Walsall v Hartlepool

Hartlepool United are on a roll in League Two right now and are one of the in-form teams in the division. 

Graeme Lee is in his first season as a full-time manager in the Football League after leaving his role as Middlesbrough Under-23s manager to take over from Dave Challinor at the Suits Direct Stadium earlier in this campaign. His side are unbeaten in their last eight league games and haven’t lost since their defeat to Bristol Rovers away back on 15th January, which in turn is their only loss of 2022 so far.

They came from behind to beat Colchester United 2-1 away last time out thanks to second-half goals from striking pair Isaac Fletcher and Omar Bogle and Lee said he was “absolutely delighted” with the effort of his side and the victory that leaves them 12th in the table, six points off the play-offs with 14 games left of the season to play. The signing of forward Bogle from League One side Doncaster Rovers in the January transfer window is turning into a masterstroke by the fourth tier club and his goal against Colchester on Tuesday was his third in seven appearances. His form has seen Mark Cullen fall down the pecking order and he has now left the club for National League North side AFC Fylde, despite scoring six times this term after his free transfer move last summer from Port Vale. 

Walsall have a new manager in Michael Flynn and they chose the ex-Newport County man as their replacement for Matt Taylor, who was sacked earlier this month after the club’s poor run of form. The Saddlers were battered 5-0 in their last match against promotion chasing Swindon Town and have been knocked right back down to earth after their recent shock wins over the top two Forest Green Rovers and Tranmere Rovers with their heaviest defeat of the season. Flynn said his side ”gave away goals too cheaply” and their defensive frailties showed as the Robins breezed past. The Saddlers have struggled for goals in this campaign and only lowly placed Colchester United, Carlisle United, Barrow, Oldham Athletic and Scunthorpe United have managed to bag less. Walsall have a clean bill of health in terms of injury news but substituted defender Donervan Daniels off just after half-time in the match against Swindon and have a decision to make as to whether to start him after his shaky performance. They have youngster Tom Leak, who has seven appearances, ready to step into his shoes if needed. 

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Sutton United v Scunthorpe United

Sutton United are turning into the draw specialists in League Two and have picked up five in their last seven league games so are due a big win. 

They aren’t losing matches though and have lost just once in 2022 so far against Bristol Rovers on 15th February which was mainly due to the fact their squad was riddled by illness for that game and they could only name five players on the bench. They have all their players back available now which has been a boost to the London club and they picked up yet another draw last time out against in-form Hartlepool United away. Their boss, Matt Gray, says he is “hugely pleased” with where his side are in the league table and you can’t blame him. The U’s are playing in the Football League for the first time in their history following their promotion from the National League last term and are currently in 6th place, two points inside the play-offs and five off the top two. They have their fans dreaming of back-to-back promotions and this weekend’s opponents Scunthorpe United are in for a tough game, especially due to the fact Sutton are unbeaten at home in their last nine outings in a run of fixtures spanning back to 30th October when Walsall beat them 1-0. 

The Iron are at serious risk of relegation to non-league this term and are bottom of the division. Keith Hill has won just twice in 20 matches since taking over from Neil Cox at the Sands Venue Stadium back in November. They held 3rd place Northampton Town to a respectable 0-0 draw on Tuesday night and their manager said he his side “performed quite well” but they again lacked that cutting edge going forward. They are the joint-lowest scorers in the league alongside 23rd place Carlisle United who now occupy them in the relegation zone.

Scunthorpe’s current top scorer this season is Myles Hippolyte on four goals and he doesn’t even play for them anymore after leaving in the January transfer window for Stockport County. Blackburn Rovers youngster Sam Burns was brought in to try and replace him but he has been in and out of the team since his winter arrival and has only managed to find the net twice so far, with both of those goals coming in the same game against Bristol Rovers last month. To make matters worse, Scunny have been dealt a big blow with left-back Lewis Thompson likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury. Mason O’Malley was substituted on for him in the last match against the Cobblers but has had injury problems himself over recent times and may lack the sharpness needed for a relegation dogfight. 

