Here is a look ahead to all the games in League Two this weekend with John Askey looking to get his Vale tenure off to a flyer and Carlisle facing Exeter in the hunt for promotion. Read on to find out more:
CAMBRIDGE v PORT VALE
o Cambridge United have lost five of their last six league games against Port Vale (W1), having won three of their previous four (D1).
o Port Vale have lost six of their eight visits to Cambridge in the English Football League (W2), including a 5-0 defeat in their last encounter in May 2018.
o Cambridge have won back-to-back home league games; they last won three in a row within the same season in September 2017.
o Port Vale are unbeaten in six away league games (W2 D4), their longest such run on their travels since February 2013 (nine without defeat – W5 D4).
o No side has conceded more goals from corners in League Two this season than Port Vale (nine – level with Notts County).
Our view
John Askey has the task of reversing Vale’s recent slump when they travel to fellow struggles Cambridge this weekend. The new man will take encouragement from a battling 0-0 at Newport in the last game despite being down to 10 men.
Striker Tom Pope could be back after returning to training following a hamstring injury and he believes John Aksey’s appointment has given the team a boost.
“People have got a clean slate really, so lads that have been frozen out or not involved as much as they’d like, have been given a boost. Training has certainly kicked on – a lot more intensity,” he told the club website.
“With any manager, they come in and give it a breath of fresh air. Lads that have been playing week-in week-out, have now got to impress the manager to make sure they do the same.”
Cambridge have shown signs of life under Colin Calderwood after three wins in their last four games. They are just a point behind the Valiants and will be targeting this match as a ‘must-win’ yet I see this one ending all square.
PREDICTION: 1-1 draw
CARLISLE v EXETER
o Carlisle have won three of their last five home league games against Exeter (L2), having only won one of their previous seven against them (D2 L4).
o Exeter are unbeaten in their last three League Two games against Carlisle (W2 D1), having failed to win any of their previous four (D1 L3).
o Carlisle have won eight of their last nine league games (L1), picking up 24 points, five more than any other side in League Two over their last nine games, with opponents Exeter in second with 19 points from their last nine.
o Exeter are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back away league defeats for the first time since Janaury 2018, when they lost five in succession on the road.
o Exeter’s Jonathan Forte has had a hand in five goals in his last four league starts against Carlisle, scoring three and assisting two.
Our View
The Cumbrians will be looking at the next four games as season defining. They have been on such an impressive run yet have to prove they can continue in that vein without George Sowerby, Ashley Nadesan and Jerry Yates, all who returned to their parent clubs in January. If the new recruits can step up then Carlisle should cement a place in the play-offs.
Exeter can do exactly the same if they pick up a result at Brunton Park. In fact, they can overtake their hosts with a win following back-to-back victories over Cambridge and MK Dons. Nicky Law has been in inspired form and his battle in midfield with Kelvin Ethuhu will be one to watch.
Carlisle manager Steven Pressley is aware of the danger the Grecians pose in midfield with Law, in particular, the focus of his attention.
“They have a lot of creation in their team with Lee Martin on one side, who is very dangerous, and Nicky Law is a fantastic player who can unlock defences and score goals. He’s always very prominent in every aspect of their attacking play,” he told the club website.
This one will be hard to call but I refuse to sit on the fence here and see the Blues edging it.
PREDCITION: 2-1 Carlisle
COLCHESTER v CHELTENHAM
o This will be the 10th league encounter between Colchester and Cheltenham, with the U’s having scored in each of the previous nine games (18 – averaging two goals per game).
o Cheltenham won this exact fixture last season (4-1), scoring double the amount of goals (4) they managed in their previous three league visits to Colchester combined (2).
o Colchester are without a win in four home league games (D2 L2), last going longer without a victory on home soil in March 2016, a run off 11 matches.
o Cheltenham have won their last two league fixtures and are looking to win three on the bounce for the first time since October 2017.
o Colchester’s Brennan Dickenson has scored in each of his last three Football League appearances against Cheltenham (three goals); against no other side has he netted more in the EFL.
Our view
Luke Varney is a man in form and his goals have helped the Robins pick up some important results this season. They face a Colchester side fresh from a dominant performance against Northampton in the last game.
Both Mickael Mandron and Courtney Senior could be a doubt for the clash but John McGreal has plenty of options after the new signings made an impact at Sixfields.
“It’s brilliant for a manager when new signings make an immediate impact,” he said.
