We look ahead to the weekend action in Sky Bet League 1.
Saturday 18th October 2014Bradford City v Sheffield United – 5:15pm kick-off – live on Sky Sports
The Bantams (7th – 18 points): Lost 3-1 to Barnsley last time out after going ahead through Jason Kennedy. They were previously unbeaten in four. Forward Mason Bennett has been recalled by Derby County.
The Blades (10th – 17 points): Have hit a spell of inconsistency with two defeats, a victory and a draw coming in their last four. The draw was last Saturday against Leyton Orient, when they hit back from behind late on to lead 2-1, only to throw it away in stoppage time. The Blades' six away games so far have featured a league-high 23 goals.
Just the one: Bradford have only managed one win in 16 league games against the Blades stretching back to April 1988, but that came in this fixture last season.
Chesterfield v Oldham Athletic
The Spireites (6th – 18 points): Their only victory in five outings came against Sheffield United, while last weekend they were defeated 3-2 by table-toppers Bristol City. In-form striker Eoin Doyle scored twice in that match, taking his goal tally to 14 in 11 matches this term.
The Latics (8th – 18 points): Overturned a one-goal deficit to beat Walsall 2-1 last Saturday, and that took their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches. Four of their six games on the road this term have ended level and they haven't triumphed at Chesterfield since December 2002, seven visits ago.
Coventry City v Bristol City
The Sky Blues (16th – 13 points): Four defeats in five, including last time out against rock-bottom Crewe, have seen Coventry slide down the table, but they've only lost once in six at home and overcame the visiting City 5-4 in this fixture in 2014/15.
The Robins (1st – 28 points): Got the better of Chesterfield last weekend to go five points clear at the summit. They've won three and drawn three on the road so far. Despite their table-topping start, defender Derrick Williams is refusing to get carried away.
It's been a while: Bristol City haven't been defeated in a league game since losing 2-1 to Rotherham United on 29th March, 18 matches ago.
Fleetwood Town v Doncaster Rovers
The Cod Army (12th – 16 points): Suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Colchester last week to leave their league record this season as four wins, four draws and four defeats. None of those losses have come at Highbury, though, where they've notched two wins and four draws.
Rovers (14th – 14 points): While Fleetwood have lost two of their last three, Doncaster have won two of their most recent three, triumphing 2-1 at Scunthorpe two weeks ago. Another victory would see them leapfrog their opponents in the Sky Bet League 1 table.
Nice to meet you: This will be the first ever competitive meeting between Fleetwood and Doncaster.
Leyton Orient v Milton Keynes Dons
The O's (22nd – 11 points): Remain managerless and are now without a victory in three, losing two of those. Their last-minute leveller at Sheffield United last Saturday could give them a boost. The O's possess the division's worst home form with one point collected from five outings.
The Dons (4th – 19 points): Have alternated between defeats and wins in their last four, having beat Yeovil 2-0 most recently. They've found the net 25 times which is a joint-high in the division. Defender Jordan Spence is eagerly anticipating a return to the club where he made his senior debut.
Three on the bounce: Leyton Orient have won the last three clashes between these two; 2-0 in April 2013, 2-1 in October of the same year and 3-1 in May 2014.
Notts County v Crawley Town
The Magpies (9th – 17 points): Are going along nicely just outside the Play-Offs, unbeaten in six after four draws and two wins. Both of their losses so far have come at Meadow Lane, with their home form reading two victories, two defeats and two losses, with five goals scored and five conceded. Michael Petrasso has joined on a three-month loan from QPR.
The Reds (15th – 14 points): Conceded four goals in a match for the second time this season last weekend, going down 4-1 at home to Peterborough. They have a league-low goals scored tally of nine, and only three of them have come on the road. Mat Sadler's loan from Rotherham has been extended for another month.
Home comforts: These sides have only met four times but the visiting team has never taken all three points. The first two clashes, in 2012/13, finished level, before two 1-0 wins for the hosts last term.
Peterborough United v Barnsley
The Posh (2nd – 23 points): Having suffered successive defeats in mid-September, Posh have turned a corner to win two of their last three, including last time out against Crawley. Attacking players Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Erhun Oztumer and Kenny McEvoy were in good form for the reserves in midweek, which could give boss Darren Ferguson a selection headache.
The Tykes (13th – 15 points): Overcame rivals Bradford 3-1 last Sunday having initially trailed 1-0. That result gave them back-to-back wins for the first time since March. They've only lost once on the road in six trips but Peterborough have only suffered one home defeat so far.
Preston North End v Port Vale
The Lilywhites (5th – 19 points): Have won three on the bounce, most recently beating Colchester 4-2 at home, meaning they are still yet to taste defeat at Deepdale in 2014/15. They've got the better of Port Vale already this term, winning 3-2 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The Valiants (19th – 12 points): Steady improvements are being made under the guidance of caretaker boss Rob Page, highlighted by their 4-1 mauling of Yeovil last weekend. Tom Pope scored twice in that match, ending his eight-game goal drought.
Nemesis: Joe Garner has netted five goals for Preston in his last three games against Port Vale. He bagged braces in both meetings last season before scoring once in their Johnstone's Paint Trophy clash earlier this season.
Rochdale v Gillingham
Dale (11th – 16 points): Three straight wins was followed by a defeat to Barnsley in their most recent outing. They haven't triumphed at home to Gillingham since March 1996 with two draws and one loss coming over the last three times they've hosted the Gills.
The Gills (20th – 12 points): Have lost their last three including a 3-0 defeat to Scunthorpe a week ago. Captain Doug Loft saw red in that match and will therefore miss this counter. Gillingham have the joint-worst away record in the division with only one point collected from six games on the road.
Close call: The head-to-head record in the league between these two currently stands at 11-10 in Rochdale's favour.
Scunthorpe United v Colchester United
The Iron (23rd – 10 points): Won for the first time in four outings at Gillingham last weekend, ahead of Mark Robins' midweek appointment. Robins won 17 of the 33 League 1 games he was in charge for at Coventry, before he made the move to Huddersfield in February 2013.
The U's (17th – 12 points): Notched their first home win of the season last weekend, against Fleetwood. Their other two victories have come on the road but they are winless against Scunthorpe since 2006 and without three points at Glanford Park since a 4-3 triumph in February 1995.
Walsall v Crewe Alexandra
The Saddlers (18th – 12 points): Were on the end of a 2-1 defeat at Oldham a week ago, having picked up five points from their previous three matches. Their two wins this term have both come at the Banks's Stadium, where they haven't lost since the opening day. Midfielder Sam Mantom is back in training but this game comes too soon for his return.
The Railwaymen (24th – 7 points): Ended a run of four successive defeats by beating Coventry 2-1 last time out. They remain rooted to the bottom, being the only team yet to reach double figures in the points tally. Their 30 goals conceded is a league-worst.
Alex defender Adam Dugdale is targeting another three points this weekend - click here to read the full story
Yeovil Town v Swindon Town
The Glovers (21st – 12 points): Three defeats on the spin has seen Yeovil drop into the relegation places. Defender Ryan Inniss, 19, has joined on a youth loan from Crystal Palace and is available for this weekend's clash.
The Robins (3rd – 21 points): Were flying before the international break, unbeaten since the second week of the season, registering maximum points from their last three outings. They'll want to continue that form and also continue their good run against Yeovil, who Mark Cooper's men beat twice in 2012/13.
All games are 3pm kick-offs unless stated.