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Port Vale v Stevenage

Port Vale are only four points off the play-offs and will fancy their chances of a late push for the top seven between now and the end of the season. 

The Valiants looked well on the way for a big three points last time out against Rochdale away after taking the lead through midfielder Ben Garrity. However, they were denied victory after a last gasp goal by James Ball and their assistant boss, Andy Crosby, said he was “ really pleased” with the performance regardless of the late disappointment. They are in good form at the moment and are unbeaten in their last seven league matches, with their last loss coming back on 15th January against Swindon Town. Vale received a boost in their last match with key player James Gibbons making his return from injury and he is line to start against Stevenage this weekend. The right wing-back was substituted off at Spotland at half-time as his side slowly ease him back into the action but he should be fresh and ready from the off for the next game. David Worrall competes with him for his spot in the team and provides some useful competition and depth in that area of the pitch meaning they have decent alternatives if needed.

Stevenage haven’t won since January and could go through the whole of February without picking up a win. Their form is the complete opposite of Port Vale’s and they are winless in their last five games, with their last three points coming against Harrogate Town back on 29th January. Paul Tisdale’s side are getting dragged back down into a relegation battle and are now 19th in the league table after their 4-0 home drubbing by Bristol Rovers last weekend, five points above the relegation zone.

Tisdale said his side had “no connection or rhythm” in their side and that it was a “really poor” afternoon as they prepare to make the trip to Vale Park this weekend to try and bounce back from it. Their results on the road are not in their favour though and they have won just once away all season and that came way back in August at the Memorial Ground against Bristol Rovers in a run spanning 12 matches. Boro will have loan central midfielder Zain Westbrooke back for this one as he couldn’t play last time out against his parent club, whilst defender Luke Prosser is available again after serving his suspension for the red card he picked up against Barrow. Ed Upson and Terece Vancooten stepped into the starting XI in their absence but don’t appear to have done enough to keep their place in the side based on the last scoreline. 

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Bristol Rovers v Exeter City

Bristol Rovers’ decision to stick with Joey Barton this season despite pressure to dismiss him is starting to pay off now.

The Gas are on a roll in League Two at the moment and are unbeaten in their past 11 games in a spell spanning back to their last defeat against Port Vale on 7th December. They continued their impressive run of form with a 2-0 win away at Leyton Orient last time out in a result that resulted in their opponents sacking their manager Kenny Jackett. Barton said it was a “really mature performance” and his side are finding different ways to win matches now which is always the sign of a strong team. They are genuine play-off contenders now and are just three points off the top seven now after catapulting themselves up the table over the past couple of months.

Bristol Rovers have had no problems scoring goals recently and have managed eight in their last three matches against Sutton United, Stevenage and Orient. This is partly due to the influence of January loan addition Elliot Anderson from Newcastle United who has been a real hit since making the temporary switch to the Memorial Ground. He has made six appearances in the league so far and his new club haven’t lost since he joined, with him chipping in with a single goal and two assists for his teammates so far. The Scotland youth international has already made two first-team appearances for Newcastle before they let him leave to get some regular game time under his belt between now and the end of the season and is one who Exeter City need to keep a close eye on this weekend. 

The Grecians saw their match last weekend against Barrow cancelled due to Storm Eunice but that could be a blessing in disguise for them as it has enabled them to rest key trio Sam Stubbs, Sam Nombe and Josh Key who were doubts last time out, with manager Matt Taylor saying they were in the “red zone” energy-wise. The week off has helped them get back up to speed and they will now be back in contention. Exeter, like Bristol Rovers, are in faultless form and are hoping this is the year they can finally get promoted to League One after many near misses over recent season. They are sat in 4th place and are breathing down the necks of Northampton Town and Tranmere Rovers above them as they have not lost in their last eight matches in the league. Taylor’s men were last beaten by Sutton on 1st January and that has proven to be their only defeat this year to date. The Grecians were 3-1 down in their last game against Harrogate Town but turned the game around with goals from Jevani Brown, Jonathan Grounds, Timothee Dieng and Jack Sparkes to pick up another three points and to prove their never say die attitude

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