Boxing Day football is back and it could be a pivotal one for many clubs across League One with some huge fixtures coming up as we approach the halfway mark of the season.
🎄💫 A night-before-Christmas Team of the Week!
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This article will pick out the best of the bunch to look out for tomorrow afternoon and, as always, let us know your thoughts on what else can potentially happen across League One as the drama unfolds.
1. Cheltenham’s Comeback
In a previous article, highlighting the games to look out for across the festive season, we pointed out how critical the next few games are for Darrell Clarke’s Cheltenham Town, who sit bottom of League One. And, after a priceless victory at fellow strugglers Carlisle United this weekend, the Robins will be looking to pick up some more points over the festive period to try to propel them up that table and out of the relegation zone.
Boxing Day’s visit from Shrewsbury Town will come at a welcome time, with the Shrews losing their last two whilst conceding five goals.
2. London Derby In Leyton
It is fair to say that after 10 minutes at the Toughsheet community stadium on Saturday, most Leyton Orient fans would have been absolutely fuming that their side had managed to go three-nil down to Bolton Wanderers. But after a battling second half, the O’s pulled back two goals and very nearly came away with a point, raising morale among the supporters.
Without a league win on home soil since early October, Richie Wellens will be hoping his side can finally pick up that illusive home win when Charlton Athletic make the trip across London on Tuesday. The Addicks would have been equally disappointed with their side on Saturday, after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to managerless Burton Albion, and will be looking to pick up their first away win since Halloween when they meet with Orient.
3. The Battle Of The Overachievers
Steve Evans and Jon Brady have both done amazing jobs at Stevenage and Northampton Town respectively, but not many would have predicted the two sides to have done so well back in League One after winning promotion at the back end of last season.
Going into Tuesday’s meeting at The Lamex, Stevenage occupy the last playoff place and the Cobblers seem to be in a very comfortable position in tenth. Brady’s men have won five of their last seven in the league and will travel to Hertfordshire hoping to get revenge on their hosts who won the reverse fixture on the opening day. Meanwhile, Stevenage suffered their first defeat in two months at Barnsley and will look to get back to winning ways on Boxing Day.
4. Pending Potential ‘El Sackico’
Two of League One’s most out-of-form sides will go to battle at St James Park on Tuesday When Exeter City host Wycombe Wanderers, with both managers under an immense amount of pressure.
City are winless in 13 league matches, having failed to win a league game since mid-September. The Grecians sit just one place and one point above the bottom four and their clash with Wycombe could be crucial to their manager’s future.
Likewise regarding Matt Bloomfield at Wycombe, a side usually known for being at the top end of League One and challenging for promotion. They are currently winless in 10 league matches and are only three places above their opponents. Two out-of-form sides with pressure growing on both bosses, the reaction come the full-time whistle of this match will be fascinating.
5. Pompey’s Away Record
Table Toppers Portsmouth are the only side in the EFL who are yet to taste defeat on the road in the league this season and will be looking to keep their formidable run going when they travel to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday.
However, after their disappointing draw at home to lowly Fleetwood Town on Saturday, spirits may be low. Bristol Rovers have only tasted defeat on their own patch once this season, so John Mousinho’s visitors will have to be at their best to preserve their unbeaten away record.
So, there are our League One games to look out for on Boxing Day. Let us know what else we need to be looking out for – and have a very merry Christmas!