Coventry City P40 65pts

Notts County (A), Crawley (A), Stevenage (H), Lincoln (H), Cheltenham (A), Morecambe (H)

Cov won’t settle for anything less than top seven but their pride will be hurt after that thrashing on Monday. Who would ever have thought Yeovil would go to the Ricoh and stick six past them? That’s got to be worrying for Mark Robins, you do not want to be capitulating at home so close to the last six games of the season. The Crewe defeat spurred us on, but a result like that can have two very different effects. You either react as we did, or you let it affect you and you’re gone.

This Saturday they host Notts County with an awful lot riding on the game. If they can get a result of any kind, it will put the Yeovil defeat behind them and get them back on track. If they can’t, then they’re going to be facing a huge battle to remain inside the top seven until May. at this part of the season, form is everything and until Saturday, they’d found a bit.

They were unbeaten in seven, negotiating matches against Wycombe, Mansfield and Luton on that run. Had the weather not claimed our tie they would have perhaps also had a draw against us on that run too, but Saturday has changed a lot for them.

I think they’ve got the minerals to bounce back, a draw against County and a win at Crawley will set them up nicely for a double-header of home games. If they beat Stevenage too they’ll be happy with a draw from our encounter, as will we be, leaving them with four from six to wrap up the season.

Notts County P41 67 pts

Coventry (H), Colchester (A), Yeovil (H), Grimsby (A), Luton (H)

You didn’t think I was going to do Lincoln next did you? Always leave the best until last, right?

County have won two in their last nine, not really promotion form. They’re stumbling through the final few matches, making do but not recapturing the form they showed early season. The January window hit them hard, losing Ryan Yates was a huge blow and whilst they’re still in the mix, it does look like the play-offs for them. Games in hand could see one of us or Coventry go above them, but that is the game in hand so we won’t both overtake them by virtue of having an extra game. Coventry could do it this Saturday and on the Magpies current form, you wouldn’t bet against it.

They’re scraping the odd win, Forest Green and Stevenage the only two teams they’ve taken maximum points from recently, They’ve drawn a few too, Wycombe, Mansfield and Cheltenham. However, that defeat at Chesterfield points to them blinking at last-minute, losing their bottle. Do they have enough to cling on?

I’m backing them to earn a draw against Coventry, but probably the same at Colchester which will set their nerves right on edge. Six points from Yeovil and Grimsby send them into the final game of the season needing results to go their way to hang on to a top seven spot. If they do make it, whoever does play them in the play offs will feel confident.

Exeter City P40 69pts

Cambridge (A), Accrington (A), Chesterfield (H), Crawley (H), Stevenage (A), Colchester (H)

Here’s some praise coming up for our rivals; I think the Grecians have done superbly to still be in fourth after a tough March. They’ve only lost twice in the last nine games, once to us and again at Morecambe, but other than that they’re bang in form. To go 1-0 down to Cheltenham this weekend and fight back to win 2-1 showed great character too and they’re one side I wouldn’t fancy over two legs. In a one-off final I would back us to beat anyone, but Exeter are managed by a slick and sensible manager who understands this level of football. they’re going to be favourites in those final three games, if they make it.

They should make it too. Cambridge will be a tough game but it’s winnable, Accrington might not be but there’s nine points in those final four games for them. Conservatively I’d go for ten points from the six games, but I could see them taking perhaps 12 at a push. either way, it is easily enough to finish fourth, although I believe automatic is a big ask for anyone outside the top three now.

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