2021-22 was a disaster for Crewe Alexandra. 2022-23 hasn’t really been much better. The Railwaymen, back in the fourth tier, sit 19th in the table and have to monitor that gap to 23rd and the start of the League Two relegation zone. Manager Lee Bell has a limited group of players to work with, and isn’t helped by a long-term injury to key striker Courtney Baker-Richardson. The signing of Elliott Nevitt has hoped to try and address the striker issue, but Crewe’s best active attacking threat for now still remains Dan Agyei. Primarily deployed as a winger when not part of a front two, the 25-year-old grabbed a brace against relegation-threatened Crawley Town on Saturday to bring his league tally up to eight goals.

Hartlepool United, like Crewe Alexandra, were also involved in a 2-2 draw at the weekend. Though they remain in prime position to fall into the bottom two as Gillingham pick up form, there is growing belief that Hartlepool could keep themselves safe come the end of the season. The starting eleven on Saturday contained seven January signings, much-needed quality and depth added from front two back in a 3-4-1-2. Wing-backs Jamie Sterry and David Ferguson, as well as midfielder Nicky Featherstone and top scorer Josh Umerah, all key players, were the only regulars in that starting team. Milton Keynes Dons loanee Dan Kemp has added crucial attacking midfield quality, Connor Jennings has become the starting strike partner to Umerah. Oli Finney provides better balance to central midfield. The standout so far though has been Dan Dodds. The right-sided defender was purchased from Middlesbrough and has already become a popular figure with the County Durham outfit, scoring in both of Hartlepool’s last two matches.

Hartlepool will be keen to build on four points collected from two matches this month, and have an opportunity to do so against a poor Crewe Alexandra side. Both teams have been involved in the goals across this season, no one in League Two currently possessing a worse defensive record than Hartlepool’s 54 goals conceded. Crewe matches have seen an average of 2.1 goals this season, Hartlepool games an average of 2.8 goals. Another 2-2 for both would do just nicely here.

It is top versus bottom in League Two as Leyton Orient face Rochdale.

The O’s remain at the summit and are well on track to secure promotion to League One after a brilliant season. They drew 1-1 away at Walsall over the weekend and had defender Ed Turns to thank for a late equaliser. Speaking afterwards, manager Richie Wellens said his team showed ‘complete dominance’ and was satisfied with the point. However, he will no doubt be hoping his players pick up all three against their next opponents this week and will hope attacker Paul Smyth, who has scored nine league goals this term, is fit for this one. If not, they have a host of great options in his position anyway such as Charlie Kelman, Theo Archibald and January signing Kieran Sadlier anyway. Leyton Orient have lost just five out of their 31 games this season and have the best defensive record in the division having let in only 18 goals. They are starting to pick up form again and haven’t lost in their last three outings since their losses to Stevenage and Tranmere Rovers last month so should win again on Tuesday.

Rochdale are slipping fast towards the National League and are now five points from safety. They drew 1-1 at home to Northampton Town last time out, with attacker Ian Henderson on the scoresheet, and were left devastated when Ben Fox scored a late equaliser for the Cobblers. Their boss Jim Bentley was understandably hurt by the result and said it was a ‘cruel’ blow and will affect his players as their poor set of results continue. On the selection front, the North West club will have defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell back from suspension and he will compete with Max Taylor and Rhys Bennett for a place back in the side. However, Rochdale have leaked goals all year and only fellow strugglers Hartlepool United have let in more in this campaign which shows how fragile their backline has been. The Dale have won just once in their last 13 league outings and that was away at Bradford City back on 10th January where they only had 40% possession and were slightly fortunate to pick up all three points. They are seriously lacking confidence and Northampton’s last-gasp goal will be a stinger for them. They seem destined for the drop unless something drastic happens so this one points towards a home victory.

Stockport County are in confident mood as they prepare to welcome lowly Crawley Town to Edgeley Park.

The Hatters won 3-1 away at Harrogate Town last time out to keep their push for promotion on track, with winger Myles Hippolyte, striker Isaac Olaofe and midfielder Will Collar scoring their goals. Their boss Dave Challinor said it was up there with one of their ‘best’ performances of the season and he will be eager to see his team carry on their impressive run of form this week. On the injury front, striker Paddy Madden is a doubt after sustaining a calf injury but the North West outfit have lots of quality options in his position such as Olaofe, Kyle Wootton and Jack Stretton which shows their strength in depth. Stockport are in good spirits right now and are finding ways to grind out wins to help them rise into the League Two play-offs. They have lost just once in their last six league games and have risen up to 7th in the table. In addition, their home form has been very strong over recent times and they have only been beaten on their own patch once in their last seven outings and that was against table toppers Leyton Orient.

Crawley are in a relegation battle and are only two points above the bottom two at the moment. The Red Devils drew 2-2 at home against fellow strugglers Crewe Alexandra over the weekend and had midfielder Ben Gladwin to thank for his last minute equaliser. Their manager Scott Lindsay, who left fellow fourth tier side Swindon Town to take over last month, said his overriding feeling after the game was ‘disappointment’ that they didn’t win. Young midfielder Rafiq Khaleel dropped out of the squad due to injury and may be unavailable for Tuesday’s clash as well which is a blow as he provides useful competition and depth to the likes of Gladwin, Jack Powell and Teddy Jenks in the middle of the park. Crawley will be under no illusion how tough their upcoming match will be against a side in the top seven and the Sussex club have only won once in their previous seven games and that was against Salford City at home at the end of January. Away from their own ground, they have been poor and they haven’t won on their travels for the whole of this campaign so will be there for the taking.

Northampton Town remain well in the hunt for automatic promotion and should have too much quality for inconsistent AFC Wimbledon.

The Cobblers drew 1-1 away at Rochdale last time out and equalised near the end courtesy of midfielder Ben Fox’s late strike. They were pleased that they didn’t lose the game and it keeps their momentum going as they eye League One football next season. Speaking afterwards, boss Jon Brady said his side need to be more ‘purposeful’ in their play so will be keen to see a reaction this week on their own patch. On the injury front, Fulham loan man Kieron Bowie is out of action for the next few weeks but they have plenty of useful options in his position such as top scorer Sam Hoskins, Louie Appere and Josh Eppiah. Northampton are unbeaten in their last three league outings now since their loss to Stockport County on 14th January and have only conceded three times in those games which shows they have turned a corner after their defeat at Edgeley Park. They are only a point behind 3rd place Carlisle United with a game in-hand and are the second top scorers in the division behind the Cumbrians having found the net an impressive 43 times in 29 matches so they should have too much in attacking areas for their next opponents.

It has been a disappointing campaign for Wimbledon and they find themselves down in 14th place in the table, which is poor considering their target before a ball was kicked was to compete at the top end of the league. They were held 0-0 by Carlisle last Saturday and struggled to create chances as they drew another blank. The London club are lacking a cutting edge up top and their manager Johnnie Jackson said that his players applied ‘pressure’ in the game but they just lacked that quality to score. They have been dealt a blow with defender Huseyin Biler out of action for the next month as he has picked up an injury, with veteran Chris Gunter stepping in for him. Wimbledon lost key attacking midfielder Ayoub Assal to Al-Wakrah in January and are missing the playmaker’s spark in their side with current options such as Harry Pell and Ethan Chislett not as creative as their former teammate. The Dons have won just once in their last six games and just twice in their last nine which shows they are having difficulty at the moment and will struggle against the 4th best placed team on Tuesday.