Hats off to bright young boss Chris Wilder whose Oxford side sit top of a ridiculously close League Two table.
Rochdale
Keith Hill and the Spotland side are a match made in heaven as far as the Dale fans are concerned and they are one of the best footballing outfits in the division. However, Keith will be disappointed at the goals against column and one clean sheet in 10 - whilst conceding three against Portsmouth and Dagenham and being thumped 4-0 by Scunthorpe - will not sit well. Keith loves to entertain but will know that his team's chance of earning an automatic-promotion place will not be realised if their defending doesn't improve drastically. Hill has backed his team and apportioned some blame to refereeing decisions but ultimately if Dale take their eye off the ball they will be punished. In Scott Hogan, Peter Vincenti and Ian Henderson, they possess real quality but the away form must get better if they are to avoid a month of madness in the League Two play-offs.
Burton
Albion are one of the teams in the play-off places to have won seven out of the last 10 games. After suffering their effects of play-off heartache last term, Gary Rowett's group have awoken from their slumber and enter the festive period on the back of three 1-0 wins with three home games out of four before the turn of the year. Top scorer Adam McGurk's concussion is untimely as the striker/winger has been a revelation since his move from Tranmere; his pace and energy are pivotal to Burton's style of play but with Rene Howe, Billy Kee, Dominic Knowles fit and Michael Symes back in training, the Brewers' armoury looks potent. They will be looking to substantially increase their points tally before New Year's Day.
Fleetwood
Alongside Chesterfield, Town have invested heavily but wisely in their squad and have fine blend of youth and experience and players who have had successful promotion campaigns before. Recent defeats to Northampton and Accrington and a draw against high-flying Oxford means a paltry four points have been recorded from a possible 12 and the Cod Army have lost more games than any of their top-seven rivals. With that in mind, it may be a case of some of their players curbing their enthusiasm and remaining a bit more disciplined, and I feel Ryan Cresswell and Mark Roberts need to take more responsibility and talk to the guys in front of them in order to organise when the opposition overturn possession and break quickly. Going forward they have the pace and directness of Gareth Evans and the dribbling ability of Antoni Sarcevic, while any two of Jon Parkin, Jamille Matt and David Ball up front are a real force in this division, so can Graham Alexander find the right balance and, ultimately, the winning formula that leads to promotion?
With just over a third of the season gone, there is just a piece of fine tracing paper between the top 10 teams and with 81 points for each team to play for you can guarantee more ups and downs than a game of snakes and ladders. It promises to be one of the most closely-fought years in League Two's history, so please let me know what you think will happen...
