League Two Preview: Doncaster visit Portsmouth, whilst leaders Plymouth hosts Yeovil

Many eyes in League Two will be focusing on the encounter at Fratton Park today, as fourth placed Portsmouth host third placed Doncaster Rovers.

Portsmouth will be grateful that this game is at home, because it’s their away form which has been worrying manager Paul Cook.

Pompey followed up a sublime 5-1 victory at home to Barnet, with a ridiculous 3-1 defeat away to Blackpool – that mirrored previous results earlier in the month where they beat Wycombe Wanderers 4-2 (home) and lost to Accrington Stanley 1-0 (away).

Doncaster meanwhile have had a couple of tough weeks having locked horns with promotion rivals and failed to walk away with the points from either game. A 3-1 defeat at Luton Town was followed by a 2-2 draw with Carlisle United at the Keepmoat – a game which they led and missed a penalty in.

If both play to their potential, this could be a cracking encounter, with either side capable of wrestling the points from one another, but expect confidence to be a factor as these thoroughbreds arrive after a couple of shaky missteps.

Darren Ferguson’s Doncaster are level on points with Saturday’s opponents Portsmouth – Photo: Steve Parkin / Offside.

Luton haven’t exactly been romping at home either. Alan Sheehan’s free-kick was enough to secure a draw at 10-man Hartlepool United, taking them above Rovers and Pompey on goal difference. They travel to relegation haunted Cheltenham Town, who blew a fantastic chance to escape the drop zone with a 0-0 stalemate at home to Stevenage last time out.

The Robins failure to beat the struggling sides means that they will have to start beating the bigger fish, if they want to stay in the division.

Five points clear of the three chasers sit leaders Plymouth Argyle. A 2-0 victory over Leyton Orient in midweek was one of the more predictable results of the League Two calendar, and you’d think Pilgrims boss Derek Adams would be happy enough to leave alone a winning formula, but that seems not to be the case.

Adams has got little wrong this season and has hinted that he might be tempted to turn to the unpredictability of Arnold Garita for their game today against Yeovil Town at Home Park. Garita’s last appearance came in a 2-0 victory over West Country rivals Exeter City, so he knows how to turn it on in a local derby – he scored one and made one in that game.

The on-loan Cameroon-born striker has played just four games in English football and has only 98 minutes under his belt for a high-performing Plymouth side, so maybe expect a cameo from the bench as he attempts to establish himself.

If Yeovil fail to pick up points in that game, expect rivals at the bottom to take advantage. Last placed Newport are three points from safety and will have fewer better opportunities to put a win in the bank as they host 18th placed Stevenage at Rodney Parade – but their preparation hasn’t been the best, having sacked boss Warren Feeney this week following their 1-0 defeat to Grimsby Town.

Steve Cotterill has rejected the chance to become the next Exiles boss, as has former Wolves boss Kenny Jackett – the net has now been cast wider, but it will be difficult to establish strong foundations, stability and confidence till someone is in post.

Down in 22nd place, Exeter City travel to Adams Park to take on 19th placed Wycombe, who will feel fresh from their 5-1 thrashing of Crewe on Tuesday night.

Chairboys boss Gareth Ainsworth says that one result does not make a season, but in truth, that upset could be season defining and was only the third win this year for the Wanderers.

It was also encouraging to see substitute Scott Kashket scoring two well-taken goals on his home debut. Another victory today could set Wycombe up for an exciting second half of the season.

Full League Two Fixture List (October 1, 2016):

Barnet vs Leyton Orient

Cambridge vs Accrington

Carlisle vs Colchester

Cheltenham vs Luton

Crawley vs Blackpool

Crewe vs Mansfield

Grimsby vs Hartlepool

Newport vs Stevenage

Notts County vs Morecambe

Plymouth vs Yeovil

Portsmouth vs Doncaster

Wycombe vs Exeter