League Two is offering fans an unprecedented amount of excitement this season with battles at all levels seemingly heading to a grandstand finish.
Here is our look ahead to all the action this weekend in the fourth tier…
NOTTS COUNTY v MANSFIELD
o Notts County are without a win in their last 12 meetings with Mansfield in League Two (D6 L6) since a 3-2 victory in August 2005.
o Mansfield are unbeaten in their last eight Football League visits to Notts County (W2 D6), keeping five clean sheets in this time.
o Notts County have won just one of their last nine home league games (D4 L4), and they’re winless in the last four (D2 L2).
o After remaining unbeaten in their first 12 away games in League Two this season (W4 D8), Mansfield have lost two of their last four (W1 D1).
o Neal Ardley recorded just his second league win as Notts County manager last time out, he has won successive league games since April 2018 when managing AFC Wimbledon.
Our view
This one should be really good. County are scrapping for their lives at the bottom but have taken four points off Lincoln and Forest Green in their last two games which indicates they are improving at the right time.
Neal Ardley will be looking to the fit-again Enzio Boldewijn and the leadership of Michael Doyle to guide them past their local rivals. The atmosphere will be rocking and the Magpies boss is seeing his side react in training.
“With the way the group are training and playing we go in with a bounce and we’ve not had that for a while,” he told the club website.
Doyle will be a key man and the midfielder who signed from Coventry during January is looking forward to the fight.
“These kind of games are what keep you going,” said the midfielder. “They’re the matches you want all the time.
“There’s nothing better than going out there in front of a big crowd to do your best for the team.
“When you face a team that are so close to you, there are bragging rights for the fans so as a player you carry that extra weight as well.
“It’s one of the biggest games for a long time because we both have everything to play for – plus it’s a derby and we know how much that means to people.”
Mansfield are pushing at the other end of the table and come into this game off the back of a shock defeat at Newport yet confidence is high in the camp. They will be without forwards Craig Davies and Danny Rose but in Tyler Walker, Jorge Grant and CJ Hamilton they have more than enough to trouble a shaky County backline.
It should be a cracker but I am plumbing for an away win here.
PREDICTION: 3-1 Mansfield
CAMBRIDGE v TRANMERE
o Cambridge have won just one of their last eight Football League games against Tranmere (D2 L5), a 2-1 victory in April 2002.
o Tranmere have only won two of their 12 Football League away matches versus Cambridge United (D5 L5), although those victories have come in their last three such trips (L1), including a 2-1 win most recently in March 2015.
o Cambridge have won four of their last five league games (L1), as many as they had won in their previous 20 in the competition.
o Tranmere have lost six of their last eight League Two games on the road (W1 D1), conceding 21 goals (average 2.6 per game).
o Cambridge have scored 83% percent of their goals in open play this season (24 of 29), the highest ratio in League Two this season. Opponents Tranmere have the second highest ratio (82%).
Our view
The play-off charge could really be on for the Super White Army after beating Stevenage in the last game. They will not find a trip to Cambridge easy, however, with the U’s in good form on home soil.
Cambridge have won four of their last five at the Abbey and look to have found a solution to their goalkeeping problems in the form of Dimitar Mitov who was superb against Port Vale.
Steve McNulty is a big absence, in more ways than one, for the away side and Sid Nelson will also be out through injury. Ollie Banks will be hoping to recover from an ear infection in time to feature but I can see an away win on the cards here…just.
PREDICTION: 1-0 Tranmere
CARLISLE v MK DONS
o Carlisle have only lost one of their six home games against MK Dons in the Football League (W4 D1), going down 1-3 in September 2011.
o After their 2-0 win at the Stadium MK in December 2018, MK Dons are looking to do a league double over Carlisle for the first time in the top four tiers of English football.
o Carlisle are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W5 D1), averaging three goals per game over this period (18 goals).
o MK Dons ended a run of six away league games without victory last time out at Newport (1-0) – they’re looking to win back-to-back away trips for the first time since October.
o Each of Carlisle’s last five goals at home have been scored by Hallam Hope (three) or Jamie Devitt (two).
