Welcome to gameweek 44 in the EFL League Two. With the exception of Crewe, who have a midweek game in the last week, by Wednesday we’ll be all square on 44 games played. Tuesday night saw some big results but very little change to the table.
At the top, Leyton Orient’s promotion to League One was confirmed, but their anointment as Champions hasn’t happened yet. Both with wins, Stevenage and Northampton kept their positions, but vitally, increased the gap between them and Stockport County and Carlisle, who drew 2-2 – the best outcome for the fans of both teams as it’s given them a little bit of breathing space. Bradford’s loss to Swindon on Tuesday also helped ease nerves for the top three, but with their game in hand to be played on Tuesday the ball is still in their court.
At the other end of the table the showcase game of the weekend has to be Crawley against Hartlepool. The Pools home fans are expecting their biggest home gate of the season, and are being encouraged to get behind the team in a game which has the potential to define their season as 22 plays 23. Hartlepool, in 23rd, are trailing by three points, and with their final games against Barrow and Stockport County they’ll want to maximise the opportunity against Crawley if they want to be in control of their own destiny as they go into those games. A point for Crawley will confirm Rochdale’s fate, regardless of the outcome of their own tie as they travel to local rivals Stockport County in front of a sell-out home crowd.
There’s never a quiet weekend in League Two, and this one is definitely packed with interest, so…
Let’s take a look at each of the games and what’s at stake…
AFC Wimbledon vs Swindon Town – 3pm Saturday 22nd April 2023 – Plough Lane
Wimbledon’s recent form has taken a significant knock, with their 2-1 loss against promotion contenders Stevenage adding to recent losses against Salford and Rochdale. With just two wins in 2023, against Stockport at the end of January, and Walsall two months later, they’ve slipped to 19th in the table and could still finish as low as 23rd the league, which would see them relegated to the National League. Given their goal difference though, just one point from their final three games will take them to safety.
Swindon’s home midweek win against Bradford saw their first win in ten matches, ending the Bantams’ unbeaten run. With Jonny Williams’ 82′ header the only goal on Tuesday, the starting line-up saw Charlie Austin and George McEachran dropped for Luke Jephcott and Dylan Kadji to start. Swindon will be hoping to extend their point-scoring this weekend at Plough Lane, given Jody Morris’s team appear to have turned a corner.
Form:
Wimbledon: WLDLL
Goals Scored: 7
Goals Conceded: 8
Swindon: LLLDW
Goals Scored: 4
Goals Conceded: 7
Previous meeting:
Swindon 0-0 Wimbledon – 10th December 2022
Barrow v Carlisle United – 3pm Saturday 22nd April 2023 – Holker Street
The Bluebirds’ campaign for a play-off spot hit a roadblock with their midweek 1-0 loss to Grimsby, and they face a significant challenge in promotion chasing Carlisle this weekend. In their last three games of the season they are meeting two teams who put a total of ten goals past them in the reverse fixtures, with Carlisle beating them 5-1 in January, and Stevenage, which is their last game of the season beating them 5-0 in December. Pete Wild’s team will be looking for an extreme reversal of fortune in both ties, but with them needing all nine points, they’re unlikely to win a spot in the play-offs this season.
Carlisle came away from their midweek tie with Stockport with just one point, and very little change in the table. Bradford’s loss at Swindon bought them some breathing room, but sitting in 5th in a congested top of the table is not a comfortable place to be at this stage of the season. Moxon claimed Tuesday’s Man of the Match title, with a goal and an assist in the 2-2 draw, and he’ll be expected to make an impact on Saturday at Holker Street. After getting Stockport out of the way, Carlisle will now be looking to repeat their January goal haul against Barrow as goal difference becomes increasingly important in deciding the final standings, with their final games against Salford and Sutton.
Form:
Barrow: WLWDL
Goals scored: 6
Goals conceded: 5
Carlisle: LWDDD
Goals scored: 4
Goals conceded: 3
Previous meeting:
Carlisle United 5-1 Barrow – 31st January 2023
Jon Mellish 44′, 67′, Joe Garner 50′, Omari Patrick 72′, Kristian Dennis 89′ – Benjamin Barclay (OG) 84′
Bradford City v Gillingham – 3pm Saturday 22nd April 2023 – Valley Parade
Bradford’s midweek loss to Swindon put a dampener on the Bantams’ hopes for automatic promotion, and will have had fans in Northampton and Stevenage breathing a sigh of relief. With four games remaining, including that crucial game in hand, Bradford are now five points off the top three, with four games remaining, including Northampton and Leyton Orient, as well as Gillingham this Saturday, but averaging 2 points per match, which would give them 8 from their final four. That would give them 79 points and in the realm of automatic playoffs if Northampton and Stevenage can only manage a couple of draws.
