5 League One & League Two - 4/2/23

There is a huge top-of-the-table clash in League One on Saturday, with the top two teams in the league locking horns at Hillsborough when Sheffield Wednesday host Plymouth.

The hosts go into the game on the back of five straight wins in League One, with the Owls in second place in the third tier – three points behind their weekend opponents. The FA Cup break saw Wednesday draw 1-1 at home to Fleetwood in the fourth round, with the tie coming just a week after Darren Moore’s side beat the Fishermen 1-0 at home in the league.

Plymouth are also in good form ahead of a blockbuster showdown, winning three of their last five in the league. With just three points the difference, the Pilgrims will need to avoid defeat to avoid being leapfrogged by their opponents. Plymouth have scored nine in their last five league games whilst Wednesday have scored 11, so goals could be on the cards.

Peterborough will be looking to continue their good form of late when they travel to The New Lawn Stadium to take on a Forest Green Rovers side that are desperate for a win to help them kickstart a fight for safety in League One.

The Green have lost seven of their last eight in League One, sitting rock-bottom in the table and four points adrift of 23rd place Cambridge. The dire results led to the dismissal of Ian Burchnall before Everton legend Duncan Ferguson replaced him as manager with the former Toffees striker taking charge of his first game last Saturday against Shrewsbury. FGR took an early lead but two late stoppage time goals in the 94th and 98th minute saw the Shropshire outfit condemn Ferguson’s side to another defeat.

Ferguson will be wanting his team to more fight this weekend, but it’ll be a tough ask against a Peterborough side that are chasing a play-off place. The Posh are seventh in the table, five points behind Barnsley in sixth, after three wins in their last five league games.

Promotion-chasing Derby will look to capitalise on the top two playing each other, when they face a Morecambe side that have been in good form recently.

The Rams are fourth in the table, eight points behind Sheffield Wednesday. A win for Paul Warne’s side would see them make ground on the top two with both of them going head-to-head at Hillsborough. Derby have been in superb league form though, winning their last five in a row. Warne’s men will be looking to return to league action with a win following a defeat to Premier League West Ham in the FA Cup last Monday.

Morecambe could put up a good fight at Pride Park, after winning four of their last five in the league. In that time, the Shrimps have scored a whopping 14 goals, so it could be a thriller in Derbyshire.

Two sides towards at the bottom of the table meet at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday, with Doncaster and Hartlepool squaring off in one of the 3pm kick-offs.

Rovers are sat in the bottom half, 15th in the table. The play-off places aren’t too far away though, with five points the distance to seventh place Mansfield. Danny Schofield’s side were beaten by the Stags in their last game, 5-1 at Field Mill. Doncaster could return to winning ways this weekend though, coming up against a Hartlepool side sitting precariously in the bottom three, a point from the relegation zone. Despite losing three of their last five, Pool have scored seven in their last five so could get on the scoresheet this weekend.

Red-hot Carlisle can continue their charge into the promotion places with another win when they take on a Harrogate at Brunton Park.

The Blues have won their last four straight league games, a run that has seen them burst into the top three and in with a chance of automatic promotion. Paul Simpson’s side have a two-point cushion to fourth place Northampton, albeit having played a game more. Carlisle’s last game saw them hammer Barrow 5-1 at home on Tuesday night, so will be hopeful of the same this weekend.

Kristian Dennis is the top scorer in League Two, with 17 goals to his name this season, including one against Barrow in midweek. He’ll be hopeful of adding to that tally in Saturday with another, against a Harrogate side that are without a win in their last five and in the bottom four with just three points keeping them above the drop zone.

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