Our view
The club have been pushing to get over eight thousand fans through the gate for this one with a wonderfully creative campaign that has seen the club not only engage the entire City but also lower ticket prices.
Steven Pressley will be without star man Jamie Devitt who was controversially sent off in the game against Crewe. A lot has been made of the red card but I will say this, knowing Jamie Devitt’s character there is no way he intentional kicked Perry Ng, who fell on top of the ball in the incident in question.
The Cumbrians will have to find a creative source without the Irishman but manager, Steven Pressley, admitted he side were excited to be playing a quality side like MK Dons.
“MK Dons are above us in the league at this moment in time even though they’ve had a bit of an indifferent patch, just like most teams in this league will go through,” he said. “They got themselves back on track with a great result at Newport on Tuesday.
“They’ve got a very experienced manager in this league and a lot of good players. They’ve probably got the strongest squad within the division, so it will definitely be a big challenge for us, but it’s one we’re really excited about.
Milton Keynes beat Newport in mid-week and will want to make sure they keep the standards set in that game. It was a more disciplined performance from Paul Tisdale’s side which I think will put them in good stead to get a point from Brunton Park.
PREDICTION: 1-1 draw
EXETER v BURY
o Exeter are unbeaten in four Football League home games against Bury (W2 D2) since a 1-2 defeat in April 2003.
o Bury, 2-0 winners in the reverse meeting in December 2018, have only ever done a Football League double over Exeter once before, doing so in 2002-03.
o Exeter have lost one of their last six home league games (W4 D1), winning each of the last two.
o Bury are unbeaten in their last eight league outings (W5 D3); no League Two side are on a longer current run in the division (Lincoln also 8).
o Jay O’Shea has scored 14 goals for Bury this season – more goals than he has ever managed in a single English Football League campaign.
Our view
These two play a brand of easy-on-the-eye football which is always appreciated by fans if not always guaranteed to bring success. That said, more and more sides are playing this brand of football in the lower league which is a testament to the growing quality of the player that compete at this level.
It will great to see Nicky Law and Jay O’Shea on the same pitch together with both players in tremendous form. Bury won the previous meeting of the two clubs earlier in the season and Grecians striker Jonathan Forte is hoping his side can get revenge for that defeat.
“They beat us last time so we are going to try and get one back on them. I don’t think it was a fair reflection on the game,” he told the club website.
“I thought we battled well and we had a few chances as well and if we had put them away it would have been a different story.”
Bury have not lost in the league since Boxing Day and moved into the last automatic promotion spot with victory over Morecambe last weekend. It will be a good match but I think Bury will prove to be too strong again for Exeter.
PREDICTION: 2-1 Bury
FOREST GREEN v YEOVIL
o Forest Green are unbeaten in League Two encounters with Yeovil (P3 W2 D1 L0).
o Yeovil’s only previous visit to the New Lawn in League Two was Forest Green’s first ever win as a Football League club, with Rovers winning 4-3 in August 2017.
o Forest Green have lost each of their last two league games – they haven’t lost three on the bounce in League Two since March 2018.
o Yeovil have now lost five games on the bounce in League Two; a loss against Forest Green would see them lose six in a row for the first time since April 2015, when they were relegated from League One.
o Forest Green have dropped 20 points from winning positions in League Two this season, only league-dwellers Notts County (24) have given up more points in this fashion.
Our view
There is no better time to play Yeovil than at this moment. The Glovers are in terrible form, were woeful against Oldham and look bereft of confidence. Good thing for the Green Devils who need a win following defeat at Swindon.
Mark Cooper’s side were undone by two quick breaks and just couldn’t find a way back into the game.
Yeovil’s manager Darren Way is feeling the heat from the fans but with Omar Sowunmi back in training confidence, according to the manager, remains high.
He said: “Me being me, I’ve got absolutely no problem as far as motivating players goes. At the moment what we’ve got to try and do is to execute the game plan for 90 plus minutes, so the players don’t lose their concentration and focus.”
