There are three important games on the schedule in League Two this mid-week and they could all factor in the end of season outcomes for those involved. Have a read of our preview and predictions here:
FOREST GREEN v MANSFIELD
This is the game of the evening in League Two with both sides gunning for automatic promotion. Forest Green play some lovely football and beat Mansfield at the New Lawn last season but the Stags are a far stronger prospect right now.
They have bounced back from those consecutive defeats to win against Colchester and Tranmere scoring six in the process. The new signings have been very impressive and make this squad the envy of even some League One teams.
If the Stags can keep a lid on Reece Brown and keep Christian Doidge off the scoresheet them I back them to win but I can’t see them finding that easy.
Even so I am going to say that Mansfield will win this but in a game that will be end to end and full of goals.
STATS:
Both of the two previous meetings between Forest Green and Mansfield in League Two have finished as 2-0 wins for the home side.
Reuben Reid and Dayle Grubb scored the goals for Forest Green in Mansfield’s only previous visit to the New Lawn in League Two as Rovers won 2-0.
Forest Green have kept two clean sheets in their last four home games in League Two, as many as they had in their previous 13 combined.
Mansfield have won each of their last three games in League Two, and are looking to record four consecutive league wins for the first time since February 2017.
Mansfield striker Tyler Walker has scored in each of his last three appearances in League Two – he’s never previously netted in four consecutive league games.
PREDICTION: 3-2 Mansfield
MK DONS v OLDHAM
Despite the recent slump there can be no doubt about the quality Paul Tisdale has to call upon. Adding David Wheeler is a massive deal for the Buckinghamshire outfit and he could be an important player as they look to reignite their automatic promotion push.
They face an Oldham side who are expecting to announce Paul Scholes as the new manager any time now, the former Manchester United midfielder is looking for assurances that chairman Abdullah Lemsagam will not interfere with first team selection.
The Latics are still in with a shout at the play-offs but you feel they will need to pick up a result here if that is to remain a realistic target. What they club really needs is a spell of stability so that they can build something and any new manager needs time to do that.
Paul Tisdale will almost certainly be given that by his chairman and I fully expect them to get back on the winning trail in this one.
STATS:
MK Dons have won seven of their last nine league games against Oldham (D1 L1), scoring 23 goals in those nine meetings.
Oldham have managed to win just one of their 11 away Football League matches versus MK Dons (D4 L6), a 1-0 victory in January 2006.
After losing just two of their first 21 games of the 2018-19 league campaign (W12 D7), MK Dons have since lost five of their last seven (W1 D1)
Oldham have picked up just two wins in their last 10 away games in League Two (D4 L4), conceding nine goals over the most recent three.
MK Dons striker Kieran Agard has netted 11 goals in League Two this season, and is just one goal shy of equaling his best season tally in league competition for the club (12 in 2016-17)
PREDICTION: 2-1 MK Dons
NEWPORT v PORT VALE
Newport return from their cup exploits hoping to avoid a hangover after grabbing a late equaliser on Teeside. They are very good at Rodney Parade, relying heavily on their home form to keep them within touching distance of the play-off places. Just one win in seven in the league has seen them fall away in recent weeks but a battling 1-0 victory over Exeter City last time out will have raised confidence levels.
Port Vale could do with some of that too as the Burslem outfit are being dragged dangerously towards the bottom two after winning just one of their last nine games in League Two. They will be without Tom Pope again and have been unable to secure the services of a striker to bolster their chances in this one.
STATS:
Newport County’s only win in their last six Football League meetings with Port Vale (D2 L3) was the reverse clash in September this season (2-1); they have never previously done the double over them in the Football League
Port Vale have won just one of their last nine visits to Newport in the Football League (D5 L3), a 2-0 victory in December 1986.
Following their 1-0 win over Exeter last time out in League Two, Newport are looking to record back-to-back wins in league competition for the first time since September 2018.
Port Vale have won just one of their last nine games in League Two (D4 L4), although that lone victory did come in their most recent away game (1-0 at Crawley)
Since the start of last season, Newport striker Padraig Amond has been directly involved in 32 league goals (24 goals and eight assists); more than twice as many as any other player at the club.
PREDICTION: 1-0 Newport
words James Richards, D3D4 Football