Tight at the top - who will take a grip on League Two lead?

Walsall's Nathan Lowe and Jonny Williams of Gillingham have been integral to their sides' early form

It's mightily tight at the top of League Two.

With the top four teams locked together on 19 points and only five points separating first place from 12th, it is no surprise the lead has changed hands four times in the space of the past three matchdays.

With current leaders Walsall not in action this weekend and fifth-placed Notts County involved in the lunchtime kick-off there could be a further two different table-toppers by Saturday evening.

BBC Sport assesses the start of the season, and which clubs might last the race in the bid to reach League One.

Walsall

It is tight at the top of League Two

With four defeats from their final five games last season resulting in an 11th-place finish, Walsall fans were left with a feeling of what might have been as they missed out on a top-seven position.

The division's top scorers have reaped the dividends of sticking with rookie manager Mat Sadler and have used the loan market well.

"A good relationship with Championship side Stoke City has given them loan access to talented goalkeeper Tommy Simkin and striker Nathan Lowe and both teenagers have thrived so far," said BBC Radio WM's Richard Wilford.

"If they're to sustain their promotion challenge they'll need their injured duo Donervon Daniels and Oisin McEntee to bolster their defensive options, while loan duo George Hall and Reyes Cleary are yet to fire.

"If they can make a contribution then the Saddlers have the squad depth to remain contenders."

Walsall's match with Bromley on Saturday has been postponed because of international call-ups which means they are likely to lose top spot at least for now.

Gillingham

Mark Bonner led Cambridge United to promotion from League Two in 2021

After a takeover by American businessman Brad Galinson towards the end of 2022, Gillingham invested heavily following relegation to try to bounce straight back up to League One last season.

Failure to trouble the top seven cost both Neil Harris and successor Stephen Clemence their jobs, and in May the Kent side appointed League Two promotion winner Mark Bonner.

In the top four tiers of English football, only Liverpool, Burnley and Sheffield United have conceded fewer goals than the Gills' five so far this season, but the 12 scored in their 10 games might need addressing.

That record has echoes of last season where Gillingham had the sixth-best defensive record but only relegated Forest Green Rovers scored fewer goals.

"After fading to 12th, and scoring so few goals, Gillingham concentrated their transfer dealings in attacking areas in the transfer window," said BBC Radio Kent Sports Editor, Matt Cole.

"Gills' owner Brad Galinson has made it clear he's impatient for promotion, and new manager Mark Bonner has certainly impressed the fans with a more positive-looking side, while keeping their defensive solidity.

"Back-to-back defeats may have tempered any talk of a runaway promotion campaign, but there's a quiet confidence from both club and supporters that they'll be a strong contender to go up next spring."

A win over Accrington on Saturday could take Gillingham back to the top.

Barrow

Barrow are hoping Andrew Dallas can fire them to promotion

Barrow's failure to make the play-offs last season was almost as spectacular as their promotion challenge in the first place.

One win from their final seven matches would have been enough to get them into the end-of-season shootout - as it turned out, they lost five, drew two and, within three weeks, manager Pete Wild had left.

Fast forward six months and Barrow have already tasted life at the top of the table this season with new manager Stephen Clemence believing the division is a lot more open this year.

"From what I've seen this season, there's no Stockport, Wrexham or Mansfield," Clemence told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"There are some very good teams, but we're a very good team too."

Clemence has sought to bolster Barrow's strikeforce after they managed just 62 goals last season with the additions of strikers Chris Popov and Andrew Dallas on loan from Leicester and Barnsley respectively, as well as the permanent signing of Katia Kouyate from Everton.

"I made a summer prediction of anywhere between 10th and 14th in the table with the expectation of it being a transitional season - but it certainly seems the players have got other ideas," said BBC Radio Cumbria's Barrow commentator Adam Johnson.

"If they are to maintain their start, I think they will need to keep the intensity levels up which will certainly prove to be a challenge.

"I think we will be in for an exciting season regardless with there being no standout team from what I've seen."

Barrow host bottom side Morecambe on Saturday.

Doncaster Rovers

Billy Sharp rejoined Doncaster from Hull City in June

While Barrow's promotion challenge hit the buffers at the end of last season, Doncaster's went like a high-speed train with a run of 10 successive wins earning them a play-off spot before they ran out of steam against Crewe.

That sort of form had manager Grant McCann determined to avoid a similar fate this time around.

"We will be going to win the league next season so, if anybody thinks we can't, they won't be at the club," he said.

Rovers re-signed striker Billy Sharp in the summer while winger Luke Molyneux agreed a new three-year deal as they went about an aggressive recruitment drive.

