Cambridge United v Accrington Stanley

The best of the rest are MK Dons,
who have lost once in twelve and
have found their identity under
the promising Liam Manning – the
36-year-old has won the manager
of the month award twice already
this campaign. Two points below
them are Sunderland, winless
in four but bolstered by the
appointment of no-nonsense
Alex Neil and the homecoming
of Jermain Defoe. Wycombe
Wanderers are lodged beneath
with an identical record to the
Black Cats, flip the form script and
you’ll find Plymouth Argyle lurking
in the shadows –a well-drilled and
energetic side boasting some of
the Football League’s brightest
prospects, the Pilgrims make up
the congested play-off pack.
Putting the pressure on are Oxford
United and Sheffield Wednesday,
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 TEAM OF THE week:
MF
MF
Reeco
Hackett-
Fairchild
DF
DF
Conor
Grant
DF
DF
MF
MF
Chris
Forino-Joseph
ST
ST
Sean
McConville
DF
DF
Alfie
May
Sean
Raggett
GK
GK
Christian
Walton
although the latter could have
rose to nosebleed territory that is
4th if they ran riot on their fittingly
Wednesday fixture. Backed by a
staggering 6850 Tractor Boys last
week, the biggest away following
in the EFL this season, Kieran
McKenna has brought the feelgood
factor back to Ipswich Town
of late. Occupying 9th, why can’t
they dream? Feeling a sense of
déjà vu, Bolton Wanderers have
once again started a calendar year
in devastating fashion – six wins in
eight puts them eight points shy of
the promised land.
Portsmouth will be hoping back-toback
wins has put their dreary start
to the year to bed – the third most
stubborn defence in the league is
a strong foundation to build on.
Consistently sound Burton Albion
are below in 12th, level on 43
MF
MF
Max
Power
DF
DF
Ross
Sykes
MF
MF
DF
DF
Harvey
Knibbs
Marlon
Fossey
points with Accrington Stanley who
are spearheaded by visionary Sean
McConville – the ever-present has
12 assists to his name already.
In a block of three sides who
currently acquire a healthy lead
over the relegation pack are
Charlton Athletic, Cheltenham
Town and Cambridge United.
The two former have the solitary
point more than the U’s, but all
have remained hard to beat and
mustered promising unbeaten runs
at some point that has put them in
good stead.
Perhaps the real underachievers
of the season thus far are Lincoln
City – they’re in 17th and have only
recorded consecutive triumphs
once. Fortunately for them,
Shrewsbury Town are winless in
seven, Fleetwood Town’s record
stands at six and AFC Wimbledon’s
is increasingly concerning and
stands at twelve – they last won in
early December. As you’d expect,
this has created a dogfight – the
aforementioned teams are afloat,
but for how long?
Morecambe are in 21st on 30
points, two losses from six has
helped nonetheless as they gear
up for a paramount afternoon.
Gillingham need to make up five
points, but the signs are promising
for Neil Harris – they’ve conceded
just twice in their first four games
under his tutelage. Doncaster
Rovers, the only side in the bottom
nine to taste victory in their last
outing, will breed confidence at
the right time. Situated at the
basement are Crewe Alexandra
– six successive defeats with 14
conceded in the process is tricky
reading. Suffering with second
season syndrome – can David Artell
eradicate the disease?
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