of the season at Stadium MK in what could be a promotion shootout.

However, on current form, both sides could miss out, as Tranmere are the form side of League Two at the moment, winning six matches on the spin to move within five points of the top three, while they also boast the division’s top scorer in James Norwood.

In terms of the play-off race, Forest Green (3/1 to be promoted) and Exeter (4/1) – who have lost in the play-off final in each of the last two years – look well placed to finish in the top seven.

Carlisle (14/1 to be promoted) and Colchester (16/1) are the only sides that could potentially break into the play-off places, but both are on poor runs of form and have difficult fixture to come over the next few weeks.

In terms of the relegation battle, it looks like being two from three that will drop into the National League, with Notts County (1/4 to be relegated) and Macclesfield (8/15) currently occupying the bottom two positions – as they have done for most of the season – while Yeovil (EVS) are just two points above the dotted line.

Out of those three sides, it is Yeovil that are in the poorest form, losing 10 of their last 12 league games, a run that led to them parting ways with manager Darren Way at the start of this week.

Macclesfield are the team that are most likely to benefit if Yeovil fail to halt their slide, as they have impressed since Sol Campbell’s appointment as manager, most notably recording an away win against the Glovers earlier this month.

Odds subject to change