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Horse Racing Carlisle vs Stockport Bet Builder Tips: 2.60 Builder for Sunday’s League Two Playoff Final
Carlisle vs Stockport Bet Builder Tips: Sunday, May, 28th
After two exciting and closely fought Semi-Finals, the League Two Playoff Final is Carlisle vs Stockport and we have bet builder tips ready for this one on Sunday, May 28th.
Following 46 games of blood, sweat and tears, these two sides must go again one final time to earn a place in the third tier of English football.
Both sides showed their resilience and tenacity by overturning first-leg deficits to claim their place at Wembley. Now a season’s work comes down to this one game.
In this article:
Carlisle vs Stockport Preview
England, League Two Playoff Final, Sunday, May 28th, 13:30 (UK)
On February 23rd 2021, Carlisle rolled the dice and returned to former manager Paul Simpson to get the club out of trouble. The Cumbrians were sitting 23rd in League Two once again in the relegation zone. As was the case on his first tour of duty with the club in 2003.
Simpson was unable to save his home town club from the drop on that occasion. Not only did he manage an immediate return to League Two, he promptly secured back-to-back promotions going up to League One as champions.
Having secured League Two status last term, the former Manchester City winger and U20 World Cup-winning manager with England is one game away from another promotion.
If anyone can put these types of monstrous games into perspective it is the 56-year-old. Having won an even bigger battle recently in overcoming kidney cancer in June 2021.
A nerve-jangling extra-time victory over Bradford. A rousing post-match dressing room speech to his victorious side in front of the tv cameras. Next up is leading his side out onto the hallowed Wembley turf looking to return to the third tier for the first time since 2014.
Stockport can look for no greater inspiration than in the playoff final that will have finished approximately 19 hours prior to this one kicking off. With Luton favourites to beat Coventry in the Championship version and make an unthinkable return to the Premier League.
The Hatters of Luton won promotion back to the EFL in 2014. The Hatters of Stockport replicated that feat last season and would love to follow a similar trajectory.
After 11 years out of the EFL, Dave Challinor targeted exiting the fourth tier, in the right direction, “as quickly as possible”. The determination shown in firstly taking their semi-final with Salford to extra time and then extending the game to penalties with a goal five minutes from time shows they won’t be denied without a fight. Ultimately booking their place at the national stadium with a 3-1 win on spot kicks.
Carlisle vs Stockport Stats & Facts
- Carlisle last visited Wembley in 2011 when they contested and won the EFL Trophy
- Stockport are looking for a return to League One for the first time since 2010.
- Carlisle still remains the smallest location in England, by local population, to have had a resident top-flight football team since 1906.
- Dave Challinor has already masterminded six promotions during a 13-year managerial career with Colwyn Bay, AFC Fylde, Hartlepool United and Stockport.
Carlisle vs Stockport Bet Builder
As always there are twists of fate in the wonderful world of football. Paul Simpson not only formerly managed opponents Stockport but his son Jake is their head of performance.
Oh and who scored the dramatic extra-time winner to earn Carlisle their 3-2 aggregate semi-final victory over Bradford? Ben Barclay of course. On loan from opponents in this final and therefore ineligible to face his parent club.
For us all to see, Simpson called for his side to show character, belief and work hard in this upcoming final. Stressing he doesn’t want to go to Wembley just to make up the numbers and that he is “sick of losing there”.
Although Stockport will start the game as favourites there is little to choose between the two sides. Just three points and five goals over the 46-game regular season to be precise.
The Hatters brought the better recent form into the playoffs. Dave Challinor saw his side lose just once in the final 20 matches of the regular season. While the Cumbrians stuttered as the campaign drew to a close. Picking up just two wins in their final 11 League Two fixtures.
County holds the edge in the meetings between the two this term. Drawing at Brunton Park last month while using their home advantage to win 2-0 back in October.
Concerns were raised in the Salford ties that the absence of Kyle Wootton, Paddy Madden and Will Collar would be too much to overcome. The attacking trio contributed 34 of County’s total of 65 goals across the season. A more pragmatic approach resulted but the fact Madden completed the 120 minutes and Collar was fit enough to come off the bench to feature in the second leg will ease fears ahead of the final.
Picking a winner is difficult given the stubborn nature of both sides defensively. Only Champions Leyton Orient kept more clean sheets than either club who amassed 42 between them across the regular season. Keeping the draw onside whilst having a slight preference for Stockport is the angle I prefer most.
When games take place at a neutral venue like this I tend to give more weight to how sides performed away from home.
Carlisle’s final seven road trips were kept exceptionally tight. With a total of six goals, both teams scored in only one. The Cumbrians came out with three points just once.
In their last 13 games across all venues, only three saw both teams get on the scoresheet.
The Hatters have kept a clean sheet in nine of their last 11 fixtures and only lost once. Winning four of their last six regular-season road trips “to nil”.
History of the League Two playoff final also suggests “No” in the both teams to score market is a good way to boost the odds of this builder. Ten of the last 12 finals at this level have seen both teams fail to hit the back of the net including each of the last four.
- Double Chance – Match result will be Stockport or Draw
- No on Both teams to score
Bet Builder odds: 2.60
Odds via William Hill as at 16:40 May 25th 2023. Odds may now differ.
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