The Blues returned to winning ways with a hard fought 1-0 win on the road at Brackley on Wednesday, and will now be keen to recreate their last home game, which saw them smash five past Braintree. 

Carlisle are a huge side at this level and have a very large wage budget with excellent players at their disposal. None more so than Regan Linney, who made it six goals in seven games with his sublime winner in midweek. United find themselves third, and have lost just one game so far. 

Truro have really struggled with the step up from NLS, they’ve lost four of six so far and failed to score in their opening four matches. Their squad simply isn’t cut out for this level.

You’ve also got to factor in the huge journey. Truro played on Wednesday, and will then have to travel on either Thursday or Friday for the mammoth eight or nine hour journey to the other side of the country. This should be a comfortable victory for the hosts.

Scunthorpe continue to provide entertainment in the National League. All six of their matches so far have seen this selection land, as two late goals in their midweek meeting with Eastleigh continued the 100% record.

Their matches have averaged 3.00 goals and they’re the only side to have BTTS hit in every match so far.

I highlighted Declan Howe in midweek, who arrived from Gainsborough in the summer, he netted again to make it four for him so far, taking the step up in his stride. 

The Stones have been really exciting too. One of the pre-season favourites for the drop, they’ve done superbly. 34 year-old Sean Cox is their gaffer, and he’s really shining. They’re brave, on the front foot, but also have the combative side you need at this level. 

They’ve scored in all bar one of their games so far this season and BTTS has landed in five of their seven matches, with 3.00 goals seen on average per match.

They come in to this having produced a brilliant 3-2 win over a very strong Southend side in midweek, showing that they can mix it with the top slides in the division.

I fancied Rochdale for a good go at things, and they’re making it happen so far. They’re two points off the top of the table, with a game in hand, and have won five of their six games so far.

They recruited excellently in the summer to add to an already very strong squad. They fought off interest in Devante Rodney after his 19 goal haul last season, and he already has two goals and two assists this season.

Rodney’s reward was being given Mani Dieseruvwe as a partner, and the big striker has already netted five times.

Dale are the real deal, and very few sides will get positive results against them this season, least of all at home. They’ve won three from three on their own turf, keeping a clean sheet in two of those.

I fear for Braintree. They’ve won just one of their last six and scored two goals in that time, which came against Yeovil and Tamworth.

Their last away game saw them crushed 5-0 by Carlisle, and they didn’t lay a glove on them. The squad looks weak and I don’t see where the goals are going to come from, with 36 year old John Akinde as their main striker.

I’m full of admiration for Ashvir Singh Joval at Morecambe and I hope he can keep them up, but any success is going to take time, which he has said himself. There’s some good signs in their play, but bringing in umpteen new signings in a matter of days is always going to have it’s problems, especially with the majority of players having little to no pre-season under their belts.

They’ve lost three of their four games and following their inaugural triumph, they’ve conceded nine times and scored just one goal. 

The Wood have been motoring along really nicely. After an opening day defeat to Rochdale, they’ve gone unbeaten, winning three and drawing two.

They’ve shown they can score goals too, they netted four on the road at Sutton in midweek in a thrilling win and scored three against Carlisle. They’ve also won both their home games since the defeat to Dale.

There’s a lot to like about their attack. Sousa has been superb, laying on four assists already, largely to the benefit of experienced striker Luke Norris, who has four goals.