Harrogate Town v Port Vale
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Tuesday 1st March – 7:45PM KO
Port Vale are on a roll at the moment and have their sights firmly set on a late charge into the League Two play-offs.
The Valiants went through a bit of a rut at the start of 2022 but appear to have turned a corner now. They beat lowly Stevenage last time out thanks to an own goal from defender Luke O’Neill and a strike from Leeds United loanee Ryan Edmondson. Their assistant, Andy Crosby, has been taking charge of first-team affairs recently with manager Darrell Clarke on compassionate leave following a family bereavement. Nigel Adkins’ former number two has impressed since stepping up and was delighted with the win over Boro over the weekend, saying that he “couldn’t be prouder of the players”. Port Vale’s players are doing him and their boss Clarke proud at the moment and are unbeaten in their last eight league games now in a run that has taken them to within three points off the top seven with 15 games left of the campaign to play, with their last loss coming against Salford City back on 15th January. They will be eager to carry on their impressive run of form against a Harrogate Town side who have nothing to play for. In terms of injury news, Vale are sweating on the fitness of right wing-back David Worrall after he limped off against Stevenage. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem as they have the reliable James Gibbons back from injury and January signing from Mansfield Town Harry Charsley can also play in his position if needed which shows their strength in depth.
Harrogate drew 0-0 with Barrow last time out after a drab affair in Cumbria. Their assistant, Paul Thirlwell, said it was a “good point” in the end for the Yorkshire club but they were playing against a Bluebirds side who haven’t won in five league matches. Harrogate won’t go up or down this term and are comfortably sat in 14th place after another solid season in the Football League under Simon Weaver. The Sulphurites’ recent performances are reflecting this and they have won just twice in their past eight games, both of which came against Bradford City. Despite having no fresh injury concerns, they don’t have the biggest squad in the world and have only named six players on the bench for their past few fixtures and as the games come thick and fast their ranks are being squeezed which will impact upon fitness levels.
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Prediction: Port Vale Double Chance, 1.44 on Betfair (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Bristol Rovers v Barrow
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Tuesday 1st March – 7:45PM KO
Bristol Rovers have emerged as dark horses for the League Two play-offs over recent weeks.
They were relegated from League One last season and were expected to make a strong push for an immediate promotion this term. However, things haven’t gone to plan for them and they were languishing in the lower reaches of the table before hitting some form over the past couple of months. The Gas have lost just once in their past 12 league games and are unbeaten in their past five as they eye a late charge for the top seven. Their drew 1-1 at home to in-form Exeter City last time out and took the lead through defender Luca Hoole before Jevani Brown pegged them back. Their boss, Joey Barton, said it was a “valuable point” and it takes his side four points of the play-offs. He substituted off key winger Sam Nicholson against the Grecians as he has a slight injury worry but could throw him back into the fold for the visit of Barrow this week. The Scotsman has been an influential player this term and has chipped in with six goals and five assists in all competitions. He was replaced by Barnsley loan man Luke Thomas, who has himself laid on four assists for his teammates in this campaign, and is a solid alternative should his counterpart not be ready for Tuesday.
Barrow are nervously looking over their shoulders towards the relegation zone and were held 0-0 at home by Harrogate Town over the weekend. Their boss, Mark Cooper, can’t be on the touchline which is a blow for them as he is currently serving a touchline suspension. He is still able to conduct media duties and was “frustrated” that his side couldn’t pick up a valuable three points. The Cumbrian side were missing defender Connor Brown against the Sulphurites and it turns out he is injured after picking up a knock against Stevenage earlier this month. Remeao Hutton took his place in the starting XI but doesn’t have the same experience as his teammate which is what you need in a relegation battle. Barrow are only two points above the relegation zone and will wary that teams below them in Oldham Athletic and Carlisle United have new managers at the helm in John Sheridan and Paul Simpson respectively and both picked up a result over the weekend. Cooper’s men have won just once in their past eight league games and are sinking towards the bottom two unless they start picking up some wins.
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Prediction: Bristol Rovers to Win, 2.0 on Betfair (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Crawley Town v Oldham Athletic
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Tuesday 1st March – 7:45PM KO
Crawley Town and Oldham Athletic lock horns in League Two on Tuesday evening with both clubs in confident mood.
The hosts have a spring in their step after beating table toppers Forest Green Rovers 2-1 over the weekend thanks to goals from Ashley Nadesan and Jordan Tunnicliffe, becoming only the fourth side to beat Rob Edwards’ team this season. Their boss, John Yems, said it was “up there” with one of their best performances in this campaign so far. The Red Devils have had no problems in scoring goals this term and have bagged 39 times so far, which is more than 2nd place Northampton Town and 3rd place Tranmere Rovers. Making the play-offs is still a tall order for the Sussex club as they still remain nine points away at this moment in time but they aren’t in bad form right now, losing just once in their last six games against Hartlepool United last weekend. Yems was forced to substitute striker Aramide Oteh against Forest Green and he is now a doubt for the game against Oldham. Nevertheless, they brought on goal scorer Nadesean in his place and have a ready-made replacement. The attacker has chipped in with four goals this term and will be eager to match his tally of eight from last season.
Oldham have been enjoying a revival under John Sheridan over recent weeks after he returned to Boundary Park for a sixth time at the end of January. The Latics looked doomed before he came in and became their permanent successor for Keith Curle but are now fancying their chances of staying up. They remain a point from safety in 23rd place but have a game in hand on Carlisle United above them which they will be eager to utilise. The North West club drew 1-1 away at Colchester United over the weekend to extend their unbeaten run of games to nine matches in the league now. Sheridan spoke after the game and was satisfied with the fact they were “going back with something” as they prepare for another tricky away trip at Crawley. Oldham’s player to watch is attacker Davis Kellior-Dunn and he is their top scorer on 12 goals this season, after bagging his latest one against Colchester. The former Wrexham man has scored four times as many as their 2nd top scorer Dylan Bahamboula, which shows how crucial he will be in their hunt for survival and is someone who poses a real threat to Yem’s side.
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Prediction: Both Teams to Score, 1.8 on Betfair (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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