Almost an instant response from Mansfield as Stephen McLaughlin curls in a free-kick but Lucas Akins can only direct his header wide.

Crewe's win over Bradford on New Year's Day was their first in seven games, but they're eyeing back-to-back victories now.

Portsmouth have the first real chance in Gloucestershire as Sean Raggett has an early header saved.

Pat Baldwin
Former Exeter City defender on BBC Radio Devon

Pierce Sweeney gives a foul away in a dangerous area for Carlisle.

His blood was boiling when he went in for a tackle.

Fortunately for Exeter it was a poor free-kick.

An eventful start for Exeter debutant Luke Harris, who joined on loan from Fulham earlier this week.

He's failed to find the target with an early shot and also been booked inside five minutes.

Derby's earlier win at Fleetwood mean there are now three teams within four points of Portsmouth's lead at the top of League One.

Cheltenham, meanwhile, start three points from safety. Things have improved a lot since Darrell Clarke took charge earlier in the season - remember when they didn't score in their first 11 league games?

Fair play to the Carlisle fans who have made the 353-mile trip to Exeter today.

Those 353 miles back will pass by a whole lot quicker if they can beat one of the teams alongside them in League One's bottom four.

Image source, Rex Features

Away we go!

There's plenty to play for across the third and fourth tiers today, so let's hope it's a good one.

Remember to send us your thoughts on this afternoon's action using #bbcefl on X, formerly Twitter.

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Cowley makes his return to the EFL today, taking charge of Colchester for the first time as his new side visit Swindon.

The former Lincoln, Huddersfield and Portsmouth boss has replaced Matty Etherington who was sacked on New Year’s Day after eight defeats in nine league matches.

Fixing the joint-leakiest defence in the league will be one of his priorities, with Colchester conceding 52 goals in 26 games and in each of their last 11.

Cowley might think that Swindon are a decent opponent to start his tenure with, as Mike Flynn’s side have lost five of their last six league games.

Swindon will also need to find a way of replacing the goals of their two top scorers this season, with Jake Young (16) and Dan Kemp (14) both being recalled from their loans by Bradford and MK Dons respectively.

The duo have scored 30 of Swindon’s 47 league goals this season.

Image source, rex

A tightly contested first half turned into one way traffic after the break in this League Two Yorkshire derby.

Two second half goals, including an absolute belter from Abraham Odoh, gives Harrogate the win and they jump up to 11th and just two points outside the playoff places.

Disappointment for Doncaster who faded away after 45 minutes - they remain 19th.

Image source, Rex Features

The new year did not start well for Barrow as their 15-game unbeaten run in League Two came to a shuddering halt with a heavy defeat against promotion rivals Wrexham.

Pete Wild’s side took a first-minute lead before veteran striker Steven Fletcher’s hat-trick led the Welsh side to an emphatic 4-1 win which moved them four points ahead of Barrow.

They face a big challenge in getting back to winning ways today as they are up against one of the form teams of the division in Nigel Adkins’ Tranmere.

They were 23rd in early November but have won seven out of 10 games since – including their last four games - the most recent of which was an impressive 4-2 win over Notts County on New Year’s Day.

Image source, Getty Images

Mansfield can move above Stockport to go top of League Two today if they continue their excellent home form, with fellow promotion hopefuls Crewe this afternoon’s visitors.

Boss Nigel Clough insists no one is getting carried away with their promotion bid but after beating Stockport on New Year’s Day and with only one league defeat all season, you could forgive some fans for dreaming of League One football in 2024.

Mansfield have not lost at home all season, are unbeaten in six league matches and have only lost one of their last 25 league games (W14 D10).

Sixth-placed Crewe started 2024 by edging to a 1-0 win over Bradford, which was a first victory in seven league games, so they will be hoping the new year will bring with it a return to form.

Image source, rex

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell has already earmarked this month's transfer window as the "biggest" he has faced in his time at the club.

The next three weeks or so will be key in his plan to keep the Grecians in the division - a struggle that seemed a million miles away back in September when they were top of the table.

It's a been a sobering slide but today's game gives them - and their opponents Carlisle - the chance to give their survival hopes an early-year boost.

A win takes Exeter out of the relegation zone. Victory for Carlisle takes them above their hosts.

And after their superb late win over Port Vale on New Year's Day, they travel to Devon in fine fettle.

Image source, Getty Images

There won't be any fingers hovering over the panic button yet but when you've seen your lead at the top shrink from seven points to just two, one or two palms may be getting clammy.

Pompey fans know all about how things can unravel given what happened to their Championship charge under Kenny Jackett five years ago.

But things feel different this time round and a New Year's Day's win over Stevenage did at least stop the damp of their run of three games without a victory from rising further.

A trip to struggling Cheltenham ought to give them confidence their lead can be further pumped up with Bolton and Peterborough not in action today.

That win for Derby pushes them closer to the automatic promotion places and leaders Portsmouth, who are one of the teams in action in today's 3pm kick-offs.

So it's about time to take a closer look at their game and what else is heading our way across Leagues One and Two.

Derby winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, speaking to Sky Sports:

"We knew today wasn't going to be as pretty, sometimes you have got to grind those wins out.

"I've played many of those games where you're up against a new manager, it gives them a new lease of life. Coming here is never easy but we dealt with it quite well."

Derby striker James Collins:

"It was difficult conditions, the pitch was quite bobbly. Both teams have to deal with them and I think we dealt with them really well.

"Especially with a few teams around us not playing today, it was important to get those points on the board. [During a busy January period] we're going to need the whole squad and maybe some new additions as well. Hopefully we'll get to where we want to be."

Reaction on the way from Derby goalscorers James Collins and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who are speaking to Sky Sports after that 3-1 win.

Steve Eyre
Former Manchester City coach on BBC Radio Lancashire

There was far too much going on with Fleetwood players playing out of position today.

And on the sidelines it was chaos.

Derby could've had three or four.