League One Preview, Game 27

It's not quite a complete League One card this weekend as a handful of sides will be competing in the fourth round of the F A Cup (if only). Our match at the Valley will take top billing on Monday before there are eight catch-up matches to be played on Tuesday. For now, here's my take on Saturday's games and ours on Monday...

Bristol Rovers v Hartlepool United

Hartlepool were fortunate to get a goal at the Valley and I suspect they might struggle to create anything at Rovers.

Prediction; 2-0

Carlisle United v Stockport County

Carlisle are recovering from their disastrous start to the season and after their splendid JPT first leg win at Elland Road, they will be confident about putting basket-case Stockport away here.

Prediction; 2-0

Gillingham v Colchester United

No love lost between these two sides who have a recent history, at least, of trading players. The Gills are strong at home and Colchester will go their on the back of having conceded twelve goals in their last two matches. The Gills could do us a big favour here.

Prediction; 2-0

Mk Dons v Tranmere Rovers

Rovers need to start picking up points away from home if they are to have any chance of playing League One football next season. Personally I think they will go down and MK Dons should be too strong for them here.

Prediction; 3-0

Norwich City v Brentford

This might be a tougher game than it looks on paper. Brentford picked up a good point at Huddersfield on Saturday and might prove hard to break down. Norwich can't win every game and whilst they have a good squad playing with a lot of confidence, I don't believe they are as good as we are being lead to believe. I can see them dropping points in their next five games (Walsall, Millwall and Brighton away) but it might be after they have gone top of the table.

Prediction; 1-0

Oldham Athletic v Millwall

Millwall's wretched away form looks like it could yet cost them a play-off place. If they are to make it, they will need to get results at sides fighting the drop. This could be a case of two points dropped.

Prediction; 1-1

Southend United v Wycombe Wanderers

Southend's challenge has gone off the boil in recent months and they are firmly mid-table. they need a winning run to threaten the play-offs and who better to start with than Wycombe Wanderers.

Prediction; 2-0

Yeovil Town v Exeter City

Somerset-Devon derby and what should be Yeovil biggest gate of the season, although that will be less 10,000. Should be a close contest but my money's on Yeovil to edge it.

Prediction; 2-1

Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient

We can't play as poorly as we did in beating Hartlepool this week. The cameras are no great friend of the Addicks and I suspect the stands might look depressingly half-empty if this week's match was anything to go by. The O's should at least have a 1,000 fans there which might make for a better atmosphere. I don't see any huge goal-scoring threat from Orient and we should be confident of notching a couple if the Hartlepool game was anything to go by. We look to have a goal or two from the bench if they get enough of a run and if we are winning by then, we might be more comfortable here than we were on Tuesday.

Prediction; 3-0