The Gills beat league leaders Leyton Orient at Priestfield on Tuesday night, in a tie that saw two goals, confirmation of Gillingham’s next season in League Two, confirmation that Leyton Orient will be playing in League One next season, and a power cut. With all that excitement unlikely to be repeated at Valley Parade on Saturday, Gillingham will be able to relax more and be more open in their play.
Form:
Bradford: WDWWL
Goals scored: 4
Goals conceded: 5
Gillingham: LWLDL
Goals scored: 6
Goals conceded: 5
Previous meeting:
Gillingham 0-2 Bradford City – 28th February 2023
Richard Smallwood 27′, Andy Cook ’49
Colchester United v Sutton United – 3pm 22nd April 2023 – Knights Community Stadium
Towards the bottom of the table Colchester’s position was unchanged by Tuesday’s fixtures, and going into Saturday’s game they sit in 20th position with 46 points. Two draws, or one win from their three remaining games against Sutton, Doncaster, and Mansfield will be enough to guarantee League Two football next year, regardless of the outcome of any other fixtures, and holding Crawley to a goalless draw on Tuesday night helped strengthen their position. Given their recent form (they are currently 4th in the form league table over the last five games), and Sutton’s, they will be expecting to go into their last game of the season against Mansfield having secured League Two football for 23-24.
By contrast, Sutton sit at the bottom of the League Two form table over the last five games. Now without a win in eight games, they’ve been off form since February / March when they went unbeaten for nine games. With a 2-1 loss to Northampton on Tuesday, Sutton’s outsider chances as a play-offs position were put to bed, and they now sit in 10th position, with games to come against Rochdale and Carlisle as well as Colchester.
Form:
Colchester: DDWWD
Goals scored: 6
Goals conceded: 1
Sutton: DLLLL
Goals scored: 3
Goals conceded: 9
Previous meeting:
Sutton United 1-0 Colchester United – 10th December 2022
Robert Milsom 45+9′
Doncaster Rovers v Newport County – 3pm Saturday 22nd April 2023 – Keepmoat Stadium
Both Doncaster and Newport met promotion candidates on Tuesday night, and both lost by one goal. Sitting at 16th (Newport) and 17th (Doncaster) in the table, this fixture, although not transformational in terms of anyone’s season, is likely to play a significant part in determining final standings. After their draw with Harrogate last weekend, Doncaster fans weren’t expecting the same result against 3rd placed Stevenage, but with games against Newport, Colchester, and Rochdale remaining, they will hope to add to their points tally by 8th May.
Newport also don’t have much to play for, but do have better recent form than Doncaster. Their Tuesday night loss to Mansfield saw Aaron Wildig claw one back in the 86th minute, in a game in which they had 11 shots versus Mansfield’s 8. Sitting in 17th going into Saturday’s game, they’re already safe from relegation, and have four games remaining to look forward to, with their game in hand to Harrogate played on Tuesday before Gillingham (a) and finishing their season at home to Crewe.
Form:
Doncaster: LLLDL
Goals scored: 3
Goals conceded: 8
Newport: DWLWL
Goals scored: 6
Goals conceded: 6
Previous meeting:
Newport County 0-1 Doncaster Rovers – 10th December 2022
Kyle Knoyle 58′
Hartlepool United v Crawley Town – 3pm 22nd April 2023 – Victoria Park
John Askey’s Hartlepool will be hoping for a home advantage as 22 plays 23 on Saturday. With three points dividing them, Crawley have a slightly better goal different (-24 v -26) going into the game. Even on games played, a win either way is likely to be a season defining one. On paper, Hartlepool are in better form, with an average of 1.4 points per goal over the last five games compared to Crawley’s 1.0, but with slightly tougher final games against Barrow and Stockport County (a), while Crawley meet Walsall and Swindon (a).
