Our first EFL play-off second-leg of the season takes place at Field Mill on Sunday, where Mansfield and Newport do battle following a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.

You have to feel it’s advantage Mansfield. Newport have an outstanding home record, and for The Stags to emerge without a first-leg deficit does make them slight favourites to qualify.

That doesn’t change the fact that they’re winless in four, however, while Newport are unbeaten in 11, and Michael Flynn seems to have sorted the Exiles’ away form out at the perfect time – avoiding defeat in their last four on the road.

I do think Newport have a better chance of making it to Wembley than perhaps people give them credit for, but I’m not going to concentrate on that for my Best Bet.

Instead, I’m backing the score to be level at half-time. It may be worth backing a 0-0 draw at the break due to the added value, but I’d suggest also covering yourself for a score-draw.

12 of Mansfield’s 23 home games have been level at the break (10 of which were goalless), and the cagey nature of play-off matches should only increase the chances of a half-time stalemate.

Newport have gone into the break level eight times on the road this season, and many of their deficits came during a run of 10 defeats in 11 away games earlier in the season. The playing field has been somewhat levelled now though—virtue of Newport’s improved form sand Mansfield’s recent struggles—making a half-time draw a decent bet at 11/10.

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Half-Time: Draw - 1pt @ 11/10