League Two Preview - Saturday 2nd January 2016

Here we go again with a look at the first League Two games of the New Year and with Mick Halsall and Richard Dryden temporarily taking the reins for Notts County.

My first choice important game this week features 7th placed Carlisle v top League Two Preview Saturday 2nd January 2016 of the table Plymouth. 

The Cumbrians are at home but due to their ground struggling with the recent flooding this fixture will be played at Blackburn's Ewood Park. No need to remind Pie fans that last time out Carlisle's loss of home advantage didn't upset them as they won 3-0. A similar scoreline would dent Plymouth's title ambitions and help Carlisle's play off hopes but I've predicted a 1-1 draw.

My second game features 11th placed Mansfield at home to 8th placed Accrington. Only one point separates these two teams so a win is vital for both teams play off aspirations. I've forecast 2 – 2.

My third game is 2nd placed Northampton at home to 18th placed Barnet. The Cobblers will be hoping to keep in touch with Plymouth, while Barnet will be hoping to climb away from the bottom end of League Two. I’ve gone 3 – 1 to Northampton.

My final important game is bottom club Yeovil at home to 22nd placed York. Points are obviously vital to both teams. I’ve predicted a rare win for Yeovil.

*Important games **Key Game

Saturday 2/1/2016

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

My key game, for obvious reasons, once again features Notts, this time at home to Oxford United.
This game was important even before the sacking of Ricardo Moniz. Can Notts get back to winning ways and climb nearer the play off places?
When Notts visited Oxford earlier this season on 18th August they lost 3 -1 despite Audel scoring first for Notts.
The overall record between Notts and Oxford is:
Notts won 8
Oxford won 10
Draws 9

I've forecast is a narrow 3 – 2 win for Notts – I wonder how Halsall/Dryden will approach this game and how will the players react? Plenty to discuss once again.