November signals the 16-game mark in Sky Bet League Two with a number of sides still holding promotion hopes this season. Sporting Life’s Tom Carnduff previews the latest round of games.
They may have dropped points in their last three outings, but Lincoln City are still going strong as they sit two points clear at the top of the table. The Imps were defeated 2-0 by Colchester last time out and face a tricky test against a Forest Green side who sit just six points behind them this weekend.
Danny Cowley will be eager to bounce back, and the Lincoln faithful can take confidence in the fact that they followed up their two defeats this season with victories in the game after.
Hoping for a slip-up at the top will be MK Dons, who know that victory away at Crawley could move them above Lincoln at the end of play. Paul Tisdale’s side are enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run in the league with five of those games being victories.
They may fancy themselves for a win again here, but Crawley have one of the best home records in the division having lost just one of their eight games in front of their own fans.
There’s another top-seven clash as Tranmere welcome Exeter to Prenton Park with just two points separating the sides. Rovers have had plenty of joy at home so far this season and have won their last three home encounters. Exeter though, continue to pick up points on the road and have drawn their last four.
That could signal both sides having to settle for a point here, although both will be eager for victory as they battle for the title.
Sitting in between the two is Newport County, who are level on points with the Grecians although they do hold a negative goal difference. County have won just one of their last six games, but Carlisle having the same record sets this up to be an open game which could go either way.
Stevenage will aim to capitalise on the fact that the teams above them are playing each other as they look to return to the top-seven. They have won three of their last five in front of their own supporters, but Oldham’s record of just one away defeat this season could help to prevent them leaving empty-handed.
Mansfield will be looking to extend their unbeaten run away from home as they take on Cheltenham. Town have won their last two away games and come up against a team who are without a win at home so far this season.
The only team below Cheltenham in the standings is Macclesfield. They have just one win in 16 but remain hopeful that they can turn their fortunes around. Danny Whitaker and Neil Howarth continue to hold caretaker charge, and they will be aiming for a second win at home against a Bury side who are winless in three.
Notts County’s positive start to life under Harry Kewell has hit a small bump in recent weeks with three consecutive losses. They’ll be aiming to improve on their record as the second-lowest away team in the division when they face Port Vale, who have won three of their last four in all competitions.
Yeovil find themselves on a four-game unbeaten run topped off by a victory over Carlisle in their last encounter.
Town have been a better side away from home this season with four wins from their seven games – giving them the sixth-best record in the division. They take on Morecambe who prevented a third successive loss as they took a point from promotion hopefuls Newport last weekend.
Two sides who have hit a patch of decent form is Northampton and Crewe, with the two meeting at Sixfields.
Three wins in their last five puts the hosts in second in the form charts, while Crewe’s run of just one loss over that time also sees them in the top-ten on recent performances.
Crewe may have only won once on the road this season, but their results in previous games will give them confidence that they can pick up maximum points here.
Occupying the two spots below both of those teams is Grimsby and Cambridge who have also returned to winning ways recently.
Grimsby have three wins in their last five games, while Cambridge have won their last two which should set this up to be a real entertaining encounter at The Abbey.
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