There are just four games taking place on Tuesday in League Two but they all could end up being very important come May. Here is our preview of the action ahead…
CREWE v CARLISLE
o Crewe have lost each of their last four meetings with Carlisle in all competitions without scoring a single goal, including two 0-1 defeats this season already, in the reverse league fixture in August 2018 and the FA Cup first round in November 2018.
o Carlisle have won eight of their last 13 Football League clashes with Crewe (D2 L3), scoring 19 goals while conceding only 10 in reply.
o Crewe haven’t won five consecutive home league matches since October 2006, when they were in League One.
o Carlisle boss Steven Pressley has only won consecutive away Football League matches as a manager once previously – with Coventry City in December 2014.
o Carlisle have lost none of their last four away Tuesday league matches (W2 D2) since a 1-2 defeat at Notts County in February 2018.
Our view
Crewe have one of the best home records in League Two so this will be a daunting trip for the Cumbrians who are in a four-game run that could define their season. Alex manager David Artell admitted that the 3-3 draw at Moss Rose on Saturday ‘felt like a defeat’ due to the Silkmen’s late equaliser but the truth is Crewe have been improving.
Just one defeat in their last eight, which was at Bury, has seen them become one of the form teams and Carlisle will need to be at their best in what should be a good game of football.
Steven Pressley’s side started slowly against Exeter at the weekend but a dominant second-half performance and a beautiful Jamie Devitt free-kick saw them rescue a point, exactly what I see them getting here.
PREDICTION: 1-1 draw
NEWPORT v MK DONS
o This will be the first ever Football League meeting between Newport County and MK Dons.
o MK Dons won their last clash with Newport in all competitions 3-2 at Rodney Parade in the EFL Cup in August 2016, a Dean Bowditch brace and a Ben Tilney strike seeing them through in a match in which they were 0-2 behind.
o Newport are unbeaten in seven home League Two matches played on Tuesday (W3 D4 L0) since losing 1-2 to Barnet in November 2017.
o MK Dons have lost six of their last seven away matches in all competitions (D1).
o Four of MK Dons’ last six away League Two goals have been scored via set pieces (two corners, two free kicks).
Our view
The Exiles face a Milton Keynes side that are on the slide and outside of the top seven for the first time this season. MK have lost five of their last six and Paul Tisdale will need all of his experience to steady the ship.
Despite the poor run, the former Exeter manager maintains that he believes in his players even if results have been disappointing.
“The dressing room is good, they’re showing fight and saying the right things but we now have to show something extra, show an extra dimension. I believe in the players,” he said following defeat to Swindon on Saturday.
Newport, on the other hand, managed to take three points off Mansfield, something not many sides have done this season. They are also into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup where they face a fairly easy match-up against minnows Manchester City (cough).
With confidence flowing again I see Mike Flynn’s men coming out on top in this one.
PREDICTION: 1-0 Newport
OLDHAM v YEOVIL
o This will be the 20th Football League contest between Oldham Athletic and Yeovil Town, with Oldham winning five, drawing six and losing eight of the first 19 such clashes.
o Yeovil have only lost one of their last 13 league matches against Oldham (W7 D5), a 1-0 defeat in April 2013.
o Oldham have lost just two of their last 17 home league matches played on Tuesday (W11 D4).
o Yeovil have lost five of their last eight away league matches (W1 D2), losing each of those games by a one-goal margin.
o Oldham are looking to keep three consecutive home clean sheets in the Football League for the first time since March 2017.
Our view
After what seems like a decade Oldham have finally names Paul Scholes as their new boss although he won’t be in charge for the visit of Darren Way’s Yeovil.
The former Manchester United midfielder will take a watching brief as his side come fresh off the back of a terrific 3-0 win at Crawley. Johan Branger put in an amazing performance at Broadfield, scoring a delightful free-kick and setting up the second for debutant Zach Dearnley.
That confidence should put them in good stead as an out of form and lackluster Yeovil arrive at Boundary Park. Darren Way must be pulling his hair out (he would be if he had any, trust me) with the Glovers slipping dangerously close to the bottom two thanks to just two wins in 16 and I can’t see them getting anything in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-1 Oldham
SWINDON v FOREST GREEN
o Swindon Town have never lost to Forest Green in their three previous League Two meetings; they did the double over them in 2017-18 before drawing 1-1 at the New Lawn in August this season.
o In all competitions, Forest Green Rovers have won two of their three visits to Swindon since the start of last season (L1), both 1-0 wins in the EFL Trophy in December 2017 and the EFL Cup first round in August 2018.
o Since winning their first two home League Two matches this season, Swindon have won just two of their subsequent 13 at the County Ground (D6 L5).
o Should Forest Green avoid defeat here, it will be their longest ever unbeaten away run in the Football League; they are currently unbeaten in six on the road (W4 D2).
o No team has won more away points in League Two this season than Forest Green (29).
Our view
Richie Wellens was delighted with his side’s efforts at the weekend as the Robins came away from Stadium MK with three points. Some flowing football helped them ease to victory and with Forest Green heading to the County Ground this one should be a decent watch.
Mark Cooper’s side lost to bottom club Notts County and have to bounce back quickly if they are to maintain their automatic promotion push. This could be an end-to-end kind of game so expect to be entertained.
PREDICTION: 2-2 draw
words James Richards, D3D4 Football