A big round of fixtures in Sky Bet League One take place tomorrow including a Christmas cracker on the south coast
Promotion contenders clash at Fratton Park
Sunderland could face the strongest test of their 12 match long unbeaten run when they travel 340 miles south to Fratton Park to face top of the table Portsmouth.
The Black Cats have sold out their away allocation once again for this game and will want to ensure their fans drive home for Christmas with the three points wrapped up.
But while Sunderland have scored in every Sky Bet League One game this season, Pompey have themselves only failed to score in one match and a win for the home side would extend their gap to the visitors to eight points.
It all makes for what should be a fascinating match-up between two of the division’s top three sides.
High-flying Hatters welcome cup semi-finalists to Kenilworth Road
Luton Town could well find themselves closer to the top of the table by the end of this weekend should results go their way. The Hatters have lost just one of their last 15 league matches and are unbeaten in Sky Bet League One since a 2-3 defeat against Barnsley in October.
Burton Albion will be on cloud nine, after their victory at Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday saw the club reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in their history. But they have lost their last two away from home in the league and will have to be at their best to stop an in-form Luton Town side.
Rovers welcome resurgent Oxford Utd to the Keepmoat
Doncaster Rovers go in to Saturday’s game having won three consecutive league games without conceding a goal. The last time they did so was over nine years ago and if they’re to match the record they set in 2009 (of four games) they’ll have to beat an in-form Oxford United side.
Karl Robinson’s U’s have only lost one of their last 11 league matches – a run that’s seen them escape the bottom three. The U’s boss meanwhile has never lost a league match against Doncaster in seven previous meetings.
Can Coventry get back to winning ways at Shrewsbury?
April 1958. 60 years ago. That was the last time Coventry City won a league match against Shrewsbury Town – and the visitors are in desperate need of getting back to winning ways this weekend.
Mark Robins’ side haven’t won in their last six matches and in order to do so against the Shrews, they will have to inflict them to just their second defeat at Meadow Lane in their last 10 games.
McCall returns to Bradford hoping to upset Bantams bounce
Scunthorpe boss Stuart McCall returns to Valley Parade for the first time since he left Bradford City as manager. McCall was Bantams boss for 231 games across three spells from November 2000.
The home side are looking for their third straight league victory after their previous two home wins featured six goals without conceding. The Iron have a good record at Bradford though and have only lost on one of their last six visits there.
Around the grounds
Blackpool have lost just one of their last 10 league games at Bloomfield Road and having booked their place in the third round of The FA Cup with a victory over Solihull Moors, will be confident of closing the gap to Barnsley, who sit just two points above them in the standings.
Charlton Athletic welcome Gillingham to the Valley looking to continue their impressive recent league form, with six wins from their last seven. The Gills are unbeaten in their last three matches though and will be hopeful of a repeat from their last visit, having won at the Valley last season.
Despite having drawn four of their last five league games, Peterborough United remain in 4th spot and just four points outside the automatic promotion places. They welcome Walsall to London Road, who thaven't won there in 12 years.
Elsewhere, Southend United will be hoping for back to back home wins when they take on struggling Rochdale at Roots Hall. Wycombe Wanderes will hope to stretch their unbeaten run to seven league games when they entertain AFC Wimbledon, who are looking for just their second win in 13 matches.
Plymouth Argyle are another side in trouble at the bottom but will be hopeful of picking up a second successive victory when they take on Accrington Stanley at home.
Having lost their last five matches in a row, Bristol Rovers will hope to change that poor run around when they take on Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town.