In a week where Crawley Town Supporters Alliance (CTSA) publicly shared their vote of no confidence in Chairmen Preston Johnson and Eben Smith, and Interim CEO Chris Galley, and called for their immediate removal, Crawley fans will be looking for some good news and even sharing the points will retain that 3-point gap that they have currently. The atmosphere at Victoria Park is likely to be electric as fans capitalise on the club’s ‘Together United’ promotion which offered reduced price tickets to friends of supporters, and what is expected to be the club’s biggest gate of the season.
Form:
Hartlepool: WWDLL
Goals scored: 7
Goals conceded: 7
Crawley: LDLWD
Goals scored: 3
Goals conceded: 9
Previous meeting:
Crawley Town 0-2 Hartlepool United – 9th December 2022
Rollin Menayese 64′, Travis Johnson (OG) 81′
Leyton Orient v Crewe Alexandra – 3pm Saturday 22nd April 2023 – Matchroom Stadium
Leyton Orient’s promotion confirmation came on Tuesday night despite a 2-0 loss to Gillingham at Priestfield due to Bradford’s loss to Swindon. Conceding their first goal 16-minutes in to the first half, and their second as a penalty in the 76th minute, Orient also saw key player Omar Beckles sent off in the first 15-minutes for denying a goal-scoring chance, which led to the free kick that Alex MacDonald scored from two-minutes later. In their four remaining games against Crewe, Mansfield, Stockport, and Bradford they’ll be looking to see out the season as champions, so won’t be taking their foot off the pedal just yet, but they’re playing with significantly reduced pressure now their future is secure.
Crewe’s away form is significantly weaker than their currently good form overall, with an average of 0.9 points per game over the season, and only three wins all season. Sitting at 16th in the table they have little to play for, but are the only team that has five games left to play between now and 8th May, with games in hand against Grimsby and Bradford still to play.
Form:
Leyton Orient: WWDWL
Goals scored: 7
Goals conceded: 4
Crewe: LWWLW
Goals scored: 8
Goals conceded: 6
Previous meeting:
Crewe Alexandra 0-2 Leyton Orient – 7th February 2023
Ed Turns 31′, Theodore Archibald 58′
Mansfield Town v Stevenage – 3pm Saturday 22nd April 2023 – One Call Stadium
Mansfield’s recent performances have taken them to the top of the form table over the last five games, displacing Stockport County with an excellent 2.2 average points per game. They currently sit in 8th position, and just outside the playoffs, but equal on points with 7th place Salford, and with a game in hand that they’ll play against league leaders Leyton Orient at home on Tuesday.
Stevenage go into the tie with everything to play for too, as they push to maintain their automatic promotion spot under pressure from Bradford, Stockport, and Carlisle. With a midweek win over Doncaster, with Stockport and Carlisle sharing the points, Stevenage are now four points clear of 4th placed Stockport, and have a game in hand to play against Swindon, where a win would see them leapfrog Northampton into 2nd place, with their final games against Grimsby and Barrow (a).
Form:
Mansfield: WWDDW
Goals scored: 6
Goals conceded: 6
Stevenage: DDDWW
Goals scored: 6
Goals conceded: 4
Previous meeting:
Stevenage 0-0 Mansfield Town – 10th December 2022
Northampton Town v Harrogate Town – 3pm Saturday 22nd April 2023 – Sixfields Stadium
Northampton Town go into what is likely to be their final three League Two games against Harrogate, Bradford, and Tranmere 2nd in the league. However Stevenage, in 3rd, are just one point behind them, with a game in hand that they will play against Swindon on Tuesday. They’ll be without captain Jon Guthrie, who will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an injury last weekend. After 40 appearances this season his loss will be acutely felt as Northampton go into their final games desperate for automatic promotion and to avoid the play-offs.
Harrogate are unlikely to challenge the Cobblers too much on Saturday. With recent form steady, they need three points from their remaining four games to secure League Two football next season, but of those remaining games only one is at home. Their away record this season is poor, averaging 0.9 points per game, and only four wins, so they’ll be looking to buck the trend and take points away from Northampton on Saturday.
