LEAGUE TWO PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS

MANSFIELD v NOTTS COUNTY

Neal Ardley faces a tough test at Field Mill in the early kick-off. His side have shipped more goals than any other side in League Two and in Mansfield they face a side with plenty of attacking options. Tyler Walker has looked a bit jaded in recent performances but is the stand out threat in this side yet Otis Khan, a man who has created more chances than all but one player in the division, is now back in the side and will need to be watched carefully. County will be hoping that Nathan Thomas will provide the creative spark with Boldewijn out injured but it could be a long afternoon for the Magpies.

PREDICTION: 3-1 Mansfield

BURY v EXETER

Bury are making a real claim for a place in the top three this season with some free scoring performances catching the imagination of a fanbase desperate to put last season behind them. Exeter are on the slide but performances have not been bad by any stretch of the imagination. They face a hard task in keeping Danny Mayor, Nicky Adams and Nicky Maynard in check not to mention Jay O’Shea who has contributed to six goals in his last four appearances. Jayden Stockley remains the Grecians biggest threat but any result should be seen as a bonus at Gigg Lane.

PREDICTION: 2-0 Bury

CHELTENHAM v GRIMSBY

Michael Duff may be improving the Robins but the same can be said for Michael Jolley’s Mariners. Neither side will be challenging at the top end of the table and Cheltenham should be more concerned about staying up. Home form has been the problem with Whaddon Road anything but a fortress. Grimsby will be in buoyant after thrashing high-flying Tranmere but I think this one will be an attritional game with few chances.

PREDICTION: 0-0 draw

COLCHESTER v MACCLESFIELD

Talk about a tough start. Sol Campbell takes his side, with the worst away record in the league, to the side with the best home record. Colchester’s performances at the Jobserve Stad have led to some high scoring, free-flowing football. This will be Campbell’s first real test – stopping a U’s side that even Lincoln failed to. It should be an interesting tenure for Sol but I’m not willing to back him in this one.

PREDICTION: 2-0 Colchester

CRAWLEY v NORTHAMPTON

Crawley have only won once in their last five but home form is still pretty decent and vital to their success this season. They face a Cobblers side that have only lost twice in Keith Curle’s 10 game tenure thus far. I’m still not rushing to back either of these two to make a play-off run but feel they are both solid League Two sides who, with a good January, could build in the second half of the season.

PREDICTION: 1-1 draw

CREWE v OLDHAM

Oldham’s injury concerns in midfield have been filled by an improving Mohamed Maouche. The French-Algerian midfielder is starting to show he can cut it in the hustle and bustle of League Two. They need him to be a big presences against a Crewe side who really lack bite in midfield but have a talented player in Callum Ainley. Crewe fans appear to be losing patience with David Artell but two wins in the last three including an impressive 3-2 win against Tranmere will have bought him more time. I think Frankie Bunn is doing well despite having his detractors and can see the Latics nicking the points in this one.

PREDICTION: 2-1 Oldham

MILTON KEYNES v CARLISLE

Despite Carlisle being better on the road I am not going as far as to back them at Stadium MK. It has become an impressive fortress for Paul Tisdale’s side with no side able to beat Milton Keynes there and only three teams escaping with a point. The Cumbrians have some good players especially in the middle of the park but they lack the consistency needed to be a top side in League Two this season and will struggle to get anything on Saturday.

PREDICTION: 2-1 MK Dons

MORECAMBE v PORT VALE

Morecambe are one of those sides that pull a result out of the hat just when they need to. The rest of the time they like to put their supporters through all sorts of grief. Port Vale are as up and down as a camel’s back but have enough steel in the side this season to go to places like Morecambe and get three points which is exactly what I am backing them to do here.

PREDICTION: 1-0 Port Vale

STEVENAGE v LINCOLN

This is a massive game for both sides. It is a chance for Stevenage to prove they are real contenders in the play-off race while Lincoln need to get back to winning ways after picking three points just once in the last six league outings. The FA Cup win should be enough to get the Imps back into the winning habit which recent performances really have deserved. Dino Maamria has built a good side at Stevenage and the win over Milton Keynes just goes to prove it, however, I am backing Lincoln to come through this one with the win.

PREDICTION: 3-1 Lincoln

SWINDON v NEWPORT

Wellens will have been hugely disappointed to see his side exit the FA Cup to non-league Woking especially after a good display saw the Robins beat Stevenage. It will take the former Oldham boss time to mould this side into the fast passing outfit he aims for. Newport keep defying every expectation by keeping pace with the front-runners. They have an excellent mentality and never appear to let set-backs phase them though saying that I think this one will end all square.

PREDICTION: 2-2 draw

TRANMERE v CAMBRIDGE

The Rovers steam train has slowed down in the last few games with no wins in the last three for Micky Mellon’s men. They face a Cambridge side that decided to sack Joe Dunne this week and have brought in David Oldfield as head coach on a temporary basis. I can’t see this having a positive effect on the U’s and think their struggles will continue at Prenton Park. The Super White Army have more than enough to win this one and that is who I am backing on Saturday.

PREDICTION: 2-0 Tranmere

YEOVIL v FOREST GREEN

The Glovers are in a right mess and results have spiralled quickly down a negative path after such a good opening to the season. One win in 11 games since thrashing Newport has seen reality hit supporters square in the chops like a cold fish. This is relegation form and they need to react quickly. Injuries played a big part in unsettling a back line who looked so solid in the early fixtures but against the expansive style of the Green Devils, it is hard to see Yeovil pulling themselves out of the slump this weekend.

PREDICTION: 3-0 Forest Green

words James Richards, D3D4 Football