Colchester United

The gap to Bristol City at the top was reduced once more, this time, cut down to just two points, while both Scunthorpe and Crewe are within three points of escaping the relegation zone after a long run of games below the dotted line. 
Last weekend saw a set of results which had just one 0-0 draw in League One, with a number of teams changing places.

Bristol City return to Ashton Gate still at the top of the league, but with Preston closing in just two points behind on 33 and 31 points respectively.

A tricky opponent will line up against the table toppers this week as they host play off pushing Oldham. 7th place Oldham gained a 2-1 home win to Bradford on Saturday.

Second place Preston moved five points clear of Swindon, and could put more pressure on the top of the table as they travel to Rochdale.

Preston have one of the best defences in the league and will put this to the test against a Rochdale side who have been free scoring recently, proved by their last result when they put three past Yeovil at Huish Park. 

Swindon had just lost touch with the top two in their previous couple of results, but pushed on to a 0-3 win away to Chesterfield on Tuesday. This week they come up against MK Dons, who slipped out of the top six following a scoreless draw away to Doncaster.

Notts County continued their good form recently as they got another win, this time away to Scunthorpe, winning 0-1. This weekend they will come up against Walsall, who gained three points last time out, beating Chesterfield 1-0 at home. With that win they kept themselves out of the relegation places, and are now 18th, out of the drop zone on goal difference. 

In contrast to Notts County’s good form, Peterborough will be wanting to get back to winning ways, as they have gone from being second and just behind Bristol, to fifth and only just remaining in the top 6 on goal difference.

This weekend they play bottom side Scunthorpe, on the back of a 3-2 away loss to Coventry, while Scunthorpe were beaten 0-1 at home to Notts County. 

Sheffield United currently occupy sixth place by one point from Oldham, and this week host Barnsley. Both teams avoided defeat the last time they played, with the Blades winning 0-1 away to Crewe, while Barnsley drew 2 all with table toppers Bristol City. 

10th place Fleetwood will want to stop their inconsistent form, following a 3-2 defeat away to Preston on Saturday, while their opponents for the coming game, Gillingham will look to build on the 1-1 draw they played out last time with Crawley.

Gillingham are in the bottom four, but a win would surely lift them out, as they are just one point behind 20th place Doncaster. 

Chesterfield are also in inconsistent form, slipping from the top 6 to 11th, conceding a large number of goals in the process. Last weekend they lost 1-0 away to Walsall, and this weekend their opponents Yeovil will hope to bounce back from a 0-3 home defeat to Rochdale. 

Mid-table Bradford will play Doncaster this Saturday, with neither team managing to get a win the last couple of games. Bradford lost 2-1 away to Oldham, and Doncaster drew a blank with MK Dons, ensuring that both teams remain frustrated.

Doncaster have one of the worst scoring records in the league, with 12 goals in 13 games, while Bradford have a poor defensive record shipping 20 goals this season already. 

Crawley will host Crewe, following their 1 all draw away to Gillingham the previous Saturday. Crewe were unable to gain three points from their previous game too, as they lost 0-1 at home to Sheffield United. This result confined Crewe to the bottom four, but they are still only two points away from escaping, depending on other results. 

Colchester will want to continue their good form, and make it three league home wins in a row, as they host Port Vale. Last time out, Colchester managed an impressive 2 all draw away to high flying Swindon, while Port Vale got a win; 3-0 at home to Leyton Orient. 

Finally, Coventry will travel to the east end of London to play Leyton Orient.

Coventry, who ended a run of 7 straight defeats with a 3-2 home win against Peterborough, will be in good spirits and high hopes considering that their opponents for this weekend’s game lost 3-0 away to Port Vale in their previous game.