“It gives me something to think about again coming up to this weekend because those boys want to come and play and if you look at it, certain individuals certainly raised their game knowing that.”
Cheltenham still need points but back-to-back wins against relegation rivals Macclesfield and Yeovil have shown that the side has enough to avoid the drop though a trip to Colchester won’t be easy.
PREDICTION: 3-1 Colchester
CRAWLEY v OLDHAM
o Crawley are never lost at home to Oldham in the league, winning two of their three encounters (D1), conceding just one goal in those games.
o Oldham are looking to complete their first league double over Crawley after winning the reverse fixture earlier in the season at Boundary Park (2-1).
o Crawley have lost four of their last seven home league games (W3), this after having lost none of their previous seven (W5 D2).
o Oldham have lost each of their last three matches in all competitions, last losing more in a row when they lost each of their opening five games of the 2017-18 campaign.
o Oldham have conceded a league-low two goals in the final 15 minutes of their games this season.
Our view
A long journey south for the Latics will be an important one if they are to stand any chance of a late play-off push. Crawley have improved in the last couple of games, taking four points from trips to Swindon and Bury.
Midfielder Dannie Bulman is hoping the Reds can take the momentum from those results into the game this weekend.
“We are raring the go and it’s a perfect opportunity to get three points on the board after a good couple of games away from home,” the midfielder said.
“After our poor away form, to come away from two tough games at Bury and Swindon with four points is a massive boost for us. There is a real belief in this squad now that we can beat anyone and that must start with Oldham. They are a good side and their manager has done a good job on a temporary basis.”
There’s still no news on when Oldham will announce their new manager, with Paul Scholes still the heavy favourite. The Latics haven’t won in three after back-to-back defeats has left them 11 points off the top seven but a win here could be a big ask.
PREDICTION: 1-1 draw
FOREST GREEN v NOTTS COUNTY
o In what will be their fourth league encounter, Forest Green will be looking to complete a league double over Notts County, having won the reverse fixture back in September 2018 (3-1).
o Notts County were victorious in this exact fixture in March 2018 (2-1), their only ever visit to Forest Green in the Football League.
o Forest Green have lost only once in their last 10 league games (W6 D3), a 1-2 reverse at home to Bury in January.
o Notts County’s tally of 22 points from their 30 league games this season is their poorest at this stage of a Football League campaign since 1984-85, when they had 21 points from 30 games en route to relegation from the second tier.
o Notts County have lost 24 points from leading positions whilst gaining just two from trailing positions in this season; both the poorest such records in League Two 2018-19.
The Green Devils are just waiting for their chance to climb into the automatic promotion places. They have been in very solid form all season after only just avoiding the drop in 2017/18.
Our view
Mark Cooper has a squad full of talented, technically good, players and will target a visit of the league’s bottom club as a 3-point-banker.
Neal Ardley faces an almost impossible job to keep County in the EFL. They have more options after doing business in January with the manager hoping that will be a decisive factor as they attempt to turn their fortunes around.
“Now we have players fit and options on the bench we have enough to cause anyone problems,” said the boss.
“We’ve got Kane Hemmings, Enzio Boldewijn and Lewis Alessandra back and added Craig Mackail-Smith and Virgil Gomis, too.
“We’ve got lads who can beat people one-v-one, whereas previously we only had Jon Stead and Kristian Dennis to choose from – and they aren’t that type of player.”
Even with more options, Forest Green will be a hard place to go. They have only lost once in the last 10 and I see them taking the points again here.
PREDICTION: 2-0 FGR
LINCOLN v NORTHAMPTON
o Having failed to win in their previous seven league matches against Northampton (D3 L4), Lincoln ran out 1-0 winners in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
o Northampton have won just once in their last 12 visits to Lincoln in league football (D6 L5), with that win coming in their most recent such encounter (2-0 in November 2010).
o Lincoln’s current 10-match unbeaten league run at home is their best in the Football League since September 2006, when they went 19 without a loss (W8 D11).
o After their 2-1 win at Tranmere in midweek, Northampton are looking to win back-to-back away league matches for the first time since November 2017.
o Lincoln have benefitted from more own goals (four) than any other side in League Two this season.
Our view
Northampton’s season looks to be over as they are probably not going to be in either a relegation battle or a play-off chase. They travel to Sincil Bank off the back of an excellent mid-week win over Tranmere at Prenton Park which was the perfect response to the terrible performance at home to Colchester last weekend.
