Exeter City v Barrow 

Exeter City are going strong in League Two at the moment and they hope this is the year they are finally promoted. 

The Grecians fought back from 3-1 down last time out against Harrogate Town to win 4-3 in dramatic fashion and have now risen into the automatic promotion places above Northampton Town. Matt Taylor said the comeback was ‘utter madness’ and was delighted with the way his players didn’t give up to pick up a big three points. They are in fantastic form right now and are unbeaten in their last eight matches in the league, winning their past four on the spin. Exeter decided to rest key player Josh Key for the game against the Sulphurites meaning he will be fresh for the clash against Barrow this weekend. The right wing-back’s performances have been attracting interest from higher up the football pyramid and he was linked with a move to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window. He has made 34 appearances in all competitions so far this season and has chipped in with two goals and six assists to help his side rise into the promotion picture. Jack Sparkes stepped in for him in his absence against Simon Weaver’s side and he ended up scoring the winner in the 95th minute to give his manager a selection headache for this Saturday. In terms of other team news, Huddersfield Town loanee Kieran Phillips is out injured with a knee problem which paved the way for Sam Nombe and Jevani Brown to start up front together, the latter of whom scored from the penalty spot versus Harrogate to bag his fourth of the campaign to date. Newport County loan man Padraig Amond was on the bench and is an option too for Taylor if he wants to mix up his striking duo. 

Barrow aren’t safe yet and are only five points above the relegation zone in 20th place so will be nervously looking over their shoulder unless they can start picking up some wins. They haven’t won for three games and are the joint second lowest goal scorers in the division. Mark Cooper moved into the transfer window last month to try and rectify that issue by signing striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway from Burton Albion. However, he was red carded in their last match in the drab 0-0 draw against Stevenage and the FA have this week rejected the Bluebirds’ appeal for it to be overturned meaning he will miss the trip to Exeter which is a big blow for his side. Luke James was substituted on against Boro last weekend and appears the most likely to step in for his absent teammate from the start. He hasn’t scored at all this term in 19 appearances and only managed three goals last season as well so isn’t the most prolific attacker. 

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Oldham Athletic v Bradford City

John Sheridan is back at Oldham Athletic for a sixth spell and is looking to guide them to safety in League Two. 

The former Republic of Ireland International was brought in at the end of last month to become Keith Curle’s permanent successor at Boundary Park and has already inspired his side to some impressive results recently. They drew 3-3 away at his former club Newport County last weekend and he said he was “proud” of their performance against an Exiles side who are eyeing up a promotion to League One. The Latics are unbeaten in his opening four matches and have picked up crucial wins against Scunthorpe United and Bristol Rovers over recent weeks as they now look to see off Bradford City this Saturday. They remain in the relegation zone in 23rd place but have a big incentive to win as they have a game in-hand on Carlisle United above them. Oldham will be without attacker Dylan Bahamboula this weekend after he was sent off against last time out which provides an opportunity for somebody else to start in place and impress their new boss. Jack Stobbs came off the bench in the last match and is a likely candidate to start from the off against the Bantams now. The former Sheffield Wednesday man moved to the North West club last summer and provides them with more competition and depth in attacking areas, playing 20 times so far this season. 

Bradford are in the hunt for a new manager after sacking Derek Adams earlier this week and have placed Mark Trueman in caretaker charge. The Yorkshire club have a big decision to make in regards to their new boss and are in for a tough game as they make the trip to face a side battling against relegation. Names such as Steve Evans, Pete Wild and Jonathan Woodgate are in the frame and their players will be eager to show what they can do to try and impress whoever will take over them. For now, Trueman will take care of duties and this position is nothing new to him as he was joint-manager last year alongside Conor Sellars. In terms of team news, Bradford remain without attacker Charles Vernam and Luton Town loan man Dion Pereira. However, this gives Andy Cook, Theo Robinson and Tom Elliot the freedom to fight for a starting place and they are all experienced players at this level. They are players who can hurt Oldham, especially in the air so the Latics’ usual defensive partnership of Carl Piergianni and Harrison McGahey will need to be on their guard. The Bantams’ form has been stuttering of late and they have won just once in their last four games as their chances of making the play-offs dwindle away with every passing week. 

Forest Green v Walsall

Walsall make the trip to Forest Green Rovers this weekend after appointing Michael Flynn as their new boss. 

