Data experts predict League Two automatic promotion race between Bristol Rovers, Port Vale and Northampton could be decided by GOAL DIFFERENCE

Bristol Rovers could only watch on as Forest Green Rovers became the first team in League Two to seal their automatic promotion fate.

The league leaders secured their place in League One next season after a point was enough at a Memorial Stadium to secure their place in English football’s third tier for the first time in their history.

And hoping to join them will be Exeter City, who enhanced their own prospects by winning 2-0 against Rochdale, with a win against Barrow on Tuesday enough to secure their place.

But who may join them is another thought with a host of teams all vying for the third and final automatic spot, with another big day and a surprise result.

Port Vale, who were rocked by a home defeat to Rovers, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Walsall and dropped down to fourth. Northampton Town overtook them with a 4-2 win over Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road with a point in it.

And there is also Mansfield Town to consider who are four points off of Northampton but play their game in hand against Stevenage on Tuesday evening where a win could put them into fifth and strengthen their case.

Sutton United also have a game in hand and a win for them would see them overtake Mansfield whilst also coming close to Rovers.

Predicting who will come out on top is an ardous task but luckily the statisticians at FiveThirtyEight have given their projections on the outcome of the end of the season.