Promotion watch: What to look out for this weekend

There are three key battles in the promotion race tomorrow that will have Pompey fans frantically checking the results as they come in.
Danny Hylton has scored four goals in the past three games for the HattersDanny Hylton has scored four goals in the past three games for the Hatters
Danny Hylton has scored four goals in the past three games for the Hatters

League leaders Doncaster Rovers host a Luton side with three straight victories under their belt.

The Hatters’ latest win was a 3-0 triumph over Hartlepool on Tuesday night, which kept them fourth in the table (52 points) and within touching distance of third-placed Carlisle (55).

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Donny (63) have failed to win any of their past three games, including their trip to the Cumbrians in midweek.

A further slip-up, coupled with a Plymouth success at the Pools, could see their lead at the top wiped out completely, giving the chasing pack added hope that all is not lost in their pursuit of promotion and the League Two title.

From a Pompey perspective, who you want to win that match-up will depend on your outlook for the rest of a season.

But a Doncaster victory, plus a win for the Blues at Barnet, will move Paul Cook’s side a step closer to the automatic promotion places – fourth – and potentially derail Luton’s recent good work.

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Things could also go Pompey’s way with eighth-placed Wycombe and Carlisle set to go head to head at Adams Park.

Wanderers will be determined to put an end to their recent poor form.

Two successive league defeats have seen them drop out of the play-off places.

In fact, Gareth Ainsworth’s side have not won since beating the Blues 1-0 at the start of the month.

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But what better way to reignite their own promotion hopes than with a win against one of their promotion rivals.

Carlisle, who are still holding on to that third automatic promotion spot, have been very inconsistent in recent weeks.

A Wycombe win could see them rise to as high as sixth - but that would depend on the outcome of Mansfield’s trip to Grimsby and Exeter’s home game with in-form Stevenage.

That game at St James’ Park could prove pivotal in the promotion shake-up, too, with either side capable of being in our out of the top seven come the end of play on Saturday.

Tenth-placed Colchester, who sit just above Barnet on 44 points, could also reinforce their promotion credentials with victory at Accrington.