Second-placed MK Dons could have their promotion credentials tested when they travel to take on a Grimsby side that has won five games on the spin.
Chesterfield could close to within a point of playoff rivals Walsall with a victory over the Saddlers at the SMH Group Stadium.
Tranmere will be determined to snap a run of four straight defeats when they welcome Salford City to Prenton Park.
After another gruelling midweek League Two fixture slate, the division’s combatants are back in action on Saturday, 31 January and we have previews and predictions for all 12 games from England’s fourth tier.
Two of the league’s bottom three, Bristol Rovers and Newport, contest a relegation six-pointer in one of two 12:30pm kick-offs, before leaders Bromley travel to take on an improving Gillingham in one of the most eye-catching entries in a set of ten matches starting at 3pm.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County (Saturday, 12:30pm)
Third and second-from-bottom Bristol Rovers and Newport both suffered defeats in midweek to extend poor recent runs. Tension in Saturday’s basement battle between the strugglers is likely to be high, and goals could be at a premium. Each of Rovers’ last three games produced just one goal and this could be similarly tight.
Score prediction: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Newport County
Grimsby vs MK Dons (Saturday, 12:30pm)
Grimsby’s upward surge continued in midweek when they held on with ten men to win at Colchester (1-0). Town have now won five times in a row, keeping clean sheets on each occasion, and they could put a major dent in MK Dons’ title ambitions at Blundell Park.
Score prediction: Grimsby 1-0 MK Dons
Accrington vs Cheltenham (Saturday, 3pm)
Accrington cut loose in an impressive 4-1 win at Newport on Tuesday evening, and their haul of four victories in six assignments makes Stanley one of the division’s form teams. Cheltenham meanwhile, have lost four of their last five, conceding at least twice in each reverse, and Town could be toppled again here.
Score prediction: Accrington 2-0 Cheltenham
Chesterfield vs Walsall (Saturday, 3pm)
Chesterfield showed plenty of resolve in their surprise 1-0 win at Salford in midweek, though they still lack creativity. The Spireites scored from their only shot on target on Tuesday and they failed to score in each of their last two matches at home. Walsall have similar issues and drew each of their last two league games 0-0. Don’t expect fireworks in this one.
Score prediction: Chesterfield 0-0 Walsall
Crawley Town vs Harrogate (Saturday, 3pm)
Four points from games against Barrow (1-0) and Walsall (0-0) over the last week have given Crawley some breathing room near the drop zone, and they can increase their buffer with a win over bottom club Harrogate. The visitors haven’t won a league fixture since late September and should offer very little again.
Score prediction: Crawley Town 1-0 Harrogate
Crewe vs Colchester (Saturday, 3pm)
Crewe nicked a deserved equalizer to earn a point at leaders Bromley (2-2) on Tuesday evening, and buoyed by that display, they should be difficult to beat again on Saturday. Colchester lost against ten-man Grimsby in midweek (1-0) and they’ve been toiling in the final third for weeks. The playoff hopefuls might have to settle for a point at the Mornflake Stadium.
Score prediction: Crewe 1-1 Colchester
Fleetwood vs Notts County (Saturday, 3pm)
Fleetwood’s decision to sack manager Pete Wild seemed to do the trick in midweek, when Town halted a run of five straight defeats in league and cup with a 2-1 win at Harrogate under caretaker Matt Lawlor. Building on that result, Fleetwood could frustrate Notts County side that has dropped points in two of their last two away assignments.
Score prediction: Fleetwood 1-1Notts County
Gillingham vs Bromley (Saturday, 3pm)
Gillingham had the night off in midweek after their meeting with Cheltenham was postponed and they could put their extra rest to good use against Bromley. The visiting league leaders were denied a point at the death by Crewe on Tuesday evening. Gillingham have also drawn five of their last six fixtures at home, so another stalemate wouldn’t be a surprise here.
Score prediction: Gillingham 1-1 Bromley
Oldham vs Cambridge United (Saturday, 3pm)
Oldham dropped down to 16th when their six-game unbeaten surge came to an end at Barnet (3-2) on Tuesday. Now Athletic face the prospect of back-to-back disappointment when they host high-flying Cambridge on Saturday. The visitors enjoyed a fifth successive win when they edged out Shrewsbury in midweek. Cambridge haven’t lost on the road since October 25th, and they could be worth siding with again.
Score prediction: Oldham 1-2 Cambridge United
Shrewsbury vs Barnet (Saturday, 3pm)
Shrewsbury’s loss to Cambridge on Tuesday was their sixth loss in seven League Two fixtures and they failed to score in four of those. Barnet meanwhile, are priming themselves for a late-season surge, winning four of their last five while playing some eye-catching football. The visitors could expose their host’s lack of cutting edge on Saturday.
Score prediction: Shrewsbury 0-1 Barnet
Swindon vs Barrow (Saturday, 3pm)
Swindon have been falling on the wrong side of fine margins of late and they were beaten by a single goal for the third game running when they were pipped by Notts County on Tuesday. The playoff contenders could get back to business against a Barrow outfit that has lost five of its last six league fixture, however.
Score prediction: Swindon 2-1 Barrow
Tranmere Rovers vs Salford City (Saturday, 3pm)
Salford dropped from second to fourth place on Tuesday evening when they suffered an unexpected loss to Chesterfield, however, they should be able to respond at Tranmere on Merseyside. The hosts lost for the fourth time on the spin when they were edged out by Barrow in midweek, and they were second best when losing 3-1 to Salford in the teams’ reverse fixture in September.
Score prediction: Tranmere Rovers 1-3 Salford City
