The frantic action of the League One season continues as we head into Easter Monday, approaching the end of the season. Ipswich continued their fine run of form with yet another four-goal win and pushed themselves into the automatic promotion spots, at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday who now sit third after drawing at Oxford United, continuing a dismal run which has seen them winless in six. Plymouth Argyle took the top spot as they fought from behind at troubled Morecambe.
Cheltenham Town were in fine form before they travelled to Lincoln, with a run of clean sheets and an unbeaten run. It was not enough for the Robins though, with Ben House netting twice against them to resign them to their first defeat in six. The Robins meet a team in surreal form, with Ipswich last conceding a goal in February in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Forest Green Rovers will continue their desperate fight for survival as they travel to Wycombe, who have not yet given up on reaching the play-offs. The Gloucestershire club sit at the bottom, some way off safety, with it looking like it needs a miracle to pull off.
While Sheffield Wednesday looks to get their form back on track as they welcome struggling Accrington Stanley. The Owls will be looking to capitalise on the poor form of their opponents, but relegation opponents have already caused them issues, the side even losing to Forest Green. Many fans feel their chance is now gone, while also blaming the lack of activity in the January transfer window.
Charlton Athletic vs Burton Albion, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, The Valley
Charlton has had a topsy-turvy season, the highlight being their 6-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town a few weeks ago. The side sits comfortably in 12th position, at this moment they are just playing for pride and can certainly be happy with their season at the end. Their opposition, however, are in danger, sitting six points clear of the relegation zone it is no immediate danger, but the teams below them do have games in hand.
Ones to watch
Steven Sessegnon
The Premier League defender, currently on loan from Fulham has only found the net once this season, but this does not mean he is not a danger to the Brewers’ defence.
Dale Taylor
Taylor was the hero on Good Friday as he scored Burton’s second goal which confirmed victory for the side over high-flying Barnsley, Brewers fans will be hoping he can step up again.
Form
Charlton Athletic: WWDWL
Goals scored: 13
Goals conceded: 4
Burton Albion: WLWDW
Goals scored: 9
Goals conceded: 9
Previous meeting
Burton Albion 3-3 Charlton Athletic
Deja Oshilaja 38′ Tom Hamer 45′ Victor Adeboyejo 58′ Charlie Kirk 26′ 36′ Jesurun Rak-Sakyi 75′
Barnsley vs Shrewsbury, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Oakwell Stadium
Barnsley were disappointed last time out as they fell to defeat at a Burton Albion side who have picked up their form in recent weeks, lifting themselves clear of the relegation zone. For Michael Duff’s men, they have been chasing promotion and defeat on Friday meant they slipped a little further behind the pack. Four defeats in their last five have seen Shrewsbury fall way behind the play-off places, leaving them sat in 10th currently, with moving up looking to be a difficult task.
Ones to watch
Herbie Kane
The midfielder has shown his ability to find the back of the net this season and has even cropped up with important goals.
Chey Dunkley
The 31-year-old has not missed a game this season and has even found the back of the net five times for the club.
Form
Barnsley- WWLWL
Goals scored- 12
Goals conceded- 7
Shrewsbury Town- LWLLL
Goals scored- 4
Goals conceded- 14
Previous meeting
Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Barnsley
Adam Phillips 10′
Derby County vs MK Dons, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Pride Park Stadium
Derby County took a step towards getting back into the playoffs on Friday, but do need results to start going their way for them to get back in those spots. Meanwhile, MK Dons got themselves a draw against a strong Portsmouth side who were looking to pull off an impossible task. The Dons are not safe just yet, but they do have the best form of the teams involved in the relegation battle.
Ones to watch
David McGoldrick
The veteran striker was on the scoresheet Friday against Forest Green and looks to add more to his tally and lift the Rams into the next division.
Will Grigg
Another veteran striker here, looking to save his side from the drop, so far they look good value to avoid it.
Form
Derby County: WLLLW
Goals scored- 5
Goals conceded- 8
MK Dons: WWWDD
Goals scored- 6
Goals conceded- 3
Previous meeting
MK Dons 1-3 Derby County
Louie Barry 41′ Hayden Roberts 43′ James Collins 53′ Nathaniel Mendez-Laing 79′
Port Vale vs Oxford United, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Vale Park
Port Vale go into this fixture six points clear of their opponents. Oxford currently sit just two points above the final relegation spot in the league and know they need points to keep themselves out of the drop zone. A win for the visitors here could leave Vale in all kinds of trouble. With both teams winless in their last five, this is the kind of game that is all or nothing in the fight for survival. The most interesting factor in this game is Matt Taylor, who scored twice in the last meeting but has since joined Port Vale on loan.