"There has been a real buzz about Rovers since [McCann's statement], so their strong start to the season isn't unexpected," BBC Radio Sheffield's Andy Giddings told BBC Sport.

"They have great competition in most areas of the team, and support from the board should the need arise, so it's hard to see anything other than a successful season at Doncaster Rovers."

Rovers have a chance for revenge against Crewe on Saturday, where victory could take them top of the table.

Notts County

Stuart Maynard took over as Notts County manager in January

After a period of adjustment last season, Stuart Maynard has got Notts County going at the start of this campaign, and they only lost for the first time late last month when they were knocked off the top with a 1-0 home defeat by Gillingham.

Form since that day has been patchy with a draw at Morecambe, a win over Carlisle and defeat by Port Vale, but Notts appear to have filled the considerable hole left by the prolific Macaulay Langstaff.

"Last season Notts had two more points than they have now, but in some ways this season feels different," said BBC Radio Nottingham Sport's David Jackson.

"The defence is undeniably more solid, goalkeeper Alex Bass has been superb and they've continued to score at the other end despite losing Macaulay Langstaff to Millwall.

"It feels like the next few games against Chesterfield, Wimbledon and Barrow might give us a clearer idea of Notts' promotion credentials although the worry is they'll have to do that without the reigning League Two Player of the Season, Jodi Jones, who is out until Christmas."

At least a point at Chesterfield in Saturday's lunchtime match will be enough to send Notts County top, even if just for a few hours.

Port Vale

Darren Moore's Port Vale have taken 14 points from their past six games - more than anyone else in League Two

After relegation last season, Port Vale have gone through a major overhaul of playing staff in the summer but are unbeaten in their past six matches with four wins.

Darren Moore was not able to prevent the drop last year but believes there is still more to come from his side.

"I'm looking at the squad and we're growing and developing, and I'm happy with where we're at but I'm not satisfied," said Moore.

"Darren Moore's been well backed by the Shanahan family – the likes of George Byers, Jayden Stockley, and Ronan Curtis don’t come cheap and they’ve also paid for some highly rated players from other leagues like Ruari Paton and Lorent Tolaj," said BBC Radio Stoke's Phil Bowers.

"They should really be up there but Moore has been keen to stress that this team can get better, and hasn’t hit top gear yet.

"Moore mixes and matches a lot and rarely picks the same team – but you can say this is a far different Port Vale team than the one from the last couple of years, and they should be up there come the end of the season. How they get there is going to be the fun part."

Vale are the sixth side with a realistic chance of finishing Saturday top of the pile but will need to win at MK Dons.

The rest

Paul Cook brought Chesterfield back into the EFL after a six-year absence

Fleetwood turned to the inexperienced Charlie Adam as manager last season but he could not prevent relegation from League One.

The Scotsman has the Cod Army in the final play-off spot, playing an attractive possession-based style but they could drop out of the top seven on Saturday with their game against Colchester postponed because of international call-ups.

After defeat by Crawley in the play-off final, Crewe have regrouped and five wins from six matches has them in eighth place before their trip to Doncaster.

The Gresty Road club lost the goals of Elliott Nevitt and Courtney Baker-Richardson in the summer when they turned down new deals, while Rio Adebisi and Luke Offord also opted for pastures new.

Manager Lee Bell did convince forward Chris Long to sign a new contract and former Stevenage striker Kane Hemmings will have to plug the gap up front.

Bradford are always tipped to be up among the frontrunners and in Graham Alexander they have a man who has promotion experience from League Two with Fleetwood.

The Bantams also have the prolific Andy Cook, and if he stays fit they will surely remain in the frame.

Newport are going down a different route after dispensing with the services of Graham Coughlan and appointing the former Swansea coach, Nelson Jardim.

The Portuguese is well known to Newport owner Huw Jenkins from their time together at Liberty Stadium, and the loan signing of striker Kyle Hudlin looks a smart piece of business.

Along with Bradford and Newport, Grimsby find themselves just one point outside the play-off spots with manager David Artell waxing lyrical about their recent win at Gillingham.

A subsequent 3-0 home defeat by Doncaster felt like a dose of reality and they will need to plug a leaky defence which is the third worst in the division.

Fresh from romping to the National League title by 12 points, Chesterfield were many pundits' tip for promotion and, despite an inconsistent start, a four-match unbeaten run may indicate they are getting to grips with things.

With James Berry, Armando Dobra, Will Grigg and Dilan Markanday in his ranks, manager Paul Cook is well stocked with the firepower needed to sustain a promotion push.

A lunchtime win over Notts County for the Spireites would push them up from 12th to seventh.