League Two Preview

Another late Tuesday night is calling for football fans to encourage their sides onto victory; Pride of Nottingham is taking a look into the fixtures set to play-out on the 18^th of August – as Notts prepare themselves for Oxford away from home.

Meanwhile a host of teams will be hoping to lead the League Two table come the end of the night, as several top teams feature against difficult teams.

Five teams start the night with perfect records, having all won their opening two games.

* Important Game – ** Key Game

Tuesday 18^th August 2015

Accrington v Mansfield – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-1)
AFC Wimbledon v Cambridge – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-2)
Barnet v Northampton – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-1)
**Crawley v Portsmouth – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-3)
Dagenham & Redbridge v Exeter – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-2)
Hartlepool v Newport – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-0)
Leyton Orient v Stevenage – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-2)
*Luton v Bristol Rovers – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-0)
Morecambe v Wycombe – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-1)
*Oxford v Notts County – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-1)
**Plymouth v Carlisle – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-1)
York v Yeovil – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-0)

My Stand-Out Games

Crawley v Portsmouth
Luton v Bristol Rovers
Plymouth v Carlisle

Crawley will be hoping to get their first win of the season against promotion chasing Portsmouth, it will be potentially high scoring with the home side looking to capitalise on the return of out of favour striker Izale McLeod. The former Pompey star will be hoping to establish himself back within the Red Devils and encouraging a win may see him gain his wish. Despite predicting the score in favour of Portsmouth, I don’t think they will have it all plain sailing.

At the start of the season Luton were tipped as one of the front-runners for promotion; however, their League Two campaign has been nothing but easy. Whilst Bristol Rovers will be hoping for back to back wins on the road after beating Yeovil Town 1-0.

Plymouth Argyle will have a tough home game against Carlisle, as both sides will be hoping to avoid defeat. On paper, advantage seems to favour the home side who are in some decent form but have been struggling to iron out defensive woe’s, which has prevented them from retraining a perfect start to the season. Carlisle has the ability to push sides, which they will be hoping to make the most of on Tuesday.

Thoughts on Oxford United vs. Notts County

Despite the performance strung together at home on Friday night, I think Notts will be eager to make amends and will no doubt be a very good side away from home.

Notts will have problems within their squad selection and potentially will lead a completely new line-up at the front, with Jon Stead likely to miss the game. Jimmy Spencer is most likely to start, with the issues continuing at the back due to key players being missing.

Oxford has collected two very hard fought draws, with them highlighting their ability to score in previous games.

Comparing the sides head to head, Notts narrowly lead with 9 wins but also share 9 draws, whilst Oxford have won 8 of the ties themselves.

Much like the Stevenage game, I suspect the difference will be down to who scores first and yet, if the Magpies show a little bit of their cup spirit away from home against Huddersfield Town. Then perhaps I cannot write them off so easily, if Oxford United do open the account within our game first. Let’s hope it proves to be a bright display and no matter what, both sets of fans go home happy and entertained.