League Two weekend preview

By Steve Bramley.   Last Updated: January 1, 1970 1:00am

Sky Bet

Hartlepool, Walsall and Swindon face tricky away trips in League Two on Saturday.

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Leaders Hartlepool travel to eighth place Wycombe, while Walsall bid to secure automatic promotion to League One against Notts County at Meadow Lane. Third place Swindon visit Gigg Lane to face Bury.

At the bottom, Torquay must beat Peterborough if they are to have any hope of avoiding the drop to the Conference, while Wrexham travel to Lincoln in need of maximum points.

Accrington v Grimsby (Home 6/5 Draw 2/1 Away 2/1)

Accrington boss John Coleman will be without Andrew Mangan for the home clash with mid-table Grimsby.

The striker starts a four-match ban for his second red card of the season. David Brown could come into contention after completing his own three-match ban.

Grimsby are without Michael Reddy and Gary Cohen for the trip to Accrington. They will also check on the fitness of Ryan Bennett, who has a knee injury.

Skysports.com prediction: 2-0

Barnet v Bristol Rovers (Home 5/4 Draw 9/4 Away 7/4)

Barnet's Ian Hendon is rated no better than "50-50" to play against Bristol Rovers.

Hendon has missed The Bees' last two matches with a foot injury. Adam Gross (ankle), Andy Hessenthaler (calf) and Paul Warhurst (groin) are also set to miss the Underhill encounter.

Rovers could be boosted by the return of midfielder Sammy Igoe after a knee injury. Defender Ryan Green hopes to feature after he came through a reserve-team fixture unscathed.

Skysports.com prediction: 2-2

Bury v Swindon (Home 15/8 Draw 11/5 Away 6/5)

Bury's Darren Kempson is available after serving a one-match ban and is expected to return to the heart of the defence against Swindon at Gigg Lane.

Midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy (hamstring) is not expected to figure despite returning to full training.

The Robins welcome Jerel Ifil back from suspension, but fellow defender Jack Smith begins a ban leaving either Ricky Shakes or Patrick Noubissie to contest the vacant right-back slot.

Skysports.com prediction: 1-2

Hereford v Boston United (Home 10/11  Draw 9/4 Away 5/2)

Hereford head into the clash with Boston bidding to halt an end of season nosedive which has seen them go nine games without a win and tumble from ninth to 17th. Graham Turner's side have also failed to find the back of the net in 574 minutes of football.

Defender Dean Beckwith misses the clash with after landing a two-game ban for his red card in the defeat at Walsall on Easter Monday.

Boston are without Nathan Joynes who has returned to Barnsley after a loan spell, while defender Mark Greaves and midfielder Stewart Talbot are rated doubtful.

Skysports.com prediction: 1-0

Lincoln v Wrexham (Home 4/6 Draw 12/5 Away 7/2)

Lincoln are without suspended defender Nat Brown for the clash with Wrexham.

Leon Mettam (knee) is definitely out and Lee Frecklington is a doubt, but Adie Moses could be fit and skipper Paul Morgan should feature despite his transfer request.

Wrexham captain Neil Roberts (calf) could return after missing The Dragons' two Easter weekend losses.

Skysports.com prediction: 3-1

Macclesfield v Stockport (Home 6/4 Draw 11/5 Away 6/4)

Mac's Danny Swailes (ankle) will miss the derby clash with Stockport at Moss Rose, but could still figure in the run-in after fears of an Achilles injury were ruled out.

Stockport boss Jim Gannon hopes Michael Raynes (concussion) and Adam Le Fondre (tonsillitis) will be available. Striker Tes Bramble (groin) could also be passed fit, but Liam Dickinson is out after his appeal against a three-match ban was rejected.

Skysports.com prediction: 0-1

Mansfield v Rochdale (Home 5/4 Draw 9/4 Away 7/4)

Mansfield could hand youth team captain Ashley Kitchen his debut against Rochdale.

Jake Buxton, Jonathon D'Laryea, Jon Hjelde and Stephen Dawson are all rated doubtful handing Kitchen a chance.

Glenn Poole could make his full debut for Rochdale. The midfielder, signed from Conference side Grays, is set to replace Ben Muirhead, who was recalled from his loan spell by Bradford.

Nathan Stanton has been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury so Simon Ramsden will continue at right-back.

Skysports.com prediction: 2-1

MK Dons v Darlington (Home 10/11 Draw 9/4 Away 5/2)

MK Dons boss Martin Allen will be without utility-man Jude Stirling as he begins a three-match ban against Darlington.

Stirling's place on the right of midfield will go to either Jon-Paul McGovern or fit-again Albert Jarrett (ankle), while top scorer Izale McLeod remains a doubt.

Darlington boss Dave Penney will pick from an unchanged squad with striker Tommy Wright serving the third game of his four-match ban.

Skysports.com prediction: 0-1

Notts County v Walsall (Home 7/4 Draw 9/4 Away 6/5)

Victory for the second-placed Walsall at Meadow Lane would secure them automatic promotion, but County go into the game at full strength and having won their last four games.

Manager Steve Thompson (pictured) is likely to keep faith with an unchanged team meaning there is still no place for Myles Weston and Michael Byron.

Alan Picken (knee) could return for Walsall, but striker Par Cederqvist (back) must pass a fitness test.

Skysports.com prediction: 1-1

Torquay v Peterborough (Home 7/4 Draw 9/4 Away 5/4)

Bottom club Torquay face an anxious wait to see if Chris Robertson (tendinitis) and Stev Angus (ankle) can figure in their must-win match at home to Peterborough.

The injury-hit Gulls, are already without a trio of central defenders in Steve Woods (knee), Craig Taylor (Achilles) and Matt Villis (groin).

Skipper Micah Hyde (Achilles) remains a doubt for Posh. Richard Butcher is likely to step in if Hyde misses out. Danny Blanchett (groin) and Guy Branston (calf) are also sidelined.

Skysports.com prediction: 1-3

Wycombe v Hartlepool United (Home 13/8 Draw 11/5 Away 11/8)

Wycombe skipper Tommy Mooney returns to partner either Jermaine Easter or Scott McGleish for the crucial clash with Hartlepool.
 
Midfielder Tommy Doherty is also available following a two-match ban, but Lewis Christon faces a late fitness test.

Pool skipper Micky Barron (groin) has trained this week and is back in contention for a place in the starting line-up.

Antony Sweeney (hamstring) will miss the trip, while striker Joel Porter is expected to start on the bench.

Skysports.com prediction: 1-1