Another weekend of football is upon us in League Two, and here is your weekly preview to the weekends action.
Following their second half winner away to Newport County last weekend, Shrewsbury Town are the new leaders in the league, level on points with second placed Burton Albion. Salop return to New Meadow, where they still boast being the only unbeaten side at home all season. They host a Southend side who have won their last three fixtures, two of which have been on the road. It will be a tall order however, with the Shrews having scored the most goals at home all season, and have lost just once in their last nine games. The Shrimpers however are playing well, and will look to remain consistent whilst sitting in the playoffs.
Second placed Burton Albion have lost top scorer Alex MacDonald to Oxford United this week, but they travel to a Cheltenham side struggling for form. Both sides have been busy in the transfer window, with Cheltenham bringing in ten players, whilst the Brewers have a couple of signings themselves. Like Shrewsbury, Burton are on form, and haven’t lost in their last nine. As for the Robins, they are slowly slipping down the table, following their 3-1 defeat last time out against Dagenham and Redbridge.
Following three successive draws, Wycombe have slipped to third but just one point off the top two. They travel to a Cambridge side who midweek bowed out of the F.A Cup following defeat to Manchester United. They lost their previous fixture, despite a second half comeback, against rivals Luton Town, but before that had won back to back games. Wycombe have found the victory and goals hard to come by of late, but remain unbeaten now in 10 games.
Luton Town lead the teams in the play-off places and sit just three points behind Wycombe. Following their victory over Cambridge last time out, the Hatters will be looking for all three points, with Southend a place behind them but level on points. They travel to an Oxford United side who won their first game in five last week on the road, but are yet to win at home since the turn of the new year. Oxford have available new signing Alex MacDonald who was Burton Albions top scorer, whilst Luton have new signing Ryan Hall following his move from Rotherham.
Newport County have slipped from the automatic promotion places following three straight defeats and find themselves seven points behind Wycombe in third. They travel to Kingsmeadow to face a Wimbledon side that have won once in their last three games. The Dons do however boast some new signings as they look to move up the table. As for the Exiles, they need to put this winless run to an end, in which they haven’t scored either, and hope that Aaron O’Connor and Chris Zebroski can add to their tally of 14 between them.
Bury occupy the final play-off place and host an Exeter side sitting three points behind them. Bury lost last time out to second placed Burton Albion, but the Shakers had won prior to that, along with a score draw against then league leaders Wycombe. As for Exeter, they have fared better on the road this season, picking up four points from their previous two visits away, but lost last time out at home.
Stevenage are looking to bounce back from their defeat to Oxford United last time out as they travel to a Mansfield side that now sit in the relegation zone following their defeat to Carlisle. Mansfield have fared slightly better at home, and Adam Murray has made some decent aquasitions in the transfer window as they look to avoid the drop. Despite the Boro losing last time out, they are still one of the in-form sides in the league, and boast one of the higher goal tallies this campaign. Mansfield will be aware that with the bottom seven clubs being separated by just five points, a win could be vital but a defeat could be costly.
Plymouth haven’t won in seven games now and they host an Accrington side who have suffered four straight defeats. Plymouth have lost their last two fixtures at Home Park, whilst Accrington have slipped to 16th and a precariously close to the relegation battle. It will be interesting to see how Stanley pick themselves up from their 5-1 capitulation by Northamptonshire last week, whilst Plymouth found themselves the wrong side of a 3-2 result against bottom club Hartlepool.
Morecambe and Northampton are separated by just one place in the league but their forms couldn’t be much different. Northampton have won their previous four games, all relatively convincing, whilst the Shrimps have drawn their previous five games. Northampton have been quite proactive in the transfer window bringing some new faces to Sixfields, but it’s Marc Richards who still leads the scoring charts, now on 15 following his two last time out.
Six of the bottom seven clubs all face each other this weekend in would could be crucial towards the outcome of relegation. Tranmere move up to 17th following their victory last time out, but host a Carlisle side who also won, 2-1 over relegation threatened Mansfield. For Tranmere, on loan Swansea City striker Rory Donnelly has netted three in just four appearances for the Rovers, whilst Carlisle are taking goals from wherever they can, because they have the worst defence in the league. January signing Charlie Wyke netted last time out and the Cumbrians will be hoping he can find some goalscoring form. A win for either side could be vital, as they both sit just two points above the drop.
18th placed Portsmouth held Wycombe to a goalless draw last time out, but the south coast side have failed to win in their last 10 games. They welcome bottom club Hartlepool to Fratton Park, boyed on by their fifth victory of the season last time out against Plymouth. Ronnie Moore’s men haven’t been fantastic on the road, then again neither have Pompey at home, even with their incredible attendances. Again a win could be crucial, with Pompey just two points above the drop, whilst Hartlepool sit seven points behind Mansfield and need to close the gap.
The final fixture comes at Bootham Crescent where York City host Dagenham and Redbridge. The Minstermen have won only once at home this season and have slipped to 22nd, level on points with Mansfield, following a last minute penalty last time out away to Southend. Dagenham won their previous game, scoring three times also and moving up to 19th. Wayne Burnett has admitted that losing striker Rhys Murphy has been tough to take, and will hope journeyman striker Jamie Cureton can add to his nine goals this campaign.
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