Lincoln are flying high but will still be disappointed they could only get a point at Notts County last Saturday. With Mansfield coming on strong it is important for the Imps not to take their foot off the gas.
I’m not expecting them to find the Cobblers too much of a problem and with more depth available than they have had all season it is likely to be a case of another three points for the league leaders in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0 Lincoln
MACCLESFIELD v CREWE
o Macclesfield will face Crewe at home in the league for just the fourth time; the Silkmen are unbeaten in their previous three (W2 D1).
o Crewe won the revere fixture back in September (3-0), having failed to win any of their previous five such matches against Macclesfield in the league (D2 L3).
o Macclesfield have lost back-to-back league games for the first time under Sol Campbell, last doing so in a run of four straight defeats between October-November 2018 when Danny Whitaker and Neil Howarth were in joint-caretaker charge.
o Crewe have won each of their last three league games; they last won four in a row within the same EFL season back in March 2012.
o Since Sol Campbell’s first league game in charge of Macclesfield in December 2018, only Tyler Walker (eight) and Jay O’Shea (seven) have scored more goals in League Two than the Silkmen’s Scott Wilson (six).
Our view
The Silkmen need to start picking up points and return to the defensive solidity that they showed in Sol Campbell’s first six weeks in charge. Two defeats on the bounce, shipping six goals in the process, has left club stuck in the relegation zone.
Crewe have been the in-form team of late after it looked as though they could be sucked into the mire near the bottom. Four games unbeaten including three straight wins has got fans talking about a possible play-off charge which, with nine points to make up, could be a stretch too far for the Railwaymen.
Crewe’s away form is pretty awful, only bottom club Notts County have worst record on the road, so I can see the home side taking full advantage.
PREDICTION: 1-0 Silkmen
MK DONS v SWINDON
o MK Dons have won five of their last six home league games against Swindon (D1), scoring at least twice in all five victories.
o Swindon are winless in eight league games against MK Dons, last tasting victory in a 1-0 home win in League One in August 2012.
o MK Dons have lost four of their last five league games (W1), as many as they had lost in their opening 25 League Two matches this season beforehand (W13 D8 L4).
o Swindon Town are the only side in the top four tiers of English football to have had 100% of their league goals this season scored by English players (excluding own goals).
o MK Dons have scored seven penalties in the league this season; only Charlton Athletic (nine) have netted more from the spot in the EFL.
Our view
Paul Tisdale needs a result like a starving rabbit needs a carrot. The recent slump has put even a play-off place at risk despite having one of the strongest squads in League Two.
Four defeats in the last five has seen them clinging to a top seven berth and a slip up against the Robins could see them fall out of the play-off spots altogether.
Swindon appear to be building ahead of next season but the addition of Theo Robinson might be the solution to their goal scoring problems that Richie Wellens was looking for.
“They’ve (MK Dons) got players (strikers) that have played at a higher level and I said the other week, we’re two points behind Tranmere but their top scorer is on 21 goals,” said the former Oldham boss.
“Hopefully, now we’ve got Theo Robinson, it’ll be a breath of fresh air in that regard. He scored yesterday in a practice match and he’s different to what we’ve got.”
Even so, it is hard to see them taking anything back to Wiltshire especially if Tisdale can get his side firing again.
PREDICTION: 2-1 MK Dons
MORECAMBE v BURY
o Morecambe have only lost one of their six previous home league games against Bury (W3 D2), keeping clean sheets in four of those games.
o Bury won the reverse fixture earlier this season (3-2), having lost three of their previous four league games against Morecambe (D1).
o Morecambe have won just one of their last 12 league games (D6 L5); indeed, only bottom-placed Notts County (eight) have accrued fewer points in their last 12 League Two matches than the Shrimps (nine).
o Bury are looking to go 10 games unbeaten across all competitions for the first time since May 2009 (currently P9 W6 D3 L0).
o A league-high 18 of Bury’s 59 league goals this season have come in the final 15 minutes of their matches; four more than any other club in this period.
Our view
Morecambe will be looking over their shoulders big time after failing to win any of their last seven games in League Two. They just don’t seem to be able to make the most of their opportunities, scoring just five goals in that run.
Bury are the complete opposite. They have scored more goals than any side in the division and have several players on double figures. Ryan Lowe should be looking at their trip to the Globe as a big chance to pick up three points after a frustrating draw against Crawley last time out.
