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A look ahead to the key games on matchday five

8 October 2020

Another weekend of EFL action is just around the corner!

Despite the international break, there's plenty on the way across Sky Bet League One and League Two, and below are just a few of the big fixtures to keep an eye out for...

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The weekend's action begins on Friday night with a first-ever competitive meeting between two sides who were among the favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked in 2020/21. Fleetwood Town's start to the campaign has been a slow one, after their Play-Off Semi-Final disappointment last season, but they'll be hoping that victory over Hull City under the floodlights can kick-start a run of form. It certainly won't be easy for the Cod Army, they're up against a Tigers side that have won all four of their league games so far without conceding a single goal. 

It's a similar story when it comes to Fleetwood's near neighbours Blackpool, and their next opponents Ipswich Town. Blackpool sit a place above Fleetwood in the standings after back-to-back defeats and will be looking for an important three points against third-placed Ipswich, who are undefeated so far and hoping to replicate their strong start from 2019/20. On paper, this one looks like being another entertaining contest.

Despite Hull's fine start, it's Lincoln City who lead the way in League One, and Saturday afternoon sees them welcome Bristol Rovers to the LNER Stadium. The Imps are the top scorers in the division going into the weekend but face a Rovers side who had a confidence-boosting first win of the season against Northampton Town last time out. These two have had some memorable battles in the past, including a Play-Off clash which saw them share eight goals in an eventual 5-3 win for Lincoln back in 2007.

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Into Sky Bet League Two, where two of the early front-runners go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon. Ahead of kick-off, it's Newport County who sit at the summit after leapfrogging Cambridge United last weekend, and this weekend will see the two sides battle it out for three points at the Abbey Stadium. Newport will take confidence from their Carabao Cup Round Two win over the U's just last month, on the way to reaching Round Four - and so nearly the Quarter-Finals - for the first time in their history.

Elsewhere, it's 8th v 7th as Cheltenham Town take on Crawley Town. Both sides have two wins to their name so far this season and, after missing out in the Play-Offs last season, Cheltenham will be looking to beat the sides around them in an attempt to go one better in 2020/21. This will be just the 11th meeting between the two, with Crawley running out 1-0 winners on each of the last three occasions.

Finally, two sides from the North West who have experienced contrasting fortunes at the start of the campaign meet this weekend, as Oldham Athletic host Morecambe. The visitors currently sit second following three wins from their four games, which have featured three goals from midfielder Adam Phillips, and could go top if results go their way on Saturday. Oldham, on the other hand, sit just outside of the relegation zone on goal difference, but their spectacular comeback at Colchester United last time out means this promises to be a fascinating game. 

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