Northampton’s turgid start to the season, which has seen them pick up just a solitary point from their opening four fixtures, has confounded their status as one of the bookies’ favourites for the drop.

The Cobblers have scored just once all season and are yet to find the back of the net from open play, with their xG total of just 1.02 comfortably the lowest return in the division. They only scored 24 goals in 23 home games last season and once again, look like they’re finding it difficult to create chances, which is a recipe for relegation. 

Opponents Exeter were also expected to struggle; however, their midweek victory at Wycombe was their second win of the season, having also beaten well-fancied Blackpool 4-1. They’ve had defeats against Doncaster and Mansfield, too, but have a much more settled squad than their hosts, as well as a manager in Gary Caldwell who consistently has the Grecians punching above their weight. With Northampton looking well off it, being able to get a backable price for Exeter to avoid defeat feels like a gift here. 

This hurts to write as a Stevenage fan, but despite being the only side in League One with a 100% record, I’m not entirely convinced yet that they’re going to compete at the top end. A kind opening fixture list against an under-cooked Rotherham side, newly promoted Port Vale and the aforementioned worst side in the division, coupled with being gifted three goals by defensive errors by Blackpool, means that four wins from four come with a significant asterisk.

Alex Revell’s side are as defensively sound as ever, but needing late goals to win both of their last two doesn’t scream sustainable, as incredible as their late midweek turnaround was. 

Huddersfield will represent the first real test for this Stevenage side, with their three wins coming in much more convincing fashion than their visitors, having beaten Doncaster and Reading both 2-0, and also thrashing last season’s play-off finalists Leyton Orient 3-0 on opening day.

Lee Grant has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal with Championship quality all throughout the squad, and with the Terriers having done the double over the Hertfordshire side last season when they were in much worse shape, they feel like they have the superiority to burst Alex Revell’s bubble. 

Harrogate have been good so far this season, despite having started as one of the pre-season favourites for relegation - a market they never interest me in, as they are one of those teams who always find a way to outperform their resources.

They have taken eight points from their first four games and are yet to taste defeat, but they should face a stiff test when Chesterfield visit on Saturday. The Spireites won their opening three games before crashing to a 4-1 defeat at Gillingham on Tuesday, so they will be looking to get back on track here.

Whisper it quietly, but I was impressed with Chesterfield as an attacking force when they played my team and local rivals Mansfield, only denied racking up a few goals by a superb Liam Roberts display. They have scored in each of their four league games, as have Harrogate, and I see no reason why that won’t continue on Saturday.

Both sides coming into this game on the back of midweek defeats after contrasting starts to the season. The home side have won two and lost two to get off to a middling start, whilst Shrewsbury have lost all four games, scoring just once against a Notts County side who have conceded in every game and had not won either until facing The Shrews.

Swindon have recorded wins over Cambridge and Oldham, who have gotten off to ok starts, but lost against Walsall and Barnet. Nevertheless and despite some discontent amongst their fanbase at the start they have made, they should have enough to see off a Shrewsbury side who boast the worst attack in the league in terms of xG, particularly with home advantage on their side. Swindon look a generous price to win this one.