Despite Way’s positive mind frame I would be very surprised if his side could get anything from a trip to Gloucestershire this weekend.
PREDICTION: 3-0 Forest Green
GRIMSBY v CHELTENHAM
o Including play-offs, Grimsby have won just one of their last eight Football League meetings with Cheltenham Town (D2 L5), a 3-2 victory in October 2017.
o Cheltenham’s five previous visits to Grimsby in League Two have only seen a combined six goals (three for both side), with both winning once and drawing the other three such meetings.
o Grimsby have won three successive league games after a run of four successive losses, scoring seven goals and conceding once in this streak.
o Cheltenham have lost each of their last three away games in League Two, failing to score in each – they haven’t lost four successive league games in a single season since April 2012 (six losses).
o Cheltenham have conceded six goals via penalties this season, no League Two side have conceded more goals in this manner.
Our view
With Cheltenham’s purple patch well and truly over they head to Blundell Park with their sleeves rolled up ready to battle. A very poor showing at Colchester, in which the Robins couldn’t muster a shot on target, will have got fans looking over their shoulders.
It is imperative, therefore, that they try and start on the front foot on Saturday. Easy said than done with Grimsby on a run of three straight wins and they have pulled it off in some style.
Some of the football they played at Yeovil was excellent and Michael Jolley is really starting to get this Mariners team playing in the manner he would want. Plumbing for another win for the home side here.
PREDICTION: 2-1 Grimsby
LINCOLN v STEVENAGE
o Lincoln have won each of their last three league games against Stevenage since the beginning of last season.
o This will be Stevenage’s third visit to Sincil Bank in League Two; they won their first 1-0 in September 2010 before losing 0-3 in this exact fixture last season.
o Lincoln have lost just one of their 15 home league games this season (W9 D5), with a current unbeaten of 11 games (W6 D5); no team is on a longer run at home in the division (Bury also 11).
o Stevenage haven’t recorded a draw in any of their last 10 league games, winning five and losing five.
o Stevenage have scored 14 headed league goals in 2018-19 – the most of any League Two side this season.
Our view
The Imps face Stevenage at Sincil Bank having not won in their last three games. They are, however, unbeaten in eight which is more important given their lead at the top of the League Two table and the fact that others around them are also faltering.
Stevenage will be a tough game with former Imps stopper Paul Farman returning to Sincil Bank for the first time since his move last summer. He will be up against Michael Bostwick and Tom Pett who both plied their trade for the Hertfordshire club in the past.
Even with the play-offs in sight, I can’t see an upset happening here though it wouldn’t surprise me to see the away side snatch a point. Regardless I see the Imps increasing their lead at the summit in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0 Lincoln
MACCLESFIELD v COLCHESTER
o Macclesfield will host Colchester in a Football League contest for the first time since March 1999, a 2-0 win for the Silkmen.
o Colchester have only lost one of their five previous Football League meetings with Macclesfield, winning two and drawing two.
o Sol Campbell has picked up nine points from his six home league games in charge of Macclesfield (W2 D3 L1), as many as his predecessors did in their opening 10 home league games this season.
o Colchester have won successive league games for the fourth time this season, they haven’t won three in a row since April 2018.
o Macclesfield have conceded at least three goals in three successive games in the Football League for the first time since April 2011 – they have never conceded as many in four games on the bounce at this level.
Our view
Colchester have found their mojo again. The Essex club have a really nice balance to the squad right now with Abo Eisa particularly impressing of the January signings.
John McGreal will not be taking a trip to Moss Rose lightly after playing Sol Campbell during the former England defenders first game in charge back in December.
“We played them in December, when Sol was taking charge for the first time, and despite our win, you could see that he was already getting something different from their players,” he said.
“Since then, they have picked up points to get them nearer the teams above them, and showed great resilience in getting a draw against Crewe after being behind three times in the game last week.
“We know it will be a tough game but we’ll be looking for the three points just like we do in every other game.”
