In-form Newport County's League Two play-off odds shorten

The Exiles were priced at 16/1 for the top seven by EFL sponsors Sky Bet ahead of last weekend’s trip to AFC Wimbledon. They are now 7/1.

Graham Coughlan insists that the target is simply to beat last season’s tally of 57 points and then reassess but this remarkable campaign looks to be going the distance.

After last summer’s testing times, most of us would have settled for a sedate run-in well away from the relegation scrap.

Instead, County are in the running to be one of the four teams playing beyond April 27 with the dream of Wembley success.

READ MORE: Play-off dates and finale in Bradford confirmed

The Exiles have had an extremely tough run of fixtures against teams in the top-half of the table and yet they remain contenders for the play-offs.

They face a long trip to Cumbria on Friday before an overnight stay and a Saturday afternoon clash with a Barrow side who are sixth and having a superb campaign themselves.

Pete Wild’s side were frustrated to draw 0-0 with Harrogate last time out but they could yet sneak into the conversation for automatic promotion with Crewe, MK Dons and the current top three of Wrexham, Stockport and Mansfield.

Assuming Barrow have too much to drop out of the play-off places, that leaves one spot up for grabs.

League Two (Image: EFL)

The differing number of games played makes it tough to judge who is in best position but it's currently Wimbledon in seventh with five teams - Walsall, Crawley, Gillingham, County and Morecambe - within striking distance.

Notts County, Harrogate, Tranmere Accrington and Bradford look to have too much ground to make up and need near-perfect finishes.

The Dons have the best goal different on +11, Gillingham and Morecambe aren't helping themselves on -9 and -8 respectively.

County’s win at Plough Lane last week really put them in the mix and if they can thrive on the road against Barrow and on Good Friday at Colchester, who are scrapping at the wrong end, then they give themselves a great chance.

Four of the Exiles’ final six games are in front of the Amber Army at Rodney Parade, where they have taken 12 points from their last six.

There are twists and turns to come but here are the odds and fixtures for the play-off contenders with six weeks to go.

CONTENDERS

7 AFC Wimbledon - P39, 57pts.

Top-seven odds: 7/4.

Fixtures: Crewe (A), Harrogate (H), Stockport (A), Salford (H), Swindon (A), Tranmere (A), Walsall (H).

8 Walsall - P38, 56pts.

Odds: 11/4.

Fixtures: MK Dons (A), Salford (H), Tranmere (A), Doncaster (A), Notts Co (H), Swindon (H), Bradford (H), Wimbledon (A).

9 Crawley - P37, 56pts.

Odds: 11/4.

Fixtures: Tranmere (A), Doncaster (H), Newport (A), Mansfield (A), Wrexham (A), Colchester (H), Barrow (H), Sutton (A), Grimsby (H).

10 Gillingham - P39, 56pts.

Odds: 5/1.

Fixtures: Morecambe (A), Crewe (H), Harrogate (A), Bradford (A), Barrow (H), Mansfield (A), Doncaster (H).

11 Newport County - P38, 55pts.

Odds: 7/1.

Fixtures: Barrow (A), Colchester (A), Crawley (H), Grimsby (A), Accrington (H), Tranmere (H), Salford (H), Bradford (A).

12 Morecambe - P38, 54pts.

Odds: 11/1.

Fixtures: Gillingham (H), Accrington (A), Barrow (H), Doncaster (H), Crewe (H), Stockport (A), Forest Green (H), Swindon (A).

Other top-seven odds: Notts County 9/1, Bradford 12/1, Tranmere 50/1, Harrogate 100/1.