After a weeks' break due to FA Cup action, Sky Bet League One is back with some cracking looking matches. Expect more late comebacks, turnarounds, last minute winners and brilliant goals when matchday 21 kicks off tomorrow
Play-off battle at Bloomfield
Arguably, the game of the weekend in Sky Bet League One comes at Bloomfield Road when Blackpool welcome fellow play-off chasing Charlton Athletic.
Lee Bowyer’s side have a good record of late against the Seasiders and have lost just once in their last nine meetings and have won three of the last four at Bloomfield Road. The Addicks are in great form too, with four victories on the bounce. The last time they won five on the spin was six years ago.
But Blackpool will be confident they can take all three points with a home record that has seen them lose just one game at home all season, winning five games and drawing only three.
Keep your eyes on this one at the weekend – it could go either way!
Sunderland to continue run?
Accrington Stanley will play Sunderland for the first time in their entire history on Saturday hoping to be the first team to beat the Black Cats in 11 league games.
The visitors are in excellent form and as well as scoring in every league game so far this season, they have conceded just the one goal on their previous four matches away from home.
The home side go in to this one on the back of a run that has seen them slip down the league standings, and they are without a win in six Sky Bet League One matches.
Can Barton’s boys cause an upset at Kenilworth Road?
Charlton and Sunderland aren’t the only team in superb form though, and 3rd placed Luton Town are the joint top scorers in the division. Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town are the visitors to Kenilworth Road on Saturday, where they will hope to inflict just a second defeat on the Hatters on their home turf.
If they’re to do so, they’ll be looking to star man Ashley Hunter to overturn their run of four straight away defeats. With nine assists, Hunter has more than any other Sky Bet League One player this season.
Can Push turn around wretched recent record against Oxford?
You’d have to go back 12 years in the history books to find the last time that Peterborough United took any points off Oxford United in league competition. Posh have lost all of their last five encounters with the U’s – but they’re the ones fairing much better this season.
The hosts have lost just one of their last six matches, while by contrast, the Oxford boss Karl Robinson has seen his side win just one of their last 18 away games.
A win for the visitors on Saturday though would see them move further clear of the bottom four – they currently sit just four points above the relegation zone.
Midlands meeting at the Bescot
Coventry City make the trip across the midlands to face Walsall tomorrow hoping to turn around their recent poor away run.
Mark Robins’ side enjoyed a run of five straight games in October and November, but have gone two straight games without scoring on their travels.
Their hosts though are without a win in five games, but will be hoping their win against the Sky Blues in the FA Cup earlier this season can inspire them to take all three points.
Around the grounds
Portsmouth will want to extend their run at the top when they face Southend United ar Fratton Park. Pompey don’t always enjoy facing Southend however and have lost six of the last seven contests between the two sides. But this season, they have only lost once in 20 games and are unbeaten since early October.
5th placed Barnsley will look to keep the pressure on the top three when they travel to Wycombe Wanderes. The Tykes are unbeaten on the four times they have played the Chairboys in their history.
Elsewhere, lowly Bristol Rovers will be hoping to seize upon Doncaster Rovers’ inconsistent form this season when the two sides face each other at the Memorial Stadium. The Pirates have lost four on the spin though, while Doncaster are unbeaten in three games and sit just outside the top six on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Rochdale travel to AFC Wimbledon hoping to stop the rot of three straight league defeats and Shrewsbury Town face Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium, with just one win in 14 games on the road.
Bradford City travel to Plymouth Argyle and Scunthorpe United entertain Gillingham where they have only lost 2 of the last 18 encounters.