The Silkmen have not won in their last three and have conceded three goals in each of those games which is why I expect a resurgent Colchester to take the points in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-1 Colchester
NORTHAMPTON v CRAWLEY
o Northampton have won each of their last three league meetings with Crawley Town.
o This will be Crawley Town’s first away league visit to Northampton since a 2-1 loss in April 2016 under Mark Yates.
o Five of Northampton’s last seven home league fixtures have ended in a score draw (W1 L1).
o Since winning successive games at the start of 2019, Crawley have won just one of the following six league games (D1 L4).
o Northampton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 league games, though Crawley have failed to score in three of their last five games.
Our view
Neither of these sides have been much of a muchness this season and this game already has the feeling that their might not be much to play for. Crawley are just one point behind the Cobblers in mid-table though neither are completely safe from being dragged into the relegation dogfight.
The away side are awful on the road with the fifth worst record in the division having only picked up 11 points on their travels.
Northampton are very inconsistent, drawing more games (14) than any other side in the division this season. I fully expect this trend to continue here with both sides hardly clinical in front of goal.
PREDICTION: 0-0 draw
OLDHAM v CREWE
o Oldham have won each of their last three fixtures against Crewe in all competitions without conceding a goal in any of them.
o Crewe haven’t kept a clean sheet away at Oldham in the league since March 1953 in a 1-0 win; they have conceded at least once in each of their 21 visits since (W4 D4 L13).
o Oldham are looking to win three league games in a row for the first time since October 2017 in League One.
o Crewe have earned 14 points from their last six league games (W4 D2 L0) – only Bury (also 14) have won as many points from their last half dozen games.
o No League Two side has scored more goals from long range than Oldham this season (10). Indeed, each of their last two goals have come from outside the box.
Our view
Paul Scholes may have got off to a winning start but he can expect a much sterner test against the in-form Railwaymen. Crewe have won six of their last nine games to give fan real hope of a late play-off charge.
They beat Carlisle in mid-week and can take confidence from that game into the clash at Boundary Park. David Artell thinks the previous meeting between the two sides was just an ‘off-night’ for his side and is hoping to make amends this weekend.
“Oldham showed up really well against our place and deserved to win the game but we had an off-night,” he told the club website.
“That type of performance hasn’t happened a lot at home this season.”
“I think it will be two slightly different teams this weekend. We are in good form and they have a new manager. I’m sure Paul will have his own ideas and it should be a really good game. If we play to our potential we will see how we get on.”
Oldham put four past Yeovil on Tuesday and will be looking to continue with the attacking threat offered to them from midfield. It should be a good game with a few goals to boot.
PREDICTION: 2-2 draw
PORT VALE v MORECAMBE
o Since beating Morecambe 7-2 in April 2011, Port Vale are winless and goalless in three home league games against the Shrimps (D1 L2).
o Morecambe have won only once in their last six league games against Port Vale (D3 L2), a 1-0 win in February 2013.
o Port Vale have scored just one goal in their last five league games, failing to score in each of their last three – they haven’t failed to score in four successive leagues games since September 2017 (five games).
o Morecambe are winless in their last eight league games (D4 L4) – the longest current run in the division without a victory.
o Port Vale have taken the lead in just 10 games this season – no League Two side has done so fewer times. Nonetheless, they are unbeaten on each of those occasions (W8 D2 L0).
Our view
This is a huge game for John Askey and Jim Bentley. Both sides are embroiled in a relegation battle with Vale sliding down the table, a factor that led to the dismissal of previous boss Neal Aspin.
Askey’s men played quite well at the Abbey in a 1-0 defeat to Cambridge last weekend but need to find a way of getting players into scoring positions more often.
Morecambe, like last season, are in big trouble. They haven’t won in eight and have won just once in the last 13 in the league. They sit one point above the relegation places but often do well against those teams in and around them.
I would not be surprised if we saw a typical Morecambe performance here with a smash and grab three points in a relegation six-pointer.
PREDICTION: 2-1 Morecambe
Words James Richards, D3D4 Football
