The first game of this weekend’s action in League 2 comes this Friday at Whaddon Road where 18th placed Cheltenham Town entertain 11th placed Morecambe. The Shrimps are currently just one point off a play-off place but have only won two of their last eight fixtures. Cheltenham meanwhile have only won one of their last eight, a 2-1 victory over local opposition in Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. The last meeting between the two sides finished goalless, but can Kevin Ellison add to his eight goals already this season?
On Saturday, league leaders Wycombe Wanderers travel to Gigg Lane to face 9th placed Bury. Bury, like Morecambe, find themselves needing some back to back victories in order to push for a play-off place. It won’t be easy however as Wycombe are currently on an eight game unbeaten run and they have the best away form of any team in the league, picking up 25 points and losing just once. The Chairboys’ top scorer Paul Hayes has eight goals from 17 appearances, but Bury have 21 year old Danny Rose and journeyman striker Ryan Lowe, who have netted 14 goals between them. Bury also welcome new signing Joe Riley from Bolton Wanderers, having just made 28 appearances while at Oxford United. The 23-year-old full back will make an excellent addition to their squad.
Burton Albion will look to pile the pressure on Gareth Ainsworths side as they travel to Fratton Park to take on 17th placed Portsmouth. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side have a strong chance of promotion this season having only lost once in their last eight outings. Former Scotland under 21 striker Alex MacDonald leads the Brewers scoring charts with seven, whilst Leicester City loanee Jacob Blyth has netted five. Meanwhile for Pompey, they hope Matt Tubbs, who has netted 12 goals already this season whilst at Wimbledon, can add to his tally.
The final automatic promotion position is taken up by Welsh side Newport County who travel to the Abbey Stadium to face 14th placed Cambridge United. Prior to the game, the Exiles manager Justin Edinburgh, has denied any contact from League 1 strugglers Gillingham over their managerial vacancy. Edinburgh remains focused on the task in hand, aiming for another victory to bolster their promotion bid. Cambridge meanwhile have signed Norwich youngster Cameron McGeehan on a one month youth loan, and will hope that Kwesi Appiah will be able to add to his six goals this season.
The only side in the top six to play at home this weekend are Shrewsbury Town who welcome bottom club Hartlepool United to the New Meadow. Shrewsbury, who fancy themselves for promotion under Micky Mellon, have had some tough fixtures recently, with a 1-0 away defeat by Burton Albion followed by a goalless draw away to Luton. Salop find themselves just one point behind Newport in third and will be looking to pile on the pressure. Also, the Shrews are currently the only side in the league unbeaten at home, winning ten of their 12 fixtures at New Meadow. Hartlepool on the other hand are struggling. Having only won two games away from home this season, losing 9, Ronnie Moore knows this will be tough, but is aware that the Pools won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in September.
An all play-off fixture takes place at Home Park where 7th placed Plymouth Argyle host 5th placed Luton Town. Luton’s last fixture was a goalless draw at home to Shrewsbury, whist Plymouth have played their last two away from home which incidentally, both also finished goalless. Reuben Reid has netted 12 times this season for Plymouth, whilst former Hull City player Mark Cullen leads the way for the Hatters with eight this season.
Sixth placed Southend United travel to the Kassam Stadium to face an inconsistent Oxford United side. Oxford are currently the highest they have been all season, but it is still very disappointing for Michael Appleton’s side considering they would have wanted to achieve promotion. Striker Danny Hylton has aided in Oxford’s cause with an impressive eleven goals in 21 appearances. Southend meanwhile come off the back of two draws, but they have the strongest away record of the league with 20 points picked up on their travels. Phil Brown will be looking for midfielder David Worrall to add to his four goals this season.
Just outside the play-off places are Stevenage who travel to Bootham Crescent to face a resurging York City side boosted by the news that defender Stephane Zubar has extended his contract until the end of the season. City find themselves just four points above the drop zone, but having won four in their last eight, they find themselves creeping up the table. However, the Minstermen have won just one of their 12 home games this season, news that will no doubt encourage Graham Westley in the journey north.
Exeter City travel to Mansfield Town off the back of back to back home defeats. Away from home, Paul Tisdale’s men have been relatively successful, winning five and drawing two of their 12 fixtures. Additionally for the Grecians, midfielder Ryan Hanley has signed an 18 month deal following his release from Swindon Town. The Stags also have been relatively successful at home, winning five of their 11 games at Field Mill. Also for them, 23 year old striker Vadaine Oliver has extended his loan from Crewe until the end of the season, and they have also snapped up winger Matty Blair until the end of the season.
Carlisle United are currently just one point off the drop ahead of Tranmere Rovers, and the Cumbrians travel to the Kings Meadow stadium to face A.F.C Wimbledon. Wimbledon are doing well as they have won four from their last eight games, while Carlisle have only won two of their last eight. With Matt Tubbs gone, the goalscoring is left to Adebayo Akinfenwa who has already netted eight in the league, plus a goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup. Carlisle are capable of scoring goals, as proved in the reverse fixture earlier this season which finished 4-4.
One point behind Carlisle are Tranmere. They welcome Accrington Stanley to Prenton Park with the aim of moving out of the relegation zone. Accrington however aren’t doing too bad, having won four of their last eight. This is Tranmere’s first game since their 6-2 FA Cup defeat to Swansea City, whilst Accrington’s last fixture was postponed. Tranmere have boosted their squad, by signing Rob Taylor and Lee Molyneux.
The final fixture sees Northampton Town entertain Dagenham & Redbridge at Sixfields. Both sides have been rather inconsistent this season, with the Cobblers losing five of their last eight, whilst the Daggers have gained 11 points from a possible 18. Cobblers are off the back of a draw and an away victory over Exeter, whilst Dagenham had a goalless draw at home to Oxford United. Marc Richards is the league’s top scorer, and the Cobblers striker has netted an impressive 13 goals in 19 appearances. As for the Daggers, talisman striker Jamie Cureton is still banging them in at 39 years old, with seven this campaign.
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