By Hugo Varley
Tomorrow promises to be another entertaining match day in League One with important games taking place at both ends of the table. Before the excitement of tomorrow we also have two important matches this evening to look forward to as Blackburn Rovers take on Bradford City at Ewood Park and Milton Keynes Dons travel to Gillingham.
Blackburn Rovers vs Bradford City
After 20 days without a fixture, Blackburn finally return to action at Ewood Park tonight. Before the recent prolonged pause Tony Mowbray's side were on a fantastic run of form having won four of their last five league games. Rovers are locked in an entertaining three-way battle for automatic promotion with Shrewsbury and Wigan and are currently sitting in third position with a crucial game in hand over the Shrews. Blackburn have had no problem finding the net this season and are the highest goalscores in League One having netted an impressive 70 times so far this season.
Simon Grayson recorded his first win in charge of Bradford last weekend as the Bantams secured a much needed first win in 11 league games against Gillingham. Bradford's recent downturn in form as seen them drop off the pace in the race for the play-off positions. Grayson's men are now four points behind 6th placed Peterborough but will take heart ahead of tonight's game by the fact that they have the 5th best away record in the league, having secured nine wins away from Valley Parade so far this season.
Gillingham vs MK Dons
Mid-table Gillingham look to have run out of steam in the race for the play-offs. Steve Lovell's side have only won once in their last five league games and face the risk of having little to play for in their final seven games of the season, with the Gills now eight points adrift of the play-offs. On the other hand, relegation threatened MK Dons must scrap for every single point they can get as they desperately attempt to avoid the League One drop zone. Dan Micciche's side have put themselves in with a realistic chance of avoiding the drop with two wins in their last three games and are now just a point away from safety.
Oxford vs Scunthorpe
The first League One game to be played tomorrow sees Karl Robinson take charge of Oxford for the first time at the Kassam Stadium. The U's fell to a disappointing defeat at Portsmouth on Sunday and will have to do without the suspended Alex Mowatt who was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Pompey's Nathan Thompson. Robinson's side may well be looking over their shoulders with Oxford now just five points above the League One drop zone.
Scunthorpe parted company with manager Graham Alexander last weekend after an eighth game without a win left The Iron in 5th place and in serious danger of dropping out of the play off positions. The managerless side are in desperate need of a return to form and will be hoping for a repeat of their 1-0 victory over Oxford in August.
Wigan vs Oldham
Paul Cook's Wigan have won their last three league games to ensure their destiny is in their own hands. The Latics sit a point behind league leaders Shrewsbury but crucially have two games in hand over their title rivals. Cook's side have been a solid defensive force this season, conceding only only 21 goals, the lowest in the entire Football League.
Defeat against Portsmouth two week's ago has left Oldham only above the drop zone by virtue of having a marginally better goal difference than 21st place Northampton. Richie Wellens' side now have a real battle on their hands if they are too extend their 21-year stint in England's third tier. The Owls relegation battle will be helped by the fact that they have two games in hand over most of their rivals due to recent fixture postponements.
AFC Wimbledon vs Fleetwood
19th place AFC Wimbledon have only one win to their name in their last five league games but have shown promising signs on the pitch in recent weeks. The Dons were unlucky to fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat at league leaders Shrewsbury last weekend and will be hopeful of challenging for three points against fellow strugglers Fleetwood tomorrow. Nevertheless, Ardley's side will come up against a newly rejuvenated Fleetwood side who have hit a brilliant run of form under new manager John Sheridan in recent weeks. The Cod Army have secured vital wins in their last two games to push themselves five points clear of relegation.
Blackpool vs Doncaster
Blackpool have adapted well to life in League One and are likely to avoid an end of season relegation scrap, sitting a comfortable seven points above the relegation zone. Gary Bowyer's side have especially impressed since the turn of the year, having only lost once in their last nine league games. Fellow League One newcomers Doncaster Rovers also look all highly likely to survive the drop in their first season since promotion with Darren Feruson's side sitting in 15th position. Rovers picked up an impressive victory at home to Bradford in their last league game with striker John Marquis picking up his 11th and 12th goals of the season.
