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Match Previews

Sky Bet League 1: Matchday 44 preview

22 April 2016

There's plenty to look forward to on Matchday 44 in Sky Bet League 1 with pivotal games taking place at both ends of the table.

One of those decisive encounters is at Valley Parade, where Bradford City, currently fifth, host third-placed Walsall, who are just three points shy of the automatic promotion places. 

A win for the Bantams would put them a step closer to achieving at least a Play-Off place, but if the Saddlers can win they will apply pressure on the top two, Burton Albion and Wigan Athletic, having played a game fewer.

Here's a full list of the fixtures being played in Sky Bet League 1 on Matchday 44 - all are 3pm kick-offs unless stated:

Saturday 23rd April 2016

Sheffield United v Barnsley (12.30pm)
Bradford City v Walsall
Bury v Millwall
Colchester United v Burton Albion
Doncaster Rovers v Coventry City
Fleetwood Town v Blackpool
Gillingham v Shrewsbury
Oldham Athletic v Crewe Alexandra
Peterborough United v Scunthorpe United
Port Vale v Rochdale
Swindon Town v Chesterfield
Wigan Athletic v Southend United

League leaders Wigan, whose 20-match unbeaten run came to an end last weekend after defeat to Doncaster, take on Southend United at the DW Stadium knowing their place at the summit will be maintained with victory.

Burton, without a win in six, are in need of maximum points against Colchester United, who must win to have any chance of avoiding relegation. That still may not be enough dependent on results elsewhere.

Fourth-placed Millwall are away to Bury while Gillingham, without a win in five, entertain Shrewsbury, who need points themselves to stay out of the bottom four.

The two teams either side of Shrewsbury in the table are Fleetwood and Blackpool and they meet at Highbury Stadium in a huge Lancashire derby on Matchday 44.

Read more: Fylde Coast foes: Fleetwood Town v Blackpool – a relegation scrap

The Seasiders will move above Fleetwood with victory, but Steven Pressley's men will edge closer to safety if they pick up all three points.

Oldham are also in the mix at the bottom but, having won four of their last six, look likely to avoid the drop. The 17th-placed Latics are six points clear of the bottom two ahead of their weekend clash with relegated Crewe.


Barnsley are best placed to leapfrog Gillingham into the Play-Offs, and are currently level on points with the Gills. Paul Heckingbottom takes his troops to Bramall Lane to play Sheffield United, who have gone four matches unbeaten to launch a late charge for the top six.

The Blades are four points behind the Tykes, on 65, which is the same number as eighth-placed Rochdale, who travel to Port Vale. Scunthorpe United, another side on 65, travel to Peterborough.

Elsewhere, Swindon Town take on Chesterfield at the County Ground while Doncaster Rovers need to win at the Keepmoat Stadium against Coventry City to aid their task of avoiding relegation. 

Match Official Appointments

The match official appointments for all the weekend's Sky Bet League 1 fixtures were announced earlier this week. 


Don't miss it!

We'll be providing goal updates from all of the weekend's Sky Bet League 1 matches on Twitter, via @SkyBetLeague1.



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