Every League Two promotion contender's run-in analysed

So how does Carlisle United's run-in compare with those of their rivals? Who has it hardest, and who has the kindest fixture list (on paper)? And which club could have the biggest say in who goes up and who doesn't?

Here’s a club-by-club look at the contenders...

LEYTON ORIENT

Current position: 1st

Points: 74

Remaining games: Carlisle United (h), Salford City (a), Harrogate Town (h), Sutton United (a), Gillingham (a), Crewe Alexandra (h), Mansfield Town (a), Stockport County (h), Bradford City (a)

Average current position of remaining opponents: 10.6.

Promotion odds*: 1/66.

Analysis: Orient are currently on a frustrating run of draws but their cushion at the top really ought to be enough. They’ll want to get promotion effectively wrapped up before their final games against a trio of contenders. Even if they stumble, it’s hard to see three teams going past them.

Leyton Orient's Paul Smyth is aiming to help his side over the line (Image: PA)

NORTHAMPTON TOWN

Current position: 2nd

Points: 69

Remaining games: Stevenage (h), Newport County (a), Gillingham (h), Carlisle United (a), Sutton United (a), Harrogate Town (h), Bradford City (h), Tranmere Rovers (a).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 11.5.

Promotion odds: 8/13.

Analysis: A mixed bag of a run-in for a Cobblers side who have returned to good form recently. Much may rest on their trip to Brunton Park – if they survive that one unscathed, they’ll surely fancy their chances of getting enough points on the home straight.

Cobblers boss Jon Brady is hoping to go one better than last season when they missed out on promotion on the last day (Image: Richard Parkes)

STEVENAGE

Current position: 3rd

Points: 67

Remaining games: Northampton Town (a), Colchester United (h), Hartlepool United (a), AFC Wimbledon (h), Doncaster Rovers (h), Mansfield Town (a), Swindon Town (a), Grimsby Town (h), Barrow (a).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 13.1.

Promotion odds: 1/6.

Analysis: After this weekend’s trip to Northampton, Stevenage may see their subsequent three games against lower-ranked sides as a big chance to tot up promotion points and steal a march on rivals. On paper they have a friendlier run-in than most, but if they take it to the wire, dare Carlisle hope their south Cumbrian friends will do them a favour on the last day?

Steve Evans' Stevenage currently sit third (Image: Barbara Abbott)

CARLISLE UNITED

Current position: 4th

Points: 66

Remaining games: Leyton Orient (a), Tranmere Rovers (h), Walsall (a), Northampton Town (h), Stockport County (h), Barrow (a), Salford City (h), Sutton United (a).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 7.5.

Promotion odds: 10/11.

Analysis: Statistically, nobody has a tougher run-in than the Blues. If they can quickly get back in the groove after last weekend’s loss at Gillingham, the Easter double-header against a mid-table pair looks like an opportunity – then they’ll need a head of steam for a closing spell where every game looks a biggie. Many of their rivals' fates will be determined in part by how they fare against United too.

Can captain Morgan Feeney lead Carlisle to glory? (Image: Richard Parkes)

STOCKPORT COUNTY

Current position: 5th

Points: 63

Remaining games: Salford City (h), Sutton United (a), Newport County (h), Gillingham (a), Carlisle United (a), Rochdale (h), Leyton Orient (a), Hartlepool United (h).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 12.8.

Promotion odds: 11/10.

Analysis: The Hatters are on a decent unbeaten run and will put that to the test with their next two tricky-looking fixtures. Amid further battles with rivals like the Blues and Orient, home games against the current bottom two look inviting, should Dave Challinor’s men still be in the running late on.

Kyle Wootton, second right, can be a key man for Stockport during the run-in (Image: Richard Parkes)

SALFORD CITY

Current position: 6th

Points: 62

Remaining games: Stockport County (a), Leyton Orient (h), AFC Wimbledon (a), Colchester United (h), Hartlepool United (h), Walsall (a), Carlisle United (a), Gillingham (h).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 12.5.

Promotion odds: 9/2.

Analysis: Some notable wins recently have kept Salford right in the race, and more will be known about their chances after their next two games against high-fliers. From there, they have the chance to accrue points against strugglers or mid-table dwellers before a potentially pivotal trip to Brunton Park on the penultimate weekend.

Some good recent results have kept Salford firmly in the race (Image: PA)

BRADFORD CITY

Current position: 7th

Points: 61

Remaining games: Grimsby Town (h), Crawley Town (a), Sutton United (h), Rochdale (a), Swindon Town (a), Gillingham (h), Northampton Town (a), Crewe Alexandra (a), Leyton Orient (h).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 13.3.

Promotion odds: 5/2.

Analysis: If the Bantams can shake the draw habit, they can certainly be a danger over the final weeks with a number of winnable games on paper. They’ll need plenty of points in the bag before a final run-in that includes encounters with the current top two - while an expected rearrangement late in the campaign against Crewe could be a key game too.

The goals of Andy Cook - pictured with Blues coach Geoff Haugh, left, at the recent game at Valley Parade - could make or break Bradford's hopes (Image: Richard Parkes)

MANSFIELD TOWN

Current position: 8th

Points: 58

Remaining games: Crawley Town (h), Swindon Town (a), Rochdale (h), Grimsby Town (a), Newport County (a), Stevenage (h), Leyton Orient (h), Harrogate Town (h), Colchester United (a).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 15.

Promotion odds: 3/1.

Analysis: Nigel Clough’s side are not currently in the winning habit, but statistically the kindest run-in of any side in the race might give them belated hope. Other than Stevenage and Orient, they face no side higher than 11th, and plenty from lower down. Automatics may be a long shot, but will surely fancy a play-off tilt.

Mansfield are currently out of the winning habit, but can't be discounted (Image: Barbara Abbott)

SUTTON UNITED

Current position: 9th

Points: 56.

Remaining games: Walsall (a), Stockport County (h), Bradford City (a), Leyton Orient (h), Northampton Town (h), Colchester United (a), Rochdale (a), Carlisle United (h).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 9.6.

Promotion odds: 25/1.

Analysis: The men from Gander Green Lane can be kingmakers in this race given the number of contenders they have to face. With one defeat in 11, Matt Gray’s side will surely take points from some of those in the running – and if they’re still in the play-off race with two weeks to go, meetings with a pair of strugglers could set things up nicely before that last-day visit of the Blues.

Play-off hopefuls Sutton could also be kingmakers in the promotion run-in (Image: Barbara Abbott)

BARROW

Current position: 10th

Points: 55.

Remaining games: Gillingham (h), Crewe Alexandra (a), Crawley Town (h), Swindon Town (a), Grimsby Town (a), Carlisle United (h), Hartlepool United (a), Stevenage (h).

Average current position of remaining opponents: 14.3.

Promotion odds: 40/1.

Analysis: While it will require a serious run of form for the Bluebirds to make the play-offs, they clearly can’t be discounted yet – particularly if they can take good points off the five bottom-half teams they’ve yet to face. Should Pete Wild’s side find consistency from here, the visit of Carlisle in April looks a humdinger – and potentially pivotal to both sides’ aspirations.

Josh Gordon's form could keep Barrow's play-off hopes alive (Image: Ian Allington / MI News)

*Odds from Bet365.