Following a 10-game fixture schedule in League One in midweek, with two matches postponed due to the weather, the action doesn’t stop this weekend as a full round of fixtures are on the horizon once more.
With plenty of places up for grabs in the automatic promotion and playoff places, to the intensifying battle to avoid relegation down to League Two, this is our weekly preview of the five games we think you should be looking out for as the weekend approaches.
1. Pride Park Pearler
Following last weekend’s disappointing draw to struggling Shrewsbury Town, Derby County bounced back in the best possible way in midweek, with a comprehensive 3-0 win on the road at Exeter City. The Rams now occupy the second automatic promotion place and are on 63 points. But with Bolton Wanderers just one point behind and with two games in hand, Derby will need to keep winning games to stay in the top two.
Saturday’s visitors Stevenage do not come to Pride Park in the best form, however, after being unable to claim a victory in their last three matches in League One, including allowing Bristol Rovers to turn around a two-goal deficit on Tuesday to come away with the win. Steve Evans’ side are right within the playoff mix though and will be looking to frustrate their hosts on Saturday as the two sides meet at Pride Park for the first time ever.
2. Bolton’s Bounceback
Since their shock defeat to Leyton Orient on the 20th of January, Bolton Wanderers have picked up form in the league that has put them back within one point of the automatics, with two games in hand. Saturday’s visit from Charlton Athletic is a big game at both ends of the table. The Addicks hover tentatively one place and one point above the relegation zone, with the side below them being Port Vale, who have three games in hand.
Charlton are winless in 14 league matches and are without an away league win since Halloween, so the hosts will see this as a real chance to keep the pressure on the top two in League One.
3. Tough Battle For In-form Cod Army
Following Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu’s 95th-minute equaliser against Reading on Tuesday night, that draw extended Fleetwood Town’s impressive upturn in form to just one defeat in five, as they look to ignite their survival push. The Cod Army are now six points away from safety, but face a tough test on Saturday, with high-flying Barnsley visiting, who have lost just one of their last 15 matches.
You get the feeling the hosts would be happy with another home draw come 5pm on Saturday.
4. Massive Relegation Six-Pointer
Two sides that are desperately trying to avoid relegation, Cheltenham Town and Port Vale, meet on Saturday afternoon, with Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke facing his former club in this huge fixture.
This will also be the first game in charge for new Port Vale manager Darren Moore, who has a very tough job of keeping the Valiants in the third tier. Vale are winless in six, whilst the hosts have won their last two matches, including an impressive win over playoff-chasing Blackpool in midweek.
Do not underestimate how big three points in this one will be for either side and expect a very interesting tactical battle in Gloucestershire.
5. Carlisle Must-win Cambridge Clash
It’s fair to say that time is really running out for Paul Simpson’s side to avoid instant relegation back to League Two, with the Cumbrians currently 12 points adrift of safety with a game in hand. Having lost their last six matches on the bounce, Tuesday night’s postponement at Burton Albion may have been a blessing for Carlisle, who now go into a massive game against an unpredictable Cambridge United side with a whole week of rest.
Cambridge are definitely not clear of relegation troubles yet themselves, so Carlisle will be looking to kickstart their survival bid in front of their own fans at Brunton Park on Saturday, in a game which they really need to be winning if they want to stay up.
So, this is a massive weekend in League One this weekend as the final run-in draws closer, with big games at the top and bottom of the table that could be potentially season-defining for the teams involved.