Form:
Northampton: DLWDW
Goals scored: 5
Goals conceded: 6
Harrogate: DDDDW
Goals scored: 10
Goals conceded: 7
Previous meeting:
Harrogate Town 1-1 Northampton Town – 28th February 2023
Luke Armstrong 50′ – Mitchell Pinnock 49′
Stockport County v Rochdale – 3pm 22nd April 2023 – Edgeley Park
Stockport County drew 2-2 with fellow automatic promotion spot challengers Carlisle on Tuesday night, including another late equaliser, their second in two games. Given both Stevenage and Northampton won, and Bradford lost, there was no change to their league position and they head into their final three likely resigned to play-offs, a fantastic achievement in their first season back in the EFL after an eleven year absence. Their last three games are against Rochdale, Leyton Orient (a), and Hartlepool, with it being possible that all three of those games will be defining moments of the 22-23 campaign – anointing Leyton Orient as champions, and resigning Rochdale and Hartlepool to the National League. With Kyle Wootton out for Tuesday’s game, possibly until the end of the season, along with Ryan Rydel who has played an important part in recent games, County are watching their form slip away from them and will be keen to get back on track in front of a sell-out Edgeley Park.
The first of those meetings come on Saturday as Rochdale travel to local rivals Stockport to try and delay the inevitable for as long as possible. Given the history between the two clubs, and rumours circling about Rochdale’s financial management, Rochdale fans won’t want to see their team relegated at Edgeley Park, and will hope that the team come out fighting as they need to win all of their remaining games and hope teams above them lose theirs to be in with any chance of avoiding going down.
Form:
Stockport: DWWDD
Goals scored: 9
Goals conceded: 4
Rochdale: WWDLD
Goals scored: 8
Goals conceded: 8
Previous meeting:
Rochdale 1-2 Stockport County – 21st February 2023
Devante Rodney ’85 – Will Collar 56′, 58′
Tranmere Rovers v Grimsby Town – 3pm 22nd April 2023 – Prenton Park
Saturday’s game between Tranmere and Grimsby is one of the few where neither team have anything to play for. Sitting 12th (Grimsby) and 13th (Tranmere), Grimsby have one extra game to play before the end of the season but playoffs are out of reach for both teams, and they’ll be looking for a quiet end to the season across their final few games.
Tranmere go in to the fixture with just one win (against Crawley) since the end of February but an at-home points per game (PPG) average of 1.57. By contrast, Grimsby have an away PPG average of 1.43, so very little between the two. Across eight head to heads with Grimsby, they’ve won four, and drawn two, although in December it was Grimsby that took the three points. Given recent form, over the last five games, Tranmere, who have scored at home in each of their last five games, come out slightly better on paper, but that away form includes Brighton’s 5-0 demolition of Grimsby in the FA Cup.
Form:
Tranmere: DLWLD
Goals scored: 5
Goals conceded: 7
Grimsby: LLWDW
Goals scored: 7
Goals conceded: 9
Previous meeting:
Grimsby Town 2-1 Tranmere Rovers – 10th December 2022
Brendan Kiernan 7’, Niall Maher 58’ – Jake Burton 66′
Walsall v Salford City – 3pm 22nd April 2023 – Bescot Stadium
This week saw the departure of Walsall manager Michael Flynn after Walsall have only managed one win since 1st January when they beat Mansfield. At that point they sat just outside play-offs, but their performance since has seen them slip to 15th. Assistant coach Wayne Hatswell, was dismissed for the second time in a week, following his red card at the weekend, and Mat Sadler will take charge for the Sadlers’ last three games of the season.
Salford are hovering in 7th in the league table, and seem to spend every week swapping places with Mansfield (currently in 8th), with very little to separate them. Their 2-0 win over Hartlepool on Tuesday was matched by Mansfield’s win against Newport, although the 2-1 score line helped Salford slightly given positions are currently determined by goal difference. Salford are running out of time to pull ahead, and will be nervously awaiting the outcome of Mansfield’s game in hand against Leyton Orient on Tuesday night to see what they need to do across their final two games of the season against Carlisle and Gillingham. Given Gillingham’s away form, they’ll be hoping for three points from them as well as Walsall this weekend, but Carlisle will be a bigger challenge as they push for automatics and 5th/6th.
Form:
Walsall: DLDLL
Goals scored: 3
Goals conceded: 10
Salford: DLWLW
Goals scored: 6
Goals conceded: 6
Previous meeting:
Salford City 1-0 Walsall – 31st January 2023
Matt Smith 5’
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