Bristol Rovers vs Bury
Bristol Rovers have seen their play-off hopes fade in recent weeks with Darell Clarke's side picking up just one win in their last six league games. However, tomorrow's game offers the perfect chance for Clarke's men to ignite an upturn in form as they face the league's basement club. Bury's survival hopes now look increasingly thin after Ryan Lowe's side found themselves 10 points adrift of safety following a home defeat to Wigan last Saturday. Despite entering the campaign with a certain degree of optimism, The Shakers have had a miserable season and are the lowest goalscorers in the division, having only found the net 31 times since August.
Northampton vs Charlton
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's Northampton are without a win in eight league games and now find themselves immersed within the League One drop zone. The Cobblers have been especially fragile in defense this season, shipping in 63 goals, more than any other team in the league. Hasselbaink's side will come up against a Charlton team who will be full of confidence after securing an emphatic victory over in-form Plymouth last weekend. The Addicks are still without a full time manager and whilst rumors of an imminent takeover continue to do the rounds in South London, caretaker manager Lee Bowyer will once again take charge of the Addicks. Charlton are currently sitting in 9th position, two points adrift of the play off positions but hold a crucial game in hand over their rivals.
Plymouth vs Southend
Prior to their defeat at Charlton last weekend, Derick Adams' side looked virtually untouchable having won seven of their last eight league games. This remarkable run of form had seen the Pilgrims place themselves firmly in the League One play-off race, having been bottom of the table at the start of December. Southend have also been on a decent run of form of late under new boss Chris Powell. The Shrimpers moved up to 12th position with an impressive win over Rotherham at Roots Hall on Saturday. Whilst Powell's side have now eliminated any threat of relegation, a seven point gap between themselves and the play-offs is likely to prove insurmountable.
Rochdale vs Shrewsbury
A relegation battler faces off against a promotion contender at Spotland on Saturday. Keith Hill's Rochdale are without a win in four matches and find themselves five points adrift of safety. Despite having two games in hand over most of their rivals, the Manchester club look a distinct possibility for relegation, especially after last weeks disappointing home defeat to Fleetwood. Dale have the worst home form in League One this season, having only secured four victories in front of their own fans all campaign.
Shrewsbury have surprised pundits and fans alike by transforming themselves from a likely contender for relegation to automatic promotion hopefuls. Paul Hurst's side have racked up a hugely impressive 23 wins and only conceded 28 goals in their 38 games so far this season to sit proudly at the top of the League One table. The Shrews will need to continue this form until the end of the season however if they are to have any chance of being successful in their hunt for automatic promotion as fellow title challengers Wigan and Blackburn are also on winning streaks of their own.
Rotherham vs Peterborough
A tantalizing battle in the race for the play-offs awaits fans at the New York Stadium this Friday. Fourth placed Rotherham appear to be suffering a late season wobble having lost three of their last four league games. With the chasing pack closing in on them, Paul Warne's side will need a quick return to form to safeguard a play-off spot that looked all but guaranteed a few weeks ago. Steve Evans' Peterborough currently sit just inside the play-off positions by virtue of having a better goal difference than seventh placed Plymouth. Posh will be hoping that the Football League's top goal scorer Jack Marriott (23) and top assist maker Marcus Maddison (16) will inspire a return to form following a disappointing draw against Bristol Rovers at London Road last weekend.
Walsall vs Portsmouth
One League One game will be played on Saturday as Walsall entertain play-off chasers Portsmouth at the Banks's Stadium. Walsall club legend Dean Keates lost out to Wigan in his first game in charge of the Saddlers last week and will be desperate to get a win under his belt over the Easter weekend. Keates' side have fallen to defeat in their last three league games and are sitting just four points above the drop zone in 17th position.
Pompey eased to a comfortable victory over Karl Robinson's Oxford at Fratton Park on Sunday to move up to eighth position. Pompey are now just two points behind sixth placed Peterborough and have a real chance of making it into the end of season play-off lottery. One thing Kenny Jackett's side have not done on a regular basis this campaign is finish a match with a point. Portsmouth have only drawn four league games this season, the fewest in League One.
