Salford have won six and drawn one of their last seven games at the Peninsula Stadium.
Both teams have scored in seven of Grimsby Town’s last nine fixtures.
Chesterfield had the third-best away record in League Two during the regular campaign.
With a date at Wembley Stadium for the League Two playoff final the prize, the four semi-finalists contest the second legs of their double headers on Friday, 15th May.
In the earlier kick-off, Salford have a narrow lead to protect when they welcome Grimsby Town to the Peninsula Stadium, while Notts County take a 1-0 advantage into their return fixture with Chesterfield at Meadow Lane.
Below, we preview both second legs and offer a score prediction for the games, along with some other tips for each game from standout markets at LiveScoreBet.
Salford City vs Grimsby Town (Friday, 7:15 pm)
The latest Salford City vs Grimsby Town odds are available on LiveScoreBet
Salford showed real spirit to rebound from a goal down to carve out a 2-1 win over Grimsby in Sunday’s semi-final first leg, though their comeback triumph at Blundell Park was shrouded in controversy.
A stunning side-foot long-range volley from Reece Staunton had put Grimsby in front in the first minute before Salford’s Kallum Cesay equalised just three minutes later, though the game’s defining moment came just before the break.
Adebola Oluwo planted a header into the corner for Salford, though teammate Haji Mnoga seemed to be clearly offside when blocking the viewing lines of Grimsby keeper Jackson Smith.
Still, Salford held firm in the second half and successfully slowed the game down through small fouls. Indeed, City (14) had committed twice as many fouls as Grimsby (7) by full time.
The Ammies, who have won six of their last seven home assignments, are heavy favourites to progress to the final, and Grimsby might feel they have missed their chance, having not capitalised on home advantage in the first leg.
Salford beat three of League Two’s top five finishers (Bromley, MK Dons & Notts County) in their last four home games. Already a proven force in big games at the Peninsula Stadium, Salford are backed to edge out Grimsby.
Score prediction: Salford City 2-1 Grimsby Town
Other Salford City vs Grimsby Town Betting Tips:
Both teams to score – 4/6
Salford have scored at least once in eight of their last nine home games, while Grimsby have rattled the net in each of their last 11 fixtures overall. With Sunday’s first leg included, BTTS bettors have also been rewarded in seven of Town’s last nine matches, so expect similar at the Peninsula Stadium on Friday.
Under 10.5 corners – 13/25
Just eight corners were awarded to both teams combined in Sunday’s first leg at Blundell Park and that was the third time in as many encounters between Grimsby and Salford this season that featured fewer than 10 corners in total. The Ammies’ fixtures during the regular League Two campaign also averaged just 9.87 corners per 90 minutes and another low tally is anticipated here.
Notts County vs Chesterfield (Friday, 8 pm)
The latest Notts County vs Chesterfield odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Paul Cook’s Chesterfield seemed to wilt under the intense playoff pressure in Sunday’s first leg in what was a game strangled by tension at the SMH Group Stadium.
Lee Bonis hit the woodwork with an early penalty for the Spireites, which only added to the nervousness, leaving Notts County to score the game’s only goal through Jayden Luker not long after from their only shot on target of the contest.
Chesterfield dominated the entire second half in terms of possession but couldn’t manufacture anything of note, leaving County keeper James Belshaw largely untroubled.
Still, Cook’s side shouldn’t be discounted ahead of Friday’s second leg. Chesterfield had failed to score in only three of their previous 23 fixtures before Sunday’s blank and they finished the regular League Two campaign with the division’s third-best away record.
Chesterfield can also draw inspiration from the 3-2 win over Notts County they secured on their last visit to Meadow Lane in March. On that occasion, they mustered 19 shots to the Magpies’ five, and they are capable of producing something similar on Friday.
County have lost three of their last six matches on home soil, so their confidence might start to crack if Chesterfield start the second leg well. With prices favourable, it might be worth backing away-day specialists Chesterfield to turn the tie on its head.
Score prediction: Notts County 1-2 Chesterfield
Other Notts County vs Chesterfield Betting Tips:
Chesterfield double chance – 4/9
There is just enough wiggle room in the odds to make this a goer. Chesterfield were beaten just five times in 23 away assignments during the regular League Two season and they won a five-goal thriller when they last visited Meadow Lane to play Notts County in mid-March. The Magpies have lost 50% of their last six home games and they could be vulnerable again here.
Chesterfield to score first – 11/10
Chesterfield should have been in front in the early exchanges of Sunday’s first leg, but fluffed their lines from the penalty spot. The Spireites have taken the lead in four of their last five away fixtures, including their last visit to Meadow Lane to face Notts County. Paul Cook likes his team to come out of the traps quickly, and Chesterfield are fancied to break the deadlock again on Friday at better than evens.