The Saddlers made the tough decision to sack Matthew Taylor last week after they slipped down the League Two table with eight games without a win. However, they picked up an impressive three points at home to 2nd place Tranmere Rovers last time out under the guidance of caretaker boss Neil McDonald and defender Mat Sadler. They then moved quickly to lure former Newport County manager Flynn to the Midlands and he will be eager to impress in his first game at the helm for them. Going to top of the table Forest Green and getting a result is a tall order for the Welshman though and his newly inherited squad will be up against it this weekend. He says it “can’t wait to get going” but hasn’t had time to bring in an assistant manager for the trip to Gloucestershire which is a slight blow as it is always useful to having figures around you who you know and trust in the dugout. Walsall have been poor on the road over recent months and have lost each of their last five away matches on the spin, with their last victory that wasn’t on home soil coming way back on 23rd November against their former boss Darrell Clarke’s Port Vale side. They have been boosted by the return of midfielder Jack Earing, who was out with a head injury for their past few games, after he came off the bench for Sam Perry against Tranmere last time out. He is more experienced than Perry and has been a standout player in a struggling Walsall side this season, making 33 appearances in all competitions. 

Forest Green are the runaway leaders in the fourth tier this term and will take some stopping under Rob Edwards. They haven’t been beaten for 19 league matches with their last loss coming on 9th October against Swindon Town, which in turn was the last time they lost at The New Lawn. Rovers are the highest scorers in the division on 61 goals which is 11 higher than the second top Newport County. The main reason behind their prolific tally in front of goal is the fact they boast having 20-goal Matty Stevens and 17-goal Jamille Matt up front as they both battle it out for the golden boot in this campaign. In terms of team news, Regan Hendry is expected to be back fit from his knee injury and he provides useful competition and back-up to key midfielder Ebou Adams. The former Celtic man replaced the Gambia international when he missed a spell of games over January whilst he was at the Africa Cup of Nations on international duty and slotted in nicely for Edwards’ side to help them maintain their unbeaten run.  Defender Udoka Godwin-Malife is also back and made his return last time out against Sutton after he had been sidelined with illness. He came back in for Dominic Bernard to play his part in the useful point away at the U’s and his teammate Jack Aitchinson was pleased with the result in the end when put on media duties after the match, saying his side “deserved” it. 

Harrogate Town v Leyton Orient 

Leyton Orient are in a dismal run of form and their boss Kenny Jackett has admitted they are now in a relegation battle in League Two. 

Leyton Orient haven’t won for nine games and their last victory came back on 7th December against Swindon Town. The London club are seriously lacking quality in front of goal recently as well and have only found the net twice in 2022. Jackett has said going into their tough trip to Harrogate Town this weekend that they are “frustrated” with the run they are on. To make matters worse for the O’s, they will be without key defender Dan Happe for the rest of the season as he has a serious knee injury that requires surgery. The 23-year-old has been a regular for the London club over the past five years since he broke into their first team in 2017 in the National League. George Ray, who was signed on loan from fellow fourth tier side Exeter City in January, has stepped in for him over recent games to replace him but hasn’t been able to stop opponents from scoring against them. Craig Clay is also out until the season and has played his last game of the 2021/22 campaign after having surgery on his knee. The experienced midfielder, like Happe, has been ever-present for Orient over the past few years and has been sorely missed in their side over their poor run of results. Darren Pratley has been handed the job of starting instead of him but the veteran has struggled to make an impact since his switch last summer from League One side Charlton Athletic. He is also 36-years-old now and isn’t able to cover the same distance as he used to do which is something Harrogate could look to exploit. 

Harrogate have been scoring goals for fun recently and have fired 10 goals in their last four games. The Yorkshire side are a place above Leyton Orient in the league table but are five points better off. They were 3-1 up away at promotion chasing Exeter City in their last game and ended up losing 4-3 at the death, with their captain Josh Falkingham saying that it was a “tough one to take”. Nevertheless, the Sulphurites proved they can compete with the big boys in the division and will be eager to bounce back with a win this weekend. They have been boosted by the return of midfielder Alex Pattison in the middle of the park and he has now fully recovered from his foot injury after playing 90 minutes against the Grecians in midweek. He has scored nine goals in all competitions this term, two of which came against Rochdale in their last home fixture, and was a doubt for the last match before boss Simon Weaver decided to start him. 

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