We look ahead to the weekend action in Sky Bet League 1.
Friday 14th November 2014Barnsley v Colchester United – 7.45pm
The Tykes (12th – 19 points): Picked up four points in their last two Sky Bet League 1 games, before hitting Burton Albion for five in the FA Cup last weekend, with Sam Winnall scoring a hat-trick. That took the front man's tally to five goals in three matches.
The U's (18th – 17 points): Saw their four-game undefeated run come to an end last time out in the league, losing to Port Vale. Overcame non-league Gosport Borough 6-3 in the FA Cup and then re-signed Ipswich Town full-back Elliot Hewitt on loan.
Goals galore: Barnsley's seven home games to date have involved a league-high 30 goals, with the Tykes scoring 14 and conceding 16 at Oakwell.
Saturday 15th November 2014
Coventry City v Notts County
The Sky Blues (19th – 17 points): Were dumped out of the FA Cup by Worcester last weekend, which brought strong words from manager Steven Pressley, but his side recovered to beat Plymouth 2-0 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Quarter-Finals. All four of their league victories have come at home and their most recent success, against Peterborough, ended a run of seven winless matches.
The Magpies (6th – 26 points): Lost to Walsall two weeks ago which ended their 11-match undefeated run. They were then held to a 0-0 draw by League 2 Accrington in the FA Cup. Shaun Derry's men possess the third-best away record in League 1, with 15 points from seven outings, courtesy of four wins and three draws.
Three on the bounce? The last two meetings between these two, in 2013/14, both ended 3-0 to the home side. Coventry triumphed 3-0 in November, before County were 3-0 winners at Meadow Lane in February of this year.
Crewe Alexandra v Chesterfield
The Railwaymen (24th – 14 points): Have lost and drawn over their last two league outings, having previously won three in succession. Drew 0-0 with Sheffield United in the FA Cup, and ran out 2-0 winners in their most recent clash with Chesterfield, in March 2011.
The Spireites (11th – 20 points): Are without a win since the beginning of October, stretching back six matches, but avoided a banana skin in the FA Cup by thrashing Braintree Town 6-0. Striker Eoin Doyle – League 1's top scorer – ended a five-game goal drought by bagging a brace against the non-league side.
Doncaster Rovers v Sheffield United
Rovers (17th – 18 points): Have been on an inconsistent run in Sky Bet League 1 but were 2-1 victors against Bradford last time out. Full-back Enda Stevens has re-joined on loan from Aston Villa and could make his debut this weekend. They've won just once at home, possessing the second-worst home form in the division.
The Blades (8th – 26 points): Suffered a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Barnsley in their most recent league outing, ending a three-match winning run. Drew 0-0 with Crewe in the FA Cup, before losing 1-0 to Walsall in the Trophy in midweek. Crystal Palace defender Paddy McCarthy has returned for another loan spell.
Level-pegging: Five of the last six meetings between Doncaster and Sheffield United have ended level.
Gillingham v Leyton Orient
The Gills (22nd – 14 points): Eight winless games, going back to mid-September, sees them bogged in the relegation mire. The 2-1 Trophy win they recorded against Crawley in midweek will give them a boost, but Joe Martin was sent off in that match.
The O's (20th – 16 points): Also advanced to the Area Semi-Finals of the Trophy on Tuesday, beating Northampton 2-0. Their three League 1 wins so far have all come on their travels, but they've only tasted success once in their last eight outings. The O's overcame the Gills three times last season, twice in the league and once in the Trophy.
Oldham Athletic v Crawley Town – 1pm kick-off
The Latics (9th – 25 points): Lost 1-0 to Bristol City last time out – their first defeat for 13 matches. They recovered by overcoming Leyton Orient 1-0 in the FA Cup, and have lost only once at Boundary Park this term in League 1. Aston Villa midfielder Daniel Johnson has joined the club on loan.