Ryan Lowe deserved his Manager of the Month Award and it is unlikely he or his team will be effected by the so called ‘curse’ this weekend.
PREDICTION: 4-1 Bury
NEWPORT v MANSFIELD
o Newport have won just one of their last 13 league games against Mansfield, (D2 L10), courtesy of a 1-0 home win in February 2016.
o Mansfield have won eight of their 11 encounters with Newport in the fourth tier this century, losing just once (D2).
o Newport have only lost one of their last 15 home games in all competitions (W10 D4), a 1-4 defeat against Forest Green in League Two on Boxing Day 2018.
o Mansfield have only gone down to one defeat in their last 18 away league games (W7 D10), a 2-3 loss at Carlisle in January.
o Mansfield’s Tyler Walker has been directly involved in six goals (5 goals, 1 assist) from eight games in 2019, more than any other player in League Two this calendar year so far.
Our view
The Exiles may well be struggling in the league but beating sides further up the football-league-ladder in the FA Cup hasn’t been a problem.
A convincing win over Middlesbrough should give Mike Flynn’s side a huge confidence boost as they welcome second place Mansfield.
One win in nine has seen Newport drift well out of play-off contention but they will be keen to halt the slide after such a positive showing in the cup. Mansfield are just flying. The Stags have a squad full of talent which would be the envy of some side in League One so you expect them to be confident.
Even after four wins in the last five, Rodney Parade is no easy place to go and that could factor in the result.
PREDICTION: 1-1 draw
TRANMERE v STEVENAGE
o Five of the nine league games between Tranmere and Stevenage have ended in draws (two wins each), with each of the last three all ending 2-2.
o Stevenage are winless in four league encounters away from home at Tranmere (D2 L2), conceding at least twice in three of those games.
o Tranmere’s three-match losing streak is their poorest of the season; indeed, no other side is on a longer ongoing losing run in League Two (level with Yeovil).
o Stevenage, 2-1 winners at Morecambe in their last away league outing, haven’t won back-to-back away games in League Two since September 2017.
o Stevenage have scored 39% of their goals (14/35) via headers in League Two this season, more than any other team.
Our view
Dino has got his Boro side on the charge and a game against a side just one place behind them in the table will be a test of their play-off credentials.
A poor showing on Tuesday saw Tranmere lose at home to Northampton making their chances of a top seven finish even more remote yet they have the division’s top scorer in their ranks and should not be taken lightly.
Given the fact that Stevenage have won four of the last six in the league it is hard to back against them, however, it is more likely that this one will end all square.
PREDICTION: 1-1 draw
YEOVIL v GRIMSBY
o Yeovil have beaten Grimsby in each of their last two league meetings, keeping clean sheets in both games.
o Grimsby have never won at Huish Park in the EFL (D1 L2), scoring just once in those three games.
o Yeovil have managed to win only once in their last 12 home league games (D5 L6), a 2-0 win over bottom side Notts County in January.
o After losing four straight league contests without scoring a goal at the start of 2019, Grimsby have since won their last two without conceding; they haven’t won three straight Football League matches while keeping a clean sheet in all of them since March 2007.
o Jordan Cook scored a brace for Grimsby against Newport last time out; he had scored just two goals across his previous 34 league appearances before that match.
Our view
The Mariners face the trip of the day in League Two as they take on Yeovil. The Glovers are in a relegation battle again after such a good start this season.
The loss of key players didn’t help the club who, the manager admits, have a very young squad but is hoping the January additions can gel quickly.
“I feel we’re two games in with the new players and that’s going to take time to gel, other clubs have probably not got to deal with the amount of turnover,” Darren Way told iFollow Glovers.
“We’ve got the youngest team, or have played the youngest team, in all top four divisions so that needs managing and as I’ve said the objective is to stay in the Football League and that’s not changed for me in the last three years.”
Grimsby head south following back-to-back wins and could still be in with a play-off chance, though, manager Micheal Jolley admitted he isn’t paying much attention to the league table.
“We’re not paying attention to the table – we’re just concentrating on playing Yeovil because that’s all we can really affect,” he said.
“So we’ll look at Yeovil’s strengths and weaknesses and try pick the team that gives us the best chance of getting a good result down there.”
Neither side score many goals and so a single strike may be enough for either side and I expect the Mariners to just edge this one.
PREDICTION: 1-0 Grimsby
Words James Richards, D3D4 Football