Matchday 38 may have been decimated in some ways because of the international football that’s taking place. However, there are still a raft of EFL fixtures across League One and League Two to get stuck into. As always, these matches can impact the top and bottom of divisions, but because some teams aren’t playing due to international call-ups, it gives the teams that are an opportunity to gain a temporary advantage. Our EFL preview covers the pick of the action from the third and fourth-tiers, starting in League One.
EFL Preview: League One
Crawley Town vs Bristol Rovers
Crawley Town vs Bristol Rovers is a bottom end of the table clash in the third tier between two teams who would certainly rather be elsewhere. Crawley start the day in 22nd, and they’re 12 points adrift of 20th, which represents safety. And unfortunately for them, the team sat in 20th is the team they come up against on Saturday in Bristol Rovers.
At this stage of the season, with less than ten games to be played, a 12-point deficit is going to be hard to overcome. But Crawley can cut that down to 9 points with victory over Bristol Rovers. However, they’re out of form, with their last five results being one draw and four defeats. Bristol Rovers may have lost last time out, but they’d won two in a row before that. They will fancy their chances against Crawley and push them closer to the brink.
Peterborough United vs Charlton Athletic
It’s fair to say that both Peterborough United and Charlton Athletic will have fancied their chances of promotion this season when the action kicked off. However, Peterborough United vs Charlton Athletic, on Matchday 38, is a battle between 18th and 4th. But this doesn’t take away from the fixture, not if recent form is anything to go by.
With eight games to be played after this fixture, Charlton, who are going well under Nathan Jones, continue to look to position themselves well in the top six. They retain an outside chance of an automatic promotion place. However, they come up against a League One team in the form of Posh, who are typically a string outfit. They’re finally hitting some form, and as they’re at home and are unbeaten in their last five outings, this won’t be a typical battle between the team in 18th and an opponent in 4th.
Wrexham vs Stockport County
Wrexham vs Stockport County could be the pick of the League One action this weekend. The home team have been in the running for a top-two finish and automatic promotion to the Championship all season. They start the day in 3rd, level on points, with Wycombe Wanderers in second. On Matchday 38, they face Stockport County, who are 5th and looking good for the playoffs.
The interesting thing about both teams in this fixture is that they have been prone to blips along the way. Wrexham lost 2-0 to Reading the game before last, and Stockport suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of lowly Cambridge United several games ago. It means Wrexham vs Stockport isn’t straightforward, but the home team will believe they can win this one and apply more pressure to Wycombe who don’t play this weekend.
EFL League One Postponements
The great thing for the teams in action in League One on Matchday 38 is that most teams aren’t playing due to international call-ups. There are only six third-tier games this weekend, with half of the division not playing, so there’s an opportunity for teams to climb into higher positions, putting pressure on those forced into playing rearranged fixtures further down the line. This could have an impact at both ends of the table, with the promotion and playoff race still open and the battle to beat the drop to League Two ongoing.
League Two
Notts County vs Crewe Alexandra
As things stand, Notts County vs Crewe Alexandra is a match between 5th and 8th in League Two. However, between now and the end of the season, it’s possible for both teams to be higher than they presently are in the table. When the game kicks off, County will be on 61 points, 2 points off third, and Crewe on 57 points, 1 point of the playoff places.
So, you could say that both teams have a lot to play for because a result in this one can see them finish the day exactly where they want to be. But for the losing team, they could lose ground. Form-wise, County have won one in their last five, losing three of their last four, and the Alex have drawn their last two. Whichever team steps up here could get the reward they’re looking for at full-time.
Bradford City vs Colchester United
It wasn’t so long ago that Bradford City vs Colchester United would have been a match between a playoff-chasing outfit and a midtable team. Fast forward to the present day, and Bradford City vs Colchester United is now 3rd vs 7th, automatic promotions hopefuls vs a playoff-bound team. It’s been some journey in recent weeks for both.
The Bantams have done fantastically well to get into contention for an automatic ride to League One, but Colchester’s run has been even more impressive. The problem for Bradford is that they’ve lost their last two games in a row, and while they’re at home, they’re facing the division’s form team, who are winning match after match. It could be the away side who come into this one with more confidence, and they could take it to an out-of-form Bradford.
Port Vale vs Morecambe
Port Vale vs Morecambe may be a match between a home team in 6th and an away team in 23rd, but both teams have a lot to play for, and this could be described as a must-win fixture for both. If Vale win, they will end the day in the playoff places and could climb into the autos. If they lose, they could end the day on the cusp of falling out of the playoff zone. Morecambe must win if they want to keep their survival hopes alive.
It’s the form of Vale and Morecambe that adds to the intrigue here, with 1 win in their last 5 for both teams. With both not in the best of form of late, it could be one of those typical games where it comes down to which team wants or needs it more. Vale have the quality on paper, but they’ve flattered to deceive at times, and Morecambe, 6 points from safety, can’t afford any more slip-ups.
There’s a full fixture list this weekend in League Two, and with the division as tight as it can get at the top and the bottom, every result matters at this stage. Most teams have less than 10 games to play, and what they do between now and the end of the season could be the difference between promotion, the playoffs, and relegation. There are only five points between the autos and 8th, so it’s really all to play for.
