League One Preview: Derby day for Oxford and Swindon, leaders Bolton entertain MK Dons

The pick of the games this weekend in League One sees a ding-dong derby between Oxford United and Swindon Town at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford have won each of the last five meetings between the teams, including the last encounter back in 2012, but Swindon have won more head-to-head matches. Expect a fiery encounter, full of passion, in front of a sell-out crowd.

At the bottom of the table, there are bound to be a few tasty challenges and nervous fans at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol, as the town’s Rovers take on bottom placed Rochdale. Both teams have been slow out of the blocks, but with the Pirates just two places above Dale, there’s all to play for.

Michael Appleton’s Oxford welcome arch-rivals Swindon to the Kassam Stadium this afternoon – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Rochdale aren’t the only team without a win this season though, and the team sandwiched between them and Rovers are the Sky Blues of Coventry City.

They will make the trip to the The Den to take on a confident Millwall side who drew with Bradford City last week. If the Lions can despatch Coventry, then there’s every chance they could move up from fourth into the automatic promotion places.

Bradford will be one of the teams hoping to ensure that doesn’t happen. Stuart McCall’s outfit go to the Priestfield Stadium to take on a Gillingham side who were unlucky to lose out to a rejuvenated Sheffield United last week. Both sides have promotion ambitions and this should be a good indicator of who may be involved in the shake-up later in the season.

The Blades will want to put together back-to-back wins against AFC Wimbledon this week at Kingsmeadow. The Dons have found life in League One tough so far, but will be encouraged by their 2-1 victory against Chesterfield last weekend.

Chesterfield will visit Oldham Athletic, a team who were also unlucky losers last week. They’ll need to approach the game without the battle and bite of Ousmane Fane, who was dismissed in their 3-2 loss to Shrewsbury Town.

The Shrews seem to be finally putting their early season’s troubles behind them, but in Bury, they face in-form opponents. The Shakers run out again at Gigg Lane following the 4-1 demolition of Port Vale last week. David Flitcroft looks to have stumbled on a gem in 28-year-old striker James Vaughan, a free transfer who scored two goals last week and looks like he has plenty more in the tank.

Former Everton and Huddersfield Town striker, Vaughan, has scored three goals in his first two league games for Bury this term – Photo: Steve Parkin / Offside.

Vale will want to put last week to the back of their minds as they start afresh against Peterborough United at the ABAX Stadium, London Road. The Posh remain in the play-off spots after drawing 1-1 with Swindon last week.

Elsewhere, third-placed Fleetwood Town host crisis club Charlton Athletic. The news didn’t improve for the Addicks this week as news emerged that they have cancelled the contract of former France international Alou Diarra at the player’s request. The Cod Army will be only too pleased to add to their woes.

Leaders Bolton Wanderers welcome Milton Keynes Dons to the Macron Stadium, with the Trotters’ chairman Ken Anderson saying he is shortly to meet with various business people from Malaysia and China who are interested in investing in the club.

Wanderers look well placed to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt, so supporters will hope that any off-field transition does not prove too much of a distraction.

Northampton Town notched their first win last week in a 3-2 win against MK Dons, where all the Cobblers’ goals arrived in the first half an hour. Rob Page’s side will be full of confidence as they host a Walsall side that still, somewhat surprisingly, languishes towards the wrong end of the table.

The final match sees Scunthorpe United welcome Southend United. The Shrimpers may be in the relegation spaces, bu they managed a creditable and morale boosting draw against leaders Bolton last time out. Can they bring down another promotion wannabe, as the high-flying Iron come to town?