It’s another action-packed weekend in Sky Bet League One. Sporting Life’s Tom Carnduff previews the latest round of games.
The international break signals a pause to proceedings in the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship, meaning League One will be the focus for many.
There’s a top-six clash at Kenilworth Road where Luton, who are five points clear of Barnsley at the top, welcome Doncaster.
Rovers are chasing play-offs but will be looking for victory given recent form. That said, they have lost just one of their last four.
In Luton they come up against a side who are yet to lose in front of their own fans in the league, and they’ll be looking to capitalise on the fact that Sunderland don’t play by moving ten points clear of the play-offs.
Barnsley will be wanting to keep pace at the top alongside hoping for a potential slip-up from the Hatters as they go to Walsall in the early kick-off.
The Sky Sports cameras will see two teams at opposite ends of the division with different objectives this season.
Despite the standings, Walsall have won two of their last three games at home which could see them upset the odds against the promotion-chasing Tykes.
With Sunderland out of action, Portsmouth can move up to third with victory away at Shrewsbury – who are looking to avoid the drop.
Despite sitting in 18th, Salop boast one of the best home records in League One this season. The fact Portsmouth have the best record on the road sets this up to be a very entertaining contest.
Coventry are within a win of moving into the play-offs, and they’ll be looking to do just that against Oxford at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues have won three of their last four, while Oxford boast three wins in five, losing narrowly against Gillingham during that time.
Despite Coventry’s position in the table, recent form shows that Oxford will prove to be a tough opponent.
Peterborough recently announced that Darren Ferguson had signed a three-year contract to become the club’s full-time manager, and he’ll be looking to celebrate with three points against Southend.
Posh have lost their last three, while Southend’s form hasn’t been much better, setting it up to be a game where both teams will be eager for victory.
Bradford will be wanting to move off the bottom of the table when they welcome Blackpool, who are still in promotion contention.
The Bantams have picked up points at home in recent weeks, which includes victory over Peterborough, although it’ll be a test against a Tangerines side that don’t concede many goals away.
Burton will be looking to make it three wins from four as they take on Accrington, with both sides enjoying success last time out.
Stanley managed to snap a three-game losing streak with a win over Wycombe, while Burton responded to defeat to Charlton with a comfortable 3-0 win against Blackpool.
12th meet 13th as Bristol Rovers travel to Plymouth. The Gas are enjoying a run of four-games without defeat, three of which have finished with maximum points.
Argyle have been seeing points in recent weeks too despite defeat to Fleetwood last time out. They had only lost one of the seven games prior.
AFC Wimbledon look like they might just do the great escape following their recent form. Wally Downes’ side have now won three in a row, going four unbeaten in total.
That has moved them to within three points of safety, and they will be hopeful of doing that when they welcome Gillingham to Kingsmeadow.
It won’t be an easy task though. The Gills have lost just one of their last five matches, alongside picking up a draw away at Luton last weekend.
Another side looking to move out of the drop zone is Rochdale, who welcome Scunthorpe next.
Dale have picked up four points from their last possible six which has helped to move them closer to safety. They sit in 23rd, four points off 20th.
Scunthorpe have experienced mixed form in recent weeks but did comfortably beat Southend two games ago. Stuart McCall’s side are among the bunch of teams who are all within touching distance of each other.
In total, just three points separates 21st and 12th – setting it up to be a fascinating conclusion to the campaign.
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