League Two play-off betting tips: Stockport County vs Salford City
- George Dempsey
- 19 May 2023
Stockport County have a 1-0 first-leg deficit to overturn when they welcome Salford City to Edgeley Park in the League Two play-off semi-finals.
Salford will be looking to take another big step towards League One football when they arrive at Stockport with a selnder lead.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
League Two play-off semi-finals second leg, Saturday May 20, Kick-off 12:30pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event
Predicted score
Suggested betting tips
Key stats
Salford and Stockport were the best away sides in League Two. City won 12 games on their travels, while County won 11.
Stockport and Salford drew 1-1 when they met at Edgeley Park in a League Two fixture in March.
No team has scored more away goals than Salford (44) this season.
Verdict
Stockport County have the task of overturning a 1-0 deficit at Edgeley Park on Saturday. It's a far from impossible task, but form suggests it won't be easy.
County were unable to beat strugglers Hartlepool at home on the final day of the season and have failed to win five of their last eight home league matches, either drawing 0-0 or 1-1.
In our first-leg preview, we spoke about the away side avoiding defeat more often than not in the League Two play-offs. After Bradford and Salford's victories, away sides are now unbeaten in 26 of the last 50 matches.
Salford and Stockport have won more away league games than anyone else in League Two. City have picked up 11 wins on their travels. That's impressive, but they have also lost seven times.
A feature of their away games has been goals by the bucket load. They've managed three in five of their last six, the one exception being the 1-1 draw with Stockport.
They've also put at least three past Grimsby, Mansfield, Gillingham and Newport. They're the league's top away scorers with 44 goals in 23 matches. Mansfield were the second highest with 35.
Luckily for hosts County, they've got League Two's second best-defence and only four teams have beaten their tally of 32 goals in 23 home matches.
As much as this game looks a tough one to predict, a constant theme with both teams is goals. Dave Challinor's men have scored in 19 of 23 home matches and both teams have scored on nine occasions.
Salford aren't going to go down without a fight and the game will open up at some stage. We think the best bet could be backing goals.
