Post by moonie on Jan 10, 2023 23:00:51 GMT
Rochdale's victory at Valley Parade tonight ensures that we can remain 4th with a victory against Newport at Brunton Park this coming Saturday. But with just 5 points between us and Tranmere in 15th place, the table could look very different by the close of play...
Leyton Orient (1st) vs Barrow (6th) - crazy to think that league leaders Leyton Orient could move 20 points clear of us should we slip up. This would require them to beat Barrow at Brisbane Road, but The 6h Bluebirds won't be a push over, knowing they could end the day in 4th place themselves.
Harrogate (19th) vs Stevenage (2nd) - fresh from their giantkilling at the weekend, Stevenage will be confident of maintaining their double-digit points advantage over us against a Harrogate side who were on the receiving end of a 3-1 tanking from Colchester on Saturday. The home side are a long way from safety, just 4 points clear of the relegation zone after Rochdale's surprise win at Bradford tonight.
Stockport (14th) vs Northampton (3rd) - Stockport will be looking to get their season back on track against a stuttering Cobblers side which has only won 1 of its last 4 matches. Victories for both County and Carlisle would put us just 4 points behind Northampton, with a game in hand.
Wimbledon (13th) vs Bradford (5th) - Wimbledon have only won one of their last 5, but Bradford are also struggling for consistency. A home victory would put the Dons back into playoff contention, and do us a favour - at least in the short term.
Salford (7th) vs Sutton (12th) - just two points separate these two sides, and both will have their sights firmly set on a playoff place. Salford would move ahead of us if they win and we fail to do the same, whilst Sutton could move level with us should they win.
Swindon (8th) vs Grimsby (16th) - Swindon are yet another side who can't find consistency. Uncertainty surrounds their managerial situation at the County Ground, and hopefully Grimsby can take advantage of this with an unlikely result in Wiltshire.
Mansfield (9th) vs Crewe (17th) - the stags may be 5 places behind us, but just 1 point separates the two clubs. They've lost their last two, but will surely have too much for a poor Crewe side.
Crawley (21st) vs Doncaster (10th) - hard to imagine anything other than a Rovers victory here, with the division's problem child club (Crawley) without a win in their last 4 and teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. 10th placed Donny are just 2 points behind us.
Tranmere (15th) vs Walsall (11th) - the visitors are just 3 points behind us, and have a game in hand - whilst Rovers are 2 points further back. Hard game to call, both sides are capable of good performances on their days but have struggled to string results together this season.
The days fixtures are rounded off by two big games at the bottom end of the division. An improving Colchester travel to Rochdale, whilst Gillingham play host to Hartlepool.
Leyton Orient (1st) vs Barrow (6th) - crazy to think that league leaders Leyton Orient could move 20 points clear of us should we slip up. This would require them to beat Barrow at Brisbane Road, but The 6h Bluebirds won't be a push over, knowing they could end the day in 4th place themselves.
Harrogate (19th) vs Stevenage (2nd) - fresh from their giantkilling at the weekend, Stevenage will be confident of maintaining their double-digit points advantage over us against a Harrogate side who were on the receiving end of a 3-1 tanking from Colchester on Saturday. The home side are a long way from safety, just 4 points clear of the relegation zone after Rochdale's surprise win at Bradford tonight.
Stockport (14th) vs Northampton (3rd) - Stockport will be looking to get their season back on track against a stuttering Cobblers side which has only won 1 of its last 4 matches. Victories for both County and Carlisle would put us just 4 points behind Northampton, with a game in hand.
Wimbledon (13th) vs Bradford (5th) - Wimbledon have only won one of their last 5, but Bradford are also struggling for consistency. A home victory would put the Dons back into playoff contention, and do us a favour - at least in the short term.
Salford (7th) vs Sutton (12th) - just two points separate these two sides, and both will have their sights firmly set on a playoff place. Salford would move ahead of us if they win and we fail to do the same, whilst Sutton could move level with us should they win.
Swindon (8th) vs Grimsby (16th) - Swindon are yet another side who can't find consistency. Uncertainty surrounds their managerial situation at the County Ground, and hopefully Grimsby can take advantage of this with an unlikely result in Wiltshire.
Mansfield (9th) vs Crewe (17th) - the stags may be 5 places behind us, but just 1 point separates the two clubs. They've lost their last two, but will surely have too much for a poor Crewe side.
Crawley (21st) vs Doncaster (10th) - hard to imagine anything other than a Rovers victory here, with the division's problem child club (Crawley) without a win in their last 4 and teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. 10th placed Donny are just 2 points behind us.
Tranmere (15th) vs Walsall (11th) - the visitors are just 3 points behind us, and have a game in hand - whilst Rovers are 2 points further back. Hard game to call, both sides are capable of good performances on their days but have struggled to string results together this season.
The days fixtures are rounded off by two big games at the bottom end of the division. An improving Colchester travel to Rochdale, whilst Gillingham play host to Hartlepool.