The Build-Up

Saturday 17th January 2015

Key Fixtures

Colchester v Walsall

Doncaster v Barnsley

Fleetwood v Oldham

Gillingham v Coventry

Port Vale v Peterborough

Rochdale v Crawley

Scunthorpe v Bristol City

Prediction

Crewe Alexandra are currently within good form having beaten some very respectable teams within League One. They will be heading to Meadow Lane to prove a point and to continue their progression away from the relegation zone. I see this ending in a 1-1 draw.

Match Odds

Notts County to win 23/20 – Draw 12/5 – Crewe Alexandra to win 23/10

Head to Head

Notts County – A win for Notts will most likely move them to 11^th, only a single place gained. However if Port Vale and Peterborough United draw that would leave the Magpies available to make the most of their game in hand. If Notts were to draw 12^th to 15^th is likely, whilst the worst case scenario being a loss would drop Notts perhaps as low as 15^th to 18^th.

Crewe Alexandra – If the Railwaymen win it could see them move to 19^th, a draw could see them remain 20^th or it could allow them to move to 19^th, whilst a strong possibility of a return back into the relegation fold is also likely. If they were to lose, it could see them fall all the way to 23^rd provided the other teams all win.

Key Man

Notts County; Garry Thompson – With added quantity to the Notts County ranks, it frees up Thompson to play upfront as a striker. This allows us to have a player who is always in the mix to score goals, which is exactly what the Magpies require against the Railwaymen.

Crewe Alexandra; Nicky Ajose – The on loan Leeds striker has given the Alex hope of survival, his form and performance will be key. If he does well, likely the players around will become confident and hes always a concern on goal sight making him the key man.

League Table

If MK Dons do win, this would open the 6^th place position up to Chesterfield, Rochdale or Fleetwood Town. This provides Rochdale with the perfect opportunity as on paper they have the best chance of winning this weekend.

From 18^th to 11^th could see large movements, as sides are quite closely grouped together on points. Notts will have to give 110% as they could be one of the sides who fall, even if they manage to pick up a draw. Doncaster v Barnsley sums up this fix of games as only two points separates the sides with only Walsall in-between.

Leyton Orient and Crew Alexandra could both end up inside the relegation zone, however Gillingham, Colchester United and Crawley Town have all got difficult ties. Whatever the outcome for Yeovil, they will remain rooted to the bottom of League One. However, a win could leave them with a good chance of escaping the relegation zone, provided they beat Bradford City which will not be easy.