The Sky Bet League One season so far has most certainly been thrilling, with four sides vying for the automatic promotion spots since the opening day of the season.
Portsmouth were the early frontrunners and they are just about keeping themselves in the race as they won midweek at Walsall to close the gap to Barnsley to six points.
This weekend they face a Scunthorpe United side in desperate need of three points to quell their relegation fears. Pompey have just two wins in their last 11 games – though those victories have come in their last three matches.
Current leaders Luton Town cemented their position at the top of the league with a 1-0 victory against Bradford City at Valley Parade on Tuesday.
That victory left them nine points clear of third placed Sunderland and very much in the driver’s seat for promotion.
They face Gillingham at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
Barnsley managed to stop Sunderland scoring for the first time this season on Tuesday and they will want to back that impressive result up with a win this weekend against Doncaster on Friday night.
Donny have been one of the divisions surprise packages this season and currently occupy a playoff spot – if they can defeat Barnsley on Friday then the likelihood of them facing one and other in the playoffs will rise dramatically.
If results, go for Sunderland this weekend they could be sat just one point behind Barnsley and six behind leaders Luton with a game in hand.
However, if those around us win and Sunderland fall to their first league home defeat of the season – Ross’ men will have a mountain to climb to secure automatic promotion and will sit seven points behind the Tykes and 12 behind the Hatters.
FIXTURES
Doncaster Rovers v Barnsley (Friday 7.45)
Luton Town v Gillingham
Portsmouth v Scunthorpe United
Sunderland v Walsall
Oxford United v Bradford City
Peterborough United v Coventry City
Accrington Stanley v Rochdale
Shrewsbury Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Fleetwood Town v Plymouth Argyle
Bristol Rovers v Charlton Athletic
Southend United v AFC Wimbledon
Burton Albion v Blackpool
