League Two Preview: Plymouth host Stevenage and Northampton travel to Dagenham

After a damaging defeat to fellow title-challengers Northampton on Tuesday night, Plymouth will attempt to get back on track with a visit from Stevenage.

The league leaders are on 52 points, with a superior goal difference the only reason Argyle remain top. Without any cup competitions, Derek Adams men can concentrate on automatic promotion and a push for League One.

The challengers to Home Park are Stevenage, who are 25 points and 18 places lower down the table. Without a win in five, the Boro are 10 points above the drop so are not in immediate danger, but need a higher points tally to secure safety.

In second after the 2-1 victory against Plymouth, Northampton have only dropped three points since the start of November and look imperious against most clubs. A 2-2 draw with Championship side MK Dons means they will face a challenging away trip to remain in the FA Cup, but the reward is a home tie against Premier League champions Chelsea, a potential distraction from their league duties.

In the present they travel to Dagenham & Redbridge, who are currently having their best run of form all season. Back-to-back victories has not only lifted them out of the relegation zone, but two points clear of it.

On Sunday, third-placed Oxford take on Bristol Rovers in fifth, with only five points separating the two sides in the standings.

Michael Appleton will be hoping his Oxford side can build on their giant-killing FA Cup win against Swansea.

United are coming off the back of an impressive 3-2 victory against Premier League’s Swansea in the FA Cup. Just three points off the top-two, Michael Appleton’s men know that three points will be a significant step to securing automatic promotion.

Trying to stop them will be Rovers, who succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Barnet on Saturday, but the Pirates have taken 24 points on their travels this season.

Another play-off battle takes place at the Crown Ground as seventh-placed Accrington host Portsmouth in fourth.

Stanley have only played 22 games and have as many as four games in hand over other opposition, including Plymouth, who are 13 points ahead. With three more games and five extra points under their belts, Pompey know that anything other than a win will spell disaster for their top-three aspirations.

After four straight defeats, Hartlepool are quickly being dragged back into a relegation scrap. The only saving grace for Pool is that they have only played 21 games, and have many in hand over fellow strugglers. On 20 and now just three points above the drop, Gary Coxall’s side have no time to recover from consecutive visits from top-seven opposition when they host sixth-placed Wycombe. Wanderers come into this one off the back of an impressive 1-1 draw with Premier League struggling Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

At the tail end of the Football League are York, who a fortnight ago lost a crucial relegation match against 23rd-placed Yeovil. With 16 points and three victories from 24 games, City are three points from safety with only a win good enough for the Minstermen.

John Sheridan left Newport to re-join former club Oldham this week.

The visitors are Newport, who are yet to play in 2016 due to postponements. County have been dealt a double blow this week with boss John Sheridan returning to his old club Oldham to try and save them from relegation. The now managerless League Two side are without a win in four and are three points above the bottom-two.

Yeovil’s victory against York was their third league win and first since September 19, and the Glovers are now unbeaten in two and on one of their best runs this season. There is also a potential home tie against Premier League Everton should they beat Carlisle in their FA Cup replay.

Town take on mid-table Morecambe, who have taken five points in their last three. With just 13 points taken at home from 11 games, the Shrimps need to stay within touching distance of the play-offs and only a win will do.

League Two Fixtures 

Saturday, 3pm

Accrington vs Portsmouth
AFC Wimbledon vs Mansfield
Barnet vs Carlisle
Crawley vs Notts County
Dag & Red vs Northampton
Hartlepool vs Wycombe
Leyton Orient vs Exeter
Luton vs Cambridge
Morecambe vs Yeovil
Plymouth vs Stevenge
York vs Newport

Sunday, 3pm

Oxford Utd vs Bristol Rovers