Crawley will aim to remain top of the table as they visit fellow League Two new-boys AFC Wimbledon.
Reds aim to remain top after replacing Southend at league summit
Crawley will aim to remain top of the table as they visit fellow League Two new-boys AFC Wimbledon.
Given the investment at
Crawley, it has come as little surprise to see Steve Evans' side leading the way after romping to last season's Blue Square Premier title, but few expected
Wimbledon to be among the promotion contenders after going up via the play-offs.
The Dons are sixth after 13 games, five points behind league leaders Crawley, who disposed of promotion rivals Shrewsbury last week.
That was their fifth straight win and, coupled with Southend's 1-1 draw against Morecambe, sent the Reds back above the Shrimpers to the league summit.
Southend are two points behind and will be confident of getting back to winning ways at home to a
Torquay side without a win in seven.
Third-placed
Oxford stretched their unbeaten run to seven with a last-gasp equaliser at Macclesfield last week and should face a tough test at
Gillingham, who are ninth after winning 5-2 at Torquay.
Friday night clash
Fourth-placed
Cheltenham will hope for a fourth straight win at lowly
Accrington in the Friday night game, while
Port Vale and
Morecambe are level on points and go head-to-head at Vale Park on Saturday.
Shrewsbury are now fifth, level on points with Oxford and Cheltenham, although should have a testing trip to face an under-achieving
Rotherham determined to stop the rot after losing their last four.
Former Vale striker Justin Richards is the league's top scorer with nine goals since his summer switch to
Burton, and the 10th-placed Brewers host an inconsistent
Bristol Rovers.
Paolo Di Canio's
Swindon have recovered from a poor start to climb to 11th and the Robins visit a resurgent
Plymouth, who despite still being rock-bottom have taken seven points from their last four games.
Cheshire derby
A
Crewe victory at home to
Macclesfield will see Alex leapfrog their Cheshire rivals in mid-table, while 17th-placed
Northampton visit
Bradford, who are outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Hereford's 2-0 victory over Bradford last week took them level with the Bantams and should they make it back-to-back wins at home to
Barnet, they will climb above their visitors.
And in another bottom-of-the-table clash,
Dagenham & Redbridge will hope to move away from danger as they host
Aldershot, just one point and one place above them in 19th.
