League Two Preview: 31 October

As October draws to a close, The Sports Lowdown takes a look ahead to all the weekend’s action in League Two. League leaders Plymouth are at home, and 2nd placed Portsmouth and 3rd placed Oxford are on the road, as are two of the sides in the playoffs. Two of the bottom three are also at home as we enter November. Here is your League Two Preview:

 

 

Friday 30 October 

Cambridge United vs Bristol Rovers 

Cambridge head into their game against Bristol Rovers off the back of victory at strugglers Yeovil. The U’s won their last home game, a 3-1 victory over Northampton, but face a Gas side that have won three games in succession on the road.

 

 

Saturday 31 October 

Plymouth Argyle vs Morecambe

League leaders Plymouth welcome Morecambe to Home Park this weekend as Derek Adams’s side look to extend their lead at the top of League Two. The Pilgrims have lost just once in their last nine games, a 1-0 defeat at Oxford, and after winning three home games in succession, they’re unbeaten in six at Home Park. But they face a Morecambe side that are unbeaten in six on the road, with Jim Bentley’s side looking stronger this season when on their travels.

 

Notts County vs Portsmouth

Portsmouth remain 2nd in League Two and are unbeaten in five as they prepare to travel to Notts County. Pompey however have managed just two wins from their last six games, having drawn three of those at Fratton Park, but on the road they’re unbeaten in three. As for the Magpies, their away form has let them down this season, but Ricardo Moniz’s side are unbeaten in three after back to back away draws and a victory last time out at Meadow Lane.

 

Stevenage vs Oxford United

Oxford travel to Teddy Sheringham’s Stevenage having lost their first game in eight at the hands of Barnet. The U’s have had a strong start to the season and remain 3rd despite their recent loss, and Michael Appleton’s side are unbeaten in three on the road. As for Stevenage, they suffered their first defeat in four last time out, but have impressively held Exeter and Portsmouth to draws on the road whilst winning at home against Wycombe.

 

Newport County vs Northampton Town

Two sides that have hit form of late meet at Rodney Parade where strugglers Newport welcome Northampton. The Exiles have won back to back games on the road with victory at Wycombe and Bristol Rovers respectively, but John Sheridan’s side are yet to win at home this season. They welcome a Cobblers side that lost their last away game, but back to back home wins has lifted Chris Wilder’s side into 4th.

 

Mansfield Town vs Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe travel to Mansfield this weekend desperately in search of a win. Despite a strong start to the season, Gareth Ainsworth’s side have dropped to mid-table after four games without a win, including three defeats in succession. They face a Mansfield side that held Portsmouth to a goalless draw, and Adam Murray’s side have been in around the playoffs all season after an impressive start.

 

Leyton Orient vs Accrington Stanley

Two sides in the playoffs that have both had inconsistent spells meet at Brisbane Road where Leyton Orient welcome Accrington Stanley. The O’s won their first game in four at the weekend with victory at Morecambe, whilst Stanley recorded their first win in three with victory against bottom club Dagenham. But before last weekend’s action, the O’s had just one win in nine whilst Stanley had five wins from eight games.

 

Carlisle United vs Yeovil Town

Yeovil have dropped into the bottom two after a run of seven games without a win, and the Glovers travel to Carlisle this weekend without an away win in three. As for the Cumbrians, they’ve picked up just one point from their last two games, and have lost twice in their last three games at Brunton Park.

 

Barnet vs Exeter City

Barnet will be boyed on by their impressive display at Oxford last time out, and welcome Exeter to The Hive. The Bees have lost just twice from seven home games, but it’s their away form that has let them down. As for Exeter, they lost their last away game at Carlisle, but they managed an historic win at Fratton Park at the end of last month.

 

AFC Wimbledon vs Hartlepool United

Struggling Hartlepool couldn’t have picked a worse time to be playing Wimbledon who have hit a run of form of late. The Dons had lost successive games before back to back away wins over the past week, in which they’ve scored seven goals, but a 2-5 defeat against Morecambe was the result in their last game at Kingsmeadow. As for the Pools, they’ve won just twice from their last nine games, but won on their last away day when visiting Dagenham.

 

 

Crawley Town vs York City

Like the fixture above, York have picked a bad time to be playing Crawley. The Red Devil’s have one defeat from their last four games, including back to back home wins, whilst the Minstermen haven’t won in nine, including four games without a win on the road. And the club are in search of a new manager after the sacking of Russ Wilcox in the week.

 

Sunday 1 November 

Dagenham and Redbridge vs Luton Town 

Luton manager John Still takes his Hatters side to his former club, bottom of the table Dagenham and Redbridge. But Luton, who hit a run of form through late September and early October, haven’t won’t in four games after losing their last away game at Crawley. As for Dagenham however, they’ve dropped to the bottom of the table, and Wayne Burnett’s side haven’t won in nine and are yet to win at home this season.