Ones to watch
Aaron Donnelly
The 19-year-old has spent this season on loan from Nottingham Forest. During that time, he has managed one goal and one assist in 14 appearances.
Kyle Joseph
On loan from Swansea, he has bagged seven goals in his 30 appearances for Oxford so far.
Form
Port Vale: DLDLL
Goals scored- 5
Goals conceded- 11
Oxford United: LLDDD
Goals scored- 4
Goals conceded- 6
Previous meeting
Oxford United 4-0 Port Vale
Billy Bodin 10′ 62′ Matt Taylor 27′ 66′
Sheffield Wednesday vs Accrington Stanley, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Hillsborough Stadium
Sheffield Wednesday has had a mighty fall in recent weeks, the side has struggled to find a win in six games now and has fallen from the top spot to third in the table. Accrington Stanley find themselves in the relegation zone with not long left to get out, Friday’s win over Port Vale should stoke the fire and help them in their pursuit of safety.
Ones to watch
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
The youngster may be out of contract this summer, but he is still dedicated to guiding the club forward, whether he stays next season remains to be seen.
Harvey Rodgers
The defender added his fourth goal of the season to his tally in Friday’s victory over Port Vale, he will look to use that as fuel for a solid defensive performance against the Owls.
Form
Sheffield Wednesday: LLDDD
Goals scored- 6
Goals conceded- 9
Accrington Stanley: LLLLW
Goals scored- 4
Goals conceded- 11
Previous meeting
Accrington Stanley 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Alex Mighten 24′
Fleetwood Town vs Bristol Rovers, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Highbury Stadium
A mid-table clash here, with neither side having much to play for except for pride. Rovers could leapfrog Fleetwood with a win here and manager Joey Barton will be getting that message through to his team as they come into this fixture, as will his opponent in the dugout. Both teams have relatively similar form in their last five, which should make this a tightly contested encounter. Their last meeting proved to be a thriller as Shaun Rooney rescued a point for his Fleetwood side, with his second goal in the ninth minute of injury time.
Ones to watch
Shaun Rooney
The defender was our pick for Friday but did not live up. This does not change our mind on making him our pick for this fixture, as his leadership qualities from the back have been key for the side this season. Rooney was on the scoresheet twice in the last meeting.
Scott Sinclair
A veteran winger, the 34-year-old has played at the top-flight level with Swansea, and his experience is a big help to the side and can drive them forward in this fixture.
Form
Fleetwood Town: DWWDL
Goals scored- 8
Goals conceded- 6
Bristol Rovers: DWLLW
Goals scored- 4
Goals conceded- 5
Previous meeting
Bristol Rovers 2-2 Fleetwood Town
Josh Coburn 57′ Aaron Collins 80′ Shaun Rooney 14′ 90+9′
Plymouth Argyle vs Lincoln City, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Home Park
An interesting encounter here as the top side meet a side that has drawn more games than any other side in the league and close in on the record for draws in a season. Plymouth went top on Friday as they came from behind at Morecambe to secure victory. Lincoln saw off an in-form Cheltenham Town through a double from Ben House.
Ones to watch
Ben Waine
The New Zealand-born forward has not had much in terms of opportunities this season, making just eight appearances. He scored the goal to finally give Plymouth the lead on Friday and maybe that could give him a chance again towards the end of this season.
Ben House
The forward added two more to his tally against Cheltenham on Friday taking him to 10 for this season. He will be eager to add even more against the league leaders.
Form
Plymouth Argyle: WLWWW
Goals scored- 5
Goals conceded- 9
Lincoln City: LLLDW
Goals scored- 5
Goals conceded- 8
Previous meeting
Lincoln City 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
Max Sanders 45+1′ Adam Randell 31′
Peterborough United vs Exeter City, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Weston Homes Stadium
Both teams who have suffered mixed results this season, Peterborough are still in the playoff spots despite that, while Exeter sit mid-table with not much left for them to achieve this season. Posh are fending off a number of teams at present such as Derby County, who are behind on goal difference. Exeter could move up to 10th with a win if results go their way, however, the playoffs are out of reach for them at this stage.
Ones to watch
Jonson Clarke-Harris
The forward has netted 23 times for Posh this season and was successful from the spot last time out against Shrewsbury, he will be looking for even more against Exeter.
Joe White
The 20-year-old on loan from Newcastle United has only featured 13 times for Exeter, but he is certainly able to bring something to the team if given the chance.
