Have Burton Albion missed their purple patch opportunity? Wins over Lincoln City and Forest Green Rovers at the end of 2022 had lifted the Brewers out of the League One relegation zone on goals scored. Upcoming games against fellow relegation-battlers Morecambe, as well as an out-of-shape Shrewsbury Town, looked an encouraging opportunity to build a winning run.

Instead, Dino Maamria’s side succumbed to a 5-0 thrashing at Morecambe and a 4-0 home demolition at the hands of Shrewsbury, conceding after just 18 seconds in their last home fixture, and registering just a single shot on target across those two matches.

The absence of injured star defender Sam Hughes is clearly hurting Burton Albion, whose incredibly high line is regularly exposing the lack of pace 35-year-old John Brayford now has. The Brewers’ start to 2023 has been as miserable as it gets. Three games in all competitions, 0 goals scored, 10 goals conceded.

Tuesday could present the perfect opportunity for Peterborough United to secure a Staffordshire double header. A weak away record, currently the 17th best in the third tier, has held Posh back from being sat within League One’s top six places.

Eight days ago however, Darren Ferguson’s fourth stint as manager began with a good 2-0 victory at Port Vale. His 4-2-3-1 setup best showcased the ability of dynamic right-sided player Joe Ward, who had a key hand in both of the goals scored by left-winger Ephron Mason-Clark. Jamaica International Jonson Clarke-Harris, League One’s joint top-scorer this season, has always been the name on opposing fans lips. If Ferguson is to guide Peterborough towards a return to the Championship however, he is going to need to unlock the flair and ability present in the likes of Kwame Poku, Jack Taylor, Dan Butler, and Nathan Thompson amongst others.

The fourth spell of Darren Ferguson got off to a winning start at Vale Park and should continue to go well away at the Pirelli Stadium. The Scot is tasked with improving Posh’s away record, and doing so would see them close the gap to the top six and be in the mix to finish in there right up until the end of the season.

Against a Burton Albion side that have barely registered a shot this new year and conceded nine goals in just two league games against bottom half opposition, the task should not be too difficult. Expect Mason-Clark and Poku to cause problems throughout.

Port Vale’s return to the third tier has been one of relative comfort with regards to avoiding a relegation battle. The biggest frustration however has been striker fitness issues. When fit, Vale can make great use of leading scorer Ellis Harrison, and the all-round ability of James Wilson, who are the only two players to have more than three league goals so far this season.

Against Peterborough eight days ago however, neither were available, forcing Darrell Clarke to deploy a front pairing of West Ham United loanee Mipo Odubeko, as well as Gavin Massey who has featured everywhere from striker to wing-back in Port Vale’s 3-4-1-2 formation. Technical midfielder Tom Conlon was a miss as well, his absence notable in a midfield that otherwise has the tenacity of Ben Garrity, discipline of Tom Pett, and attacking instinct of Dan Butterworth or Dennis Politic.

Visitors Derby County are flying. Following a 2-1 win over 5th place Bolton Wanderers, the Rams have now gone 18 games in all competitions without a defeat inside 90 minutes. Four consecutive league victories have in turn taken Paul Warne’s side to within four points of third-place Ipswich Town, a team seemingly out of reach not too long.

Warne’s 4-2-3-1 has allowed wingers Tom Barkhuizen and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to flourish in particular, with the frontline spearheaded by a pair of Ireland Internationals in either James Collins or the classy David McGoldrick. Another Ireland International in Conor Hourihane has scored three goals in his last three league games, partnered by the disciplined Max Bird and with homegrown product Jason Knight operating in attacking midfield.

Even without star centre-back Eiran Cashin at the weekend, the backline of Haydon Roberts, Craig Forsyth, Curtis Davies and Korey Smith held firm to deny a confident Bolton side for almost the entire match. Only Sheffield Wednesday have conceded fewer goals on the road this season than Derby’s total of nine.

The task presented to Port Vale on Tuesday is difficult enough, and could be even harder if they remain without their two main forwards. As we head into the second half of the season, Derby County are not just keen to secure a play-off place, they are in form strong enough to hunt down the top three. The gap to Ipswich Town is just four points, and the Rams also have a game in hand on them that they look to take advantage of further down the line.

Bolton Wanderers put in a fairly lacklustre display in a 2-1 defeat at Derby County on Saturday, and will be looking to bounce back at The University of Bolton Stadium against rock bottom Forest Green Rovers. Connor Wickham’s leaving the Green has seen their attacking threat diminish somewhat, and Ian Burchnall’s men are really struggling to create high quality opportunities.

Ian Evatt will get a reaction from his Bolton players, and it would not be a surprise to see the Trotters rack up a comfortable scoreline to maintain their strong position inside the top six. Wanderers are also very well-equipped squad-depth-wise for the three-day turnaround, if the deadlock is broken early, it could be a long night for the visitors.

