Salford City go into Thursday night’s clash against Bromley with the prospect of a playoff place well and truly on the horizon, and an eye for an even more lucrative automatic spot.
With just two games remaining in the regular EFL League Two season, Salford City currently sit fourth in the table on 77 points, with a set of three points against Bromley this week promising to guarantee playoff football beyond the regular season.
With promotion contenders Chesterfield sitting in seventh place and only within reach of a maximum of 79 points, a Salford win against the already promoted Bromley would put the Ammies in the running for a place in League One come the end of the campaign.
However, a set of maximum points against a travelling Bromley side determined to be crowned League Two champions with just two games to go will be a testing trial for the reds.
A draw at the Peninsula on Thursday will leave the home side needing external results to fall in their favour when the rest of the league teams face off this Saturday afternoon, when Chesterfield host Crewe and play off rivals Swindon Town visit sturdy Grimsby, or the Salford play off push will go down to the wire in a final day clash away at Colin Kazim-Richards’ Crawley Town.
So while it is not mathematically finished, it is firmly in their hands.
Salford have built this position through consistency more than anything, securing a vital victory away at local rivals Oldham Athletic last Saturday in a hard fought 2-1 win.
There have been the odd bumps and anomalies along the way, but overall, the Ammies looked like a side that knows how to grind out results when it matters.
Bromley come in to this affair as firm favourites to lift the title, and in need of a result on Salford soil in order to keep crossing the finish line a comfortable task, with MK Dons breathing down their necks, sitting two points behind at the top of the tree.
There is also a slim chance that Salford could snatch the Third of three automatic promotion spots to League One. While it remains unlikely it is mathematically possible if results go their way and would go down to the final day of the season.
Cambridge United, currently third and one place ahead of Salford City, still have a game in hand and a one point cushion, and remain in pole position to seal that third automatic promotion spot.
However, if Cambridge were to slip up in their remaining games, and Salford win their remaining two games, there is a chance that Salford snatch third place.
A huge performance and a result to match will be at the top of Salford City head coach Karl Robinson’s to do list this week, as the League Two promotion plot thickens.
