We’ve nearly hit the halfway mark in the Sky Bet League Two campaign. Sporting Life’s Tom Carnduff previews the upcoming action.
The battle at the top of the table continues to excite with ten points separating the top eight sides.
MK Dons have the advantage with a two-point lead over Lincoln, and they’ll be aiming to keep that lead as they travel to take on Newport.
It won’t be an easy task though given how County sit in 6th, boasting the 5th best home record in the division.
Lincoln do possess a game in-hand on Milton Keynes though and will want to keep themselves within touching distance.
They’ll be backed for victory as they welcome Morecambe to Sincil Bank, although Jim Bentley’s side have matched their opponents on recent form.
Colchester are one side holding automatic promotion aspirations as they sit two points clear of Bury.
They travel to take on Carlisle this week who will be hoping for a better home record as they aim to push themselves up the table.
Bury will be looking for an opportunity that allows them to capitalise on a slip-up as they travel to local rivals Oldham, who comfortably sit in mid-table.
Ryan Lowe’s side sit top of the form charts, and showed that the Manager of the Month curse was a myth as they beat Exeter last time out.
The Grecians will aim to bounce back as they host Crewe. Victory could see them move back into the play-off positions, while Crewe can close the gap on the top-half.
One side also hoping to move into the top-seven is Forest Green, who take on a Mansfield side sitting in 5th.
Mansfield’s fine form in recent weeks has helped them to rise up the standings, and they’ll be confident given the fact they have only lost two of their last ten away games in all competitions.
A side hopeful of staying in those play-off positions are Tranmere, and they take on Notts County who are looking to close the gap between themselves and safety.
Both will be wanting the victory given recent form, alongside their own situations at opposite ends of the standings.
The only side below Notts is Macclesfield, who host a Crawley side that have found results difficult to pick up on the road.
The Silkmen have won three of their last five home games in all competitions, and they can take confidence from that as they look to move out of the drop zone.
At the other end of the table, Stevenage will be looking to move level on points with that top-seven if they can wrap up victory at Northampton.
It’ll be a tough ask given Northampton’s recent good form, form that has seen them move themselves firmly away from any relegation trouble.
Elsewhere, Port Vale host Cheltenham – another side looking to move away from the drop zone. Vale are comfortably in mid-table, although Cheltenham have seen a number of good results in their past five games.
Grimsby are also in action as they take on Swindon, while Cambridge and Yeovil meet in a stereotypical six-pointer given where they both sit in the table.
