As we approach another weekend of football in League Two, here is your weekly preview ahead of all the action. Six of the top seven clubs are all playing away from home, as are the bottom two clubs, all hoping to gain points for various reasons as we approach the business end of the season.
Accrington Stanley vs Cheltenham Town
One game takes place on Friday night, where an Accrington side, who have won back to back games, host a Cheltenham Town side that have won just once in their previous sixteen games. Following Stanley’s victory away to Southend last time out, they have moved up to 14th in the table, whilst the Robins occupy the final relegation place and are one point from safety. Cheltenham have confirmed that their Head of Academy Coach Russell Milton will remain in charge of the club until the end of the season.
The match had not been played at the time of writing. The match ended 1-1. For a review of the match proper, see the League Two review which will be published after all matches have been played.
Tranmere Rovers vs Shrewsbury Town
League leaders Shrewsbury travel to face a Tranmere side that sit perilously close to the relegation zone following their defeat to York last weekend. Shrewsbury lead the way currently on goal difference, as second placed Burton Albion sit behind ahead of this weekend’s action. Despite sitting where they are, Tranmere aren’t playing too badly, winning three and drawing three of their last eight games in the league.
Dagenham and Redbridge vs Burton Albion
Burton Albion only sit behind the league leaders Shrewsbury on goal difference, and the Brewers are the in-form side in the league, winning five and drawing three of their last eight games. Last time out they were the 2-0 victors at home to Oxford United, and will look to pile the pressure on them further this weekend. Dagenham are playing well themselves, losing just twice in their last 10 games, form which has seen them move out of the drop zone and further up the table. The Daggers are also unbeaten in their previous four home games, and the Brewers have drawn three of their previous four on the road.
Carlisle United vs Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe avoided slipping into the play-offs as Luton Town lost on tuesday night, so as it is they stay third. The Chairboys have lost their last two games in the league, both at home also, but are unbeaten in their last eight on the road. At home, Carlise have won just once of their previous four home games, but have picked up three victories in six in the league. Following last week’s defeat to Luton, the Cumbrians sit 19th, just three points from safety.
A.F.C Wimbledon vs Luton Town
Luton are in search of back-to-back promotions but missed the opportunity to move into the automatic promotion places on tuesday night as a result of a defeat to Mansfield. They travel to face a Wimbledon side sitting mid-table following defeat to Shrewsbury last time out. Worryingly for the Hatters, they have only won once in their previous eight games on the road, drawing four; a statistic the manager John Still will be looking to change in the final few months of the season.
Stevenage Borough vs Southend United
Southend lost their first game in ten last weekend at home to a defiant Accrington Stanley, and travel to face a Stevenage side that have slipped away from play-off contention following a four game run with no win, but put a stop to that last week following victory over bottom club Hartlepool. The Shrimpers are sitting comfortably in the play-offs, whilst Boro are currently four points behind Plymouth, as they look to gain promotion back to League 1.
Newport County vs Morcambe
Newport got their first victory in six last weekend away to Wycombe, and the play-off hopefuls must build on that result if they’re to achieve promotion this season. They host a Morcambe side that in 2015 have become synonymous with drawing, despite losing on Sunday at home to Dagenham. Despite this little drop in from that the Exiles have suffered, they have lost just one home game in their previous eight, form that caretaker manager Jimmy Dack will be hoping his side can regain.
Exeter City vs Plymouth Argyle
The Devon Derby takes place this weekend and it could be the biggest we have seen for a while. Plymouth occupy the final play-off place, closely followed by Bury, Stevenage and rivals Exeter. The Grecians currently sit six points behind Plymouth, so a win would see them close the gap, in addition to possibly knocking the Pilgrims out of the play-off places. Defeat however would see them sit nine points behind, and reaching the play-offs would then seem a difficult task. Plymouth have the upper hand in this fixture, above their rivals in the table, and 3-0 victors at Home Park earlier this season. It should be a cracker.
Bury vs Hartlepool United
Despite victory on the road in their previous fixture, Bury remain just outside the play-off places, albeit on goal difference. They host a Hartlepool side that have failed to win on the road for nine games in succession, knowing that their home form is currently their best chance of avoiding the drop. They sit seven points from safety, and points need to start coming in if they’re to stay in the Football League this year. As for the Shakers, play-offs are a realistic aim, and they are unbeaten in their previous four games at Gigg Lane.
Northampton Town vs York City
Northampton Town have made a tremendous start to 2015, but no win in their previous two has put a dampener on things. Unbeaten at home in their previous four, the Cobblers will be the favourites as they host a York City side who sit close to the drop. Despite that, the Minstermen have won three of their previous eight on the road, where they seem to be better this season, having only won twice at home all season. The Cobblers still hope to reach the play-offs, whilst York are aiming to avoid the drop.
Cambridge United vs Portsmouth
Cambridge are at home this weekend, where they haven’t won since their 4-0 win over Newport in mid-January and host a Pompey side that haven’t won away from home in their last eight. The south-coast club have suffered only one defeat in their last six games as they look to avoid the drop, with mid-table U’s looking to record some victories themselves.
Oxford United vs Mansfield Town
The final game comes at the Kassam Stadium where Oxford United host Mansfied in what is being labelled as a ‘six pointer’ for both clubs. The stags have picked up eight points from their last six games, but have suffered four straight defeats on the road. As for Oxford, they have won just once in their last six games, and one home game in eight. Both clubs are perilously close to the drop, and neither side want to lose this upcoming fixture.
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