Form
Peterborough United: WWWDW
Goals scored- 13
Goals conceded- 2
Exeter City- LWWDL
Goals scored- 11
Goals conceded- 7
Previous meeting
Exeter City 3-2 Peterborough United
Timothee Dieng 27′ Sam Nombe 86′ Jevani Brown 90+1′ Jonson Clarke-Harris 40′ Ephron Mason-Clark 81′
Cheltenham Town vs Ipswich Town, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Whaddon Road
The most in-form team in the league travel to Gloucestershire to take on Wade Elliot’s Robins. Ipswich propelled themselves into the automatic promotion spots on Friday with another dominant victory. Cheltenham fell to defeat finally after six games in a run that saw them help Ipswich by holding Sheffield Wednesday to a draw.
Ones to watch
Luke Southwood
The goalkeeper on loan from Reading is the choice here, playing a team like Ipswich he is certainly going to be busy in this game. And a clean sheet against them would be a huge statement for his career, as he will hope to add to the 15 he already has.
Conor Chaplin
The striker has been a figurehead in the promotion charge for the Tractor Boys this season, netting 18 goals and was on the scoresheet last time out against Wycombe.
Form
Cheltenham Town: WWDDL
Goals scored- 8
Goals conceded- 3
Ipswich Town: WWWWW
Goals scored- 13
Goals conceded- 0
Previous meeting
Ipswich Town 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Luke Woolfenden 8′ Ryan Broom 34′
Portsmouth vs Morecambe, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Fratton Park
Portsmouth are still holding on to the hope of reaching the playoffs, however, this is something that seems out of reach for the South Coast club. Morecambe are also still clinging on to something that seems to be more and more out of reach for them, survival in the division. The Shrimps looked to be pulling off a shock on Friday as they led league leaders Plymouth Argyle, they then looked to be holding them to a draw but their dreams were dashed with minutes left to play.
Ones to watch
Colby Bishop
Bishop broke the 20 goals mark for the season for Portsmouth and looks to add even more to that tally, getting promoted may be out of reach, but Colby Bishop will still be hungry for more goals.
Oumar Niasse
Niasse joined as a free transfer last month and has featured six times since, he has top-flight experience across many countries around the globe and that could be vital to the survival fight.
Form
Portsmouth: WWDWD
Goals scored- 9
Goals conceded- 6
Morecambe: LDLLL
Goals scored- 3
Goals conceded- 14
Previous meeting
Morecambe 1-1 Portsmouth
Liam Shaw 36′ Colby Bishop 67′
Wycombe Wanderers vs Forest Green Rovers, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, Adams Park Stadium
Wycombe had their playoff hopes dented by Ipswich on Friday, while Forest Green’s hopes of survival look slimmer by the week, as they lost once again at home to Derby County. Since the appointment of Duncan Ferguson, they have managed one win and look to be already relegated sitting eight points behind Morecambe above them. Wycombe’s form has been dented too since the departure of Gareth Ainsworth to Queens Park Rangers. A make or break game here for both teams.
Ones to watch
Sam Vokes
Vokes began his career in this division with Bournemouth, 17 years on from his debut, he is back again with Wycombe and has netted six times this season.
Charlie Savage
The son of famous Premier League player Robbie Savage, Charlie is on loan from Manchester United and has netted once since joining in January.
Form
Wycombe Wanderers: WLDDL
Goals scored- 5
Goals conceded- 8
Forest Green Rovers: LLWLL
Goals scored- 2
Goals conceded- 8
Previous meeting
Forest Green Rovers 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers
David Wheeler 14′ Gareth McCleary 27′
Bolton Wanderers vs Cambridge United, Monday 10th April, 3 PM, University of Bolton Stadium
With eyes set on promotion and the play-off spots looking reasonably uncomfortable for the side currently, Bolton look set to finish strong and carry some momentum into the final four. Cambridge are focused on survival, sitting in the bottom three, they have, however, started to pick some form up recording back-to-back wins in their last two fixtures. Meanwhile, Bolton’s form has started to slip, picking up just one win in their last five allowing Derby County and Peterborough a chance to start breathing down their necks.
Ones to watch
Shola Shoretire
The youngster on loan from Manchester United is yet to make his mark on the scoresheet for Bolton, but he will be eager to do so to give himself a chance at breaking into the United first team next season.
Harvey Knibbs
An academy product for Cambridge, he has featured in 33 games this season, playing part in eight goals, five goals and three assists, at 23 years old, he still has plenty to offer to his club.
Form
Bolton: LDLDW
Goals scored- 2
Goals conceded- 6
Cambridge United: DLLWW
Goals scored- 6
Goals conceded- 5
Previous meeting
Cambridge United 0-0 Bolton Wanderers
