League Two Preview: 16/12/2015

Here we are again with PON taking another look at the weekend fixtures in the latest of our League Two previews.

For me the stand-out fixture this week is top of the table Northampton at home to 4^th place Portsmouth, with both teams hoping to strengthen their promotion hopes.

Another important game is 20^th placed Hartlepool v 3^rd placed Plymouth, with the home side hoping to recover from last weeks 4-0 thrashing away at Portsmouth and build on their midweek success in The FA Cup over (sorry to mention them) Salford City and the away side wanting to continue their promotion push. My key game is Carlisle v Notts.

*Important games **Key Game

Saturday 19^th December 2015

Barnet v Crawley – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (1-1)
Cambridge v Mansfield – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (1-0)
**Carlisle v Notts County – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (2-2)
Dagenham & Redbridge v Bristol Rovers– Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (0 -1)
Exeter V Luton – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (2-0)
*Hartlepool v Plymouth – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (1-2)
Leyton Orient v Yeovil – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (2-0)
Newport v Wimbledon – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (1-1)
*Northampton v Portsmouth – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (2-0)
Stevenage v Accrington – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (0-0)
Wycombe v Oxford United – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction (0-1)
York v Morecambe – Kick Off 3:00pm – Score Prediction(0-1)

My Stand-out Games

Carlisle v Notts County (being played at Preston's Deepdale)
Hartlepool v Plymouth
Northampton v Portsmuth

Thoughts on Notts County v Newport

Due to recent Storm Desmond and the resulting rainfall which left Carlisle's Brunton Park Ground flooded this game will be played at Deepdale, Preston.

This is the second in a block of 3 consecutive away fixtures for Notts and the Magpies will be hoping to make it 3in a row undefeated. It will also be interesting to see how Carlisle approach this game having lost home advantage. I've predicted a 2–2 draw

The last time they played was 22/3/2014 and Notts won 4-1 at Meadow Lane, with Notts losing that seasons corresponding away fixture 2–1 on 28/9/2013.Carlisle were also relegated at the end of that season.

The overall record between Notts and Carlisle is-

Notts won 14
Newport won 3
Draws 9