Exeter v Northampton: League Two playoff final betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Exeter v Northampton in the Sky Bet League Two playoff final at Wembley on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event, 7.30pm Monday

Best bet

Northampton to be promoted
1pt 10-11 Hills

Team news

Exeter
There are fitness doubts surrounding Lee Martin and Nicky Ajose, so Alex Fisher could get the nod alongside Ryan Bowman in attack.

Northampton
Keith Curle has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Match preview

Exeter have suffered defeat in the Sky Bet League Two playoff final in two of the last three seasons and they may be condemned to more Wembley woe by Keith Curle’s Northampton.

Blackpool had Exeter’s measure in 2017, while it was the turn of Coventry 12 months later and Northampton have the resources to make it another miserable trip to the capital for the Grecians.

A behind-closed-doors playoff final on the hallowed turf of Wembley will be a surreal experience but the stakes remain the same and on the evidence of their respective two-legged semi-final victories, the Cobblers have the edge.

Northampton were in need of a minor miracle after losing 2-0 at home to Cheltenham but they responded courageously in the reverse fixture last Monday, winning 3-0 at Whaddon Road with a dominant performance.

Over the course of two legs it was the least the Cobblers deserved - they had a penalty saved at 0-0 in the first game - and there was no fluke about their pulsating fightback after they registered 42 shots over the tie to Cheltenham’s 24.

Given the Robins had conceded only 27 goals in 37 league matches prior to that and shipped twice in a game on only four occasions, it is a performance worthy of praise and it would have done wonders for the Cobblers’ confidence.

West Brom loanee Callum Morton bagged a brace in Gloucestershire and he has built an excellent partnership with Vadaine Oliver, a physical frontman with more to his game than just goals.

The pair are supplied with super service from assist-king Nicky Adams and the pacy Sam Hoskins and there are few concerns defensively for Curle’s Cobblers with a reliable back three of Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton and Jordan Turnbull.

Exeter have plenty of attacking quality of their own through Ryan Bowman, Randell Williams and Nicky Law, so Northampton will have to be on their guard and the Cobblers lost 3-2 in the league at Exeter in December.

However, the Grecians were brushed aside 2-0 on their trip to Northampton in February and they need to show more than they did against Colchester in the semi-finals to suggest they can prevail in the push for promotion.

Matt Taylor’s side failed to register a shot on target in 1-0 opening leg defeat at Colchester before requiring an extra-time strike from Bowman to progress in Devon.

A cagey affair is anticipated given the stakes and inevitable lack of atmosphere but Cobblers may have a better chance of securing promotion than the prices imply.