The Trotters are very short to win the match, but I am very comfortable getting against FGR with the way that they are playing. The visitors are the joint-lowest scorers in the league and have the second worst defensive record, it is sadly a recipe for relegation. The Green are four points adrift in the bottom four and lost out 2-1 to relegation-battling rivals Milton Keynes Dons at the weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday look every bit like League One champions in the making and Darren Moore’s men extended their cushion on third-placed Ipswich Town on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Fleetwood Town. The Owls are much more suited to the quick turnaround than Cheltenham Town, despite Barry Bannan, Michael Ihiekwe, Ben Heneghan, Reece James, and George Byers being sidelined.

Mark McGuinness and Alex Mighten have recently returned to their parent clubs, and they still had players of the calibre of Tyreeq Bakinson, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Callum Paterson, Mallik Wilks, and Jaden Brown on the bench.

The defensive solidity that was keeping the Robins outside of the relegation zone has subsided of late, and Wade Elliott’s men have conceded two or more goals in their last four league games. Cheltenham gave a good account of themselves in losing 4-2 at Plymouth Argyle at the weekend, but with Wednesday’s backline, it may not be as competitive on Tuesday evening.

Moore’s men have the belief and depth of quality available to grind this one out if they have to, with the Robins beginning to look over their shoulders with MK Dons climbing out of the drop zone at the weekend.

Carlisle United have a great opportunity to pick up another three points against a Hartlepool United side battling to stay in the Football League.

The Cumbrians are targeting promotion and sit 4th in the table, just four points off the top three after an impressive season so far. They beat Newport County 2-0 at home last time out courtesy of goals by strikers Kristian Dennis and John-Kymani Gordon. Speaking after that one, popular boss Paul Simpson said it was a ‘brilliant’ display and will be looking to see his players do the same again this Tuesday to help close the gap on 3rd position Northampton Town.

On the injury front, Carlisle remain without forward Ryan Edmondson but don’t miss him at all with 14-goal Dennis red-hot form and Crystal Palace loanee Gordon scoring on his debut. In addition, experienced attacker Joe Garner has returned to Brunton Park for a fourth time from Fleetwood Town and provides another option at the top end of the pitch which is useful as the fixtures come thick and fast now.

The club’s home form has been strong this term and they are unbeaten in their last five outings on their own patch. In fact, they have only lost once there in this campaign in 12 matches and that was against table toppers Leyton Orient on 22nd October which shows what a fortress it is and how tough it is to get a result from.

Hartlepool are 22nd in the division and sit just two points above the drop zone. They won 2-0 over the weekend at home to bottom of the league Rochdale with their goals from attacking pair Josh Umerah and Jack Hamilton. Manager Keith Curle, who has managed Carlisle in the past as he prepares to return to the Lake District, admitted it was a ‘needed’ win but will know that his team will be in for a difficult evening next up.

On the selection front, the Pools have right-back Jamie Sterry back from injury and he stepped in for Reghan Tumilty in the win over the Dale. However, they will need more than just one player back if they are to get anything against their next opponents. They have won just once in their last five clashes and remain bang in trouble as they look to avoid slipping into the National League again.

Hartlepool have won just five times out of a possible 26 and have the worst defensive record in the division having leaked a whopping 47 goals so far. Although they aren’t as bad as they were a few months ago, they are still capable of a poor performance, as reflected by their 2-0 loss to fellow strugglers Gillingham in their last away game.

Stockport County are in confident mood and have their sights set on the play-offs as they prepare to take on an inconsistent Bradford City.

The Hatters won 2-0 last time out at home to 3rd position Northampton Town which shows how strong they are but saw their latest game away at Crewe Alexandra postponed on the day due to a frozen pitch. Speaking after their win over the Cobblers, boss Dave Challinor said it was an ‘important’ three points and he will be eager to see his side build on that result with another victory over the Bantams on Tuesday.

The North West club are without right wing-back Macauley Southam-Hales due to injury but have delved into the transfer market to sign Kyle Knoyle in his position and also have the experienced Phil Bardsley so are well stocked up with options in his position to highlight their strength in depth. Stockport are on a roll at the moment and find themselves in great form, having lost just twice in their last 11 league games to climb up to 10th in the table.

They have some serious threats in attacking areas with strikers Paddy Madden and Kyle Wootton scoring a combined 17 goals so far this season, and midfielders Will Collar and Antoni Sarcevic chipping in with six and seven goals respectively so they will cause their next opponents big problems.

Bradford have been far from convincing this term and are clinging onto their place in the top seven by a threat with only goal difference separating them from 8th place Barrow. They drew 0-0 away at AFC Wimbledon last time out and manager Mark Hughes said it was ‘frustrating’ that they weren’t able to win. Attacking midfielder Jamie Walker was sent off so will be suspended for the trip to Edgeley Park meaning inexperienced West Ham loan man Thierry Nevers is the most likely player to step in for him.

The Bantams are also still missing winger Scott Banks, who is on loan from Crystal Palace, which is a blow as he has made five goal contributions since his summer switch and offers something different to players like Alex Gilliead and Abo Eisa. Bradford’s results have stuttered over recent times and they have won just twice in their last seven League Two outings.

There have been some worrying results too, such as their 2-1 home defeat to struggling Rochdale and a heavy 3-0 defeat away at Leyton Orient so they will be in for a tough evening at Stockport.