League One’s bottom four has contained the same quartet of teams for months. Could the final matches of 2022 finally be the ones where we see a switch in teams down at the base of the third tier? Both Forest Green Rovers and Burton Albion sit within touching distance of 20th place Accrington Stanley, FGR a point ahead of their upcoming opponents and looking to capitalise.

Ian Burchnall’s 3-4-1-2 contains a consistent back three of Baily Cargill, Oliver Casey and Dominic Bernard, with wide support provided by Sheffield United loanee Harry Boyes on the left and Corey O’Keeffe on the right.The free agent signing of Dylan McGeouch is proving a vital one as he adds much needed battle to the Green Devils’ central unit. Ben Stevenson sits alongside him, with the lively Brentford loanee Myles Peart-Harris starting in a more advanced role. 25-year-old striker Josh March is on track for his best goalscoring season since joining Forest Green from non-league Leamington. Matty Stevens, last season’s top scorer for FGR with 23 goals, is finally back fit and making matchday squads, coming on during Boxing Day’s defeat at Milton Keynes Dons.

It’s Burton Albion though who will be the team at the New Lawn that have more recently experienced the winning feeling. Unbeaten in home league games since the 4th October, a dominant first half saw the Brewers emerge 3-0 victors over mid-table Lincoln City. Powerful centre-back Sam Hughes took advantage of the Brewers’ immense set piece threat to open the scoring, and is a model of consistency in the heart of defence. Full-back Tom Hamer grabbed a pair of assists on his 100th Burton Albion start, his long throw an attacking weapon utilised by Dino Maamria’s side at every opportunity. Welsh midfielder Terry Taylor provides composure and vision, with midfield partner Deji Oshilaja a dynamic box-to-box operator. Striker Victor Adeboyejo scored a penalty against Lincoln City to bring his tally to 11 goals in League One and 13 in all competitions.

In the battle of 22nd against 23rd, Forest Green Rovers will want to take confident from their visitor’s record away from home. Burton Albion are League One’s worst-performing away side; just a single win and a total of six points collected from their 11 fixtures away from the Pirelli Stadium. A pair of priceless home victories against Cambridge United and Cheltenham Town earlier in the month lifted Forest Green into this promising position. Now comes the opportunity to get a third straight win against a lowly third tier outfit.

Portsmouth take on Ipswich Town under the lights at Fratton Park on Thursday evening, with the pressure of Danny Cowley’s shoulders in the Pompey dugout increasing by the week.

After surprising a few to throw themselves into the early season automatic promotion conversation, Pompey have dropped off enormously to win just one of their last 12 matches in the third tier.

Portsmouth have games in hand on those around them but are five points off the top six now, and the need to arrest their slide as soon as possible, making the visit of the Tractor Boys a less than ideal opponent in their current predicament.

Ipswich have lost just once of their last nine league games, where Pompey have not scored in any of their last four. Illness in the visitors’ camp could complicate matters for Kieran McKenna, with seven players reporting symptoms after their 3-0 win over Oxford United on Boxing Day.

With that in mind, it could be smart to wait for team news before committing to a bet. There is pressure on the visitors as well, with Sheffield Wednesday breathing down their necks in the top three race.

Sheffield Wednesday will aim to complete a league double over Port Vale when Darrell Clarke’s men arrive at Hillsborough on Thursday evening.

The Owls are just two points off of the automatic promotion places, with draws slowing down their progress in catching up with Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town.

Wednesday will still be confident in overtaking one of the currently superior duo in the coming months, with time on Darren Moore’s side with opportunities to strengthen the squad set to arise in January.

The hosts are unbeaten in their last 11 in the league but face a Vale side who will believe they can upset the odds after winning three of their last four. They have relied on slim margins to do so and will sit back and look to contain the higher quality midfield and attacking contingent on display.

Barry Bannan and George Byers returned to the action for Wednesday on Boxing Day, but Ben Heneghan, Dominic Iorfa and Lee Gregory remain sidelined.

Michael Smith and Josh Windass will be a lot for Vale to handle in the final third, and Moore has some eye-watering options on the fringes to come on and impact the game, should the visitors’ stubborn resistance prove testing.