The Reds (15th – 19 points): Have drawn their last two 1-1, after beating Walsall 1-0, meaning they haven't lost in three, although they were knocked out of the Cup last time out by Yeovil. John Gregory has transfer listed five players in a bid to freshen up his squad.
Home, sweet home: Oldham and Crawley have met four times over the past two seasons and the travelling team has never won. On top of that, the visiting Reds have only won once in eight trips so far this season.
Port Vale v Rochdale
The Valiants (13th – 19 points): Back-to-back victories, against Leyton Orient and Colchester, have lifted them into mid-table but they lost a seven-goal thriller to Milton Keynes Dons last weekend in the FA Cup. Defender Remie Streete has been recalled from his loan spell by parent club Newcastle.
Dale (5th – 26 points): Have moved into the Play-Offs after three successive wins, scoring three goals in each of those. Their most recent was a 3-0 victory against second-placed Preston. Keith Hill's side possess the second-best away form in the division, collecting 15 points from seven trips.
One-sided: Port Vale and Rochdale have met 46 times in league competition, with the Valiants triumphing 17 times compared to Dale's six. The two teams have shared 23 draws, including the most recent two clashes, during 2012/13.
Preston North End v Bradford City
The Lilywhites (2nd – 31 points): Sit second but have suffered back-to-back league losses after previously winning seven on the bounce. Simon Grayson's men remain unbeaten at Deepdale, so will be glad to be on home soil this weekend. Loanee Callum Robinson scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 FA Cup success at Havant & Waterlooville on Monday night.
The Bantams (14th – 19 points): Are winless in five, losing four of those, but squeezed past Halifax 2-1 in an FA Cup Yorkshire derby last time out. Striker Aaron McLean is rumoured to be subject of a loan bid from his former club Peterborough United.
Head-to-head: These two have played each other 56 times over the years and the head-to-head record currently stands at 18 wins apiece, along with 20 draws.
Swindon Town v Bristol City
The Robins (3rd – 29 points): Overcame fellow high-flyers Preston 1-0 last time out in the league but were thumped 5-0 at Cheltenham in the FA Cup. Nathan Thompson was sent off in that match although his red card has been rescinded, but Mark Cooper will be without key duo Massimo Luongo and Yaser Kasim, who are on international duty.
The Robins (1st – 36 points): Remain unbeaten at the summit and won 2-1 in the FA Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy this week, against Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon respectively. They have recalled Bobby Reid from his loan spell at Plymouth
Battle of the Robins: Swindon are unbeaten against their fellow Robins in nine encounters, stretching back to October 2003.
Walsall v Peterborough United
The Saddlers (16th – 18 points): Have notched back-to-back victories after losing three on the spin prior to that. They drew 2-2 with Shrewsbury in the FA Cup last weekend but followed that by overcoming Sheffield United in the Trophy in midweek, which will give them momentum. They've conceded just a five times at home – a league-best.
The Posh (7th – 26 points): Dropped out of the Play-Offs following three defeats on the spin in League 1. A 2-1 win against Carlisle saw them through to Round 2 of the FA Cup but goalkeeper Ben Alnwick has called for improvements. Winger Kenny McEvoy has been recalled by Spurs.
Yeovil Town v Fleetwood Town
The Glovers (23rd – 14 points): Haven't picked up three points since mid-September, seven outings ago, and that has resulted in them slipping deep into the relegation zone. They've found the net just twice in that torrid run, but did beat Crawley in the FA Cup last time out.
The Cod Army (10th – 22 points): An inconsistent spell, in which they've won four and lost three, has seen them drop to 10th. Fleetwood have lost six of their eight matches on the road, and suffered a 1-0 reverse at League 2 Cambridge last time out, in the cup. Striker Martin Paterson has joined on loan from Huddersfield and is set to make his debut.
A league first: Fleetwood and Yeovil have met twice before, in the FA Cup, during the 2011/12 season. They drew 2-2 before Fleetwood won the replay 2-0.
All games are 3pm kick-offs unless stated.