It might be an international break for the top two divisions in English football this week but there is no rest for the bottom two leagues which means we have another set of matches in League Two on Saturday where a condensed table will either become even tighter or some sides will take the opportunity to break away.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (3pm unless stated)
Mansfield v Notts County 12:15
Accrington v Cheltenham
Blackpool v Cambridge
Colchester v Newport
Doncaster v Barnet
Exeter v Grimsby
Hartlepool v Crawley
Leyton Orient v Portsmouth
Luton v Crewe
Morecambe v Carlisle
Stevenage v Plymouth
Yeovil v Wycombe
Big Matches
In terms of size the biggest game of the day comes at Brisbane Road where Leyton Orient host Portsmouth in a clash between two sides who should already be doing a lot better than they are. Leaders Plymouth head to Stevenage hoping to extend their five point lead at the top while Doncaster will be looking to close that gap when they host Doncaster. Carlisle head to early pacesetters Morecambe aiming to preserve their undefeated start to the season.
Best of the Rest
Two sides in the top eight in the table meet at Kenilworth Road when Luton host Crewe while fifth placed Crawley make the extra-long journey up to Hartlepool while Notts County make the short journey to Mansfield for a local derby in the early kick off. Graham Westley begins his spell in charge of Newport with a trip to Colchester.
Betting
This is a strange card. Nearly every side in the upper end of the table are away from home to lower sides and if there is one thing we know about this division that is not a profitable combination it has to be said. There are two higher end sides at home though and I think both can take advantage of that.
I saw Doncaster at Kenilworth Rd a couple of weeks ago and they are the best side I’ve seen this season. They have an air of confidence and a purpose about them that not many sides have. Ultimately things went against them and they ran into a rampant Luton side in the end that day but there is no shame in that.
They take on a Barnet side on Saturday who are becoming notorious for being poor travellers and with some key players still out I don’t see that changing. Barnet took a 5-1 thumping in their last completed away game and the way Doncaster are playing at the Keepmoat they may well get comfortably turned over here too.
There is a real feel-good factor around Luton at the minute. They have started the season nicely with wins over Plymouth, Aston Villa and Doncaster and their impressive flock of youngsters have seen off Gillingham and West Brom in the EFL Trophy while off the pitch things are gaining pace in the hope of a new ground and I think that positivity can help them overcome Crewe on Saturday.
Crewe made a good start to the campaign but they are now three matches without a win in the league and that includes a 5-1 pumping at Wycombe a couple of weeks ago. That spells out a warning sign here because any side who can’t defend and shut the game down at Luton is on a hiding to nothing and I don’t believe it is in Crewe’s philosophy to do that.
Aston Villa, Doncaster and Wycombe can all testify what happens when you get into a football match with Luton at Kenilworth Road these days and I’m expecting Crewe to be taught the same story.
Tips
PUSH – Back Doncaster (-1AH) to beat Barnet for a 4/10 stake at 2.06 with Unibet
Back them here:
Back Luton to beat Crewe for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Skybet
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