We look ahead to the weekend action in Sky Bet League 1.
Saturday 25th October 2014Barnsley v Bristol City
The Tykes (16th – 15 points): Two defeats on the bounce were followed by successive victories, but they've lost twice on the spin again, after going down 3-2 to Notts County in midweek. Striker Mike Phenix has joined from non-league AFC Telford after scoring six goals in the Conference this term.
The Robins (1st – 32 points): Went six points clear at the summit on Tuesday when drawing with Bradford City 2-2, to keep their unbeaten 2014/15 going. They've won four of their seven games on the road, scoring a league-high 15 away goals. Korey Smith is the only injury doubt for boss Steve Cotterill.
Goals, goals, goals: These two battled out an eight-goal thriller the last time they met, in February 2013, when Bristol City prevailed 5-3. The pair have shared 39 goals over their last eight encounters.
Coventry City v Peterborough United
The Sky Blues (20th – 13 points): Lost again in midweek, against Oldham, to slump further down the standings. They've now been defeated in six of their last seven, the other of which was a draw.
The Posh (2nd – 26 points): Were also defeated in midweek, going down 1-0 to lowly Crewe, and that result ended their four-game unbeaten spell. Michael Bostwick's red card in that match has been rescinded, meaning he's available for the trip to Coventry.
Goals galore: Coventry and Peterborough have scored 15 goals between them over their three most recent meetings at the Ricoh Arena.
Crewe Alexandra v Sheffield United
The Railwaymen (22nd – 13 points): That midweek success was Crewe's third on the bounce and it lifted them off the bottom of the table. They've still conceded the most in the division – 30 – but they've kept back-to-back clean sheets and look to have turned a corner.
The Blades (6th – 23 points): Made it successive 2-0 wins by seeing off Yeovil on Tuesday to move into the Play-Offs. Top scorer Marc McNulty netted for the fourth game on the spin in midweek and now has six goals from seven starts.
Doncaster Rovers v Milton Keynes Dons
Rovers (17th – 14 points): Lost 2-0 to Leyton Orient last time out. They’ve now suffered two defeats in as many outings, conceding five goals. Manager Paul Dickov has responded by loaning defender Andy Butler from Sheffield United, who is set to make his debut.
The Dons (4th – 23 points): Beat Fleetwood on Tuesday to go undefeated in three, collecting seven from the last nine available. Their 27 goals scored is the second best in the division. The Dons have never won away to Doncaster, and have only got the better of Rovers once, which was in their last meeting.
Home, not so sweet home: Doncaster have only won one of their six games at the Keepmoat so far, and that was in mid-September.
Gillingham v Crawley Town
The Gills (19th – 13 points): Are now without a victory in six after being defeated by Preston on Tuesday. Callum Davies remains injured and captain Doug Loft serves the final game of his three-match suspension.
The Reds (13th – 17 points): A 1-0 win against Walsall last time out ended a run of successive losses. Conor Henderson settled the match against the Saddlers with a fine free-kick. They've struggled on the road so far, winning just one of their seven away games.
Never stale: Gillingham and Crawley have met six times and they are yet to share the spoils.
Oldham Athletic v Bradford City
The Latics (8th – 22 points): A 4-1 midweek triumph at home to Coventry saw them go unbeaten in 12 in all competitions. Jonathan Forte netted twice in the victory and he now has 10 for the season.
The Bantams (12th – 19 points): Ended a run of defeats by holding leaders Bristol City to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday. They've won only once in six, though, and have already tasted defeat to Oldham this season, losing 1-0 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Bradford's bogey side: The Bantams haven't got the better of Oldham since February 1997. The Latics have won eight of the 10 meetings since, with the other two ending level.
Port Vale v Leyton Orient
The Valiants (18th – 13 points): Their mixed bag of results continued when they drew 2-2 with lowly Scunthorpe last time out. That came after a loss to Preston and a thumping win against Yeovil. Their head-to-head record with Orient reads 32-17 in their favour but they've only triumphed in two of six meetings since the turn of the century.
The O's (15th – 15 points): Two defeats were followed by two draws, before a 2-0 win at Doncaster in midweek. That took their unbeaten record on the road to 13 matches. Jay Simpson scored in their latest away win, taking his goal tally to four in four appearances.
Double delight: Leyton Orient did the double over Port Vale last time around, winning 3-2 at home before a 2-0 success at Vale Park.
Preston North End v Fleetwood Town
The Lilywhites (3rd – 25 points): Have the wind in their sails under Simon Grayson after notching their fifth successive win last time out, by beating Gillingham 1-0. They are yet to lose at Deepdale this term with four wins and three draws coming over their seven outings at home.
The Cod Army (11th – 19 points): Have alternated between defeats and wins in their last five, most recently losing 2-1 to MK Dons. Away from home this term, they've won two and lost five.
Reunion: Graham Alexander made 400 appearances for Preston North End during his playing days and this weekend he will return to the club as manager of Fleetwood Town, for the first competitive meeting between the two teams.
Scunthorpe United v Notts County
The Iron (24th – 12 points): Hit rock-bottom despite stretching their unbeaten run to three on Tuesday when drawing 2-2 with Port Vale. They've lost four of seven at Glanford Park this term, conceding 13 goals – the second-worst home defensive record in the division.
The Magpies (5th – 23 points): Are going well under Shaun Derry, with four wins on the trot, most recently against Barnsley. Those wins followed a four-match drawing streak, so they’re unbeaten in eight. They are yet to lose on the road this season, winning three and drawing three.
The Magpies are flying: The head-to-head record between these two stands at 17-4 in favour of County, who are undefeated in six against the Iron.
Swindon Town v Colchester United
The Robins (7th – 22 points): Dropped out of the Play-Off places in midweek when a 3-2 loss to Rochdale on Tuesday brought to an end their nine-game unbeaten run. At the County Ground, they’ve won three of six, losing just once, and have netted a joint-league-high of 15 home goals.
The U's (14th – 16 points): Are continuing to improve under Tony Humes and overcame Chesterfield 2-1 last time out – they’ve now lost only once in six, triumphing in three of those. Winger Drey Wright has been told he’ll miss the rest of the season after damaging his cruciate ligament.
Generous hosts: Four of the last five games between these two have been won by the travelling team, apart from their most recent clash when they drew 0-0.
Walsall v Chesterfield
The Saddlers (23rd – 13 points): Have dropped into the bottom four after at third successive loss in midweek, against Crawley. They’ve won twice so far, and both of those victories have come at home.
The Spireites (10th – 19 points): Are winless in three following a 2-1 loss to Colchester. That form has seen them drop out of the top six but they have triumphed in two of their last three visits to Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium.
All-square: The league head-to-head record between Walsall and Chesterfield is tied at 27-27, with 24 draws.
Yeovil Town v Rochdale
The Glovers (21st – 13 points): Four defeats in five, most recently against Sheffield United, sees them sitting in the relegation places. They’ve won only once in seven outings at Huish Park this term but overcame Rochdale 3-1 the last time the two sides locked horns in Somerset.
Dale (9th – 20 points): Travel to Yeovil following four victories in their most recent six, including last time out against in-form Swindon. They’ve won four in six on the road so will travel with confidence.
All games are 3pm kick-offs unless stated.