Image source, Reuters

It is only 12 days since Bolton Wanderers were most recently in League One action, but that time has not been a quiet one.

They drew 0-0 with Premier League Luton in the FA Cup and then won at Accrington to reach the last eight in defence of the EFL Trophy.

Ian Evatt's team have already played 34 matches and have the replay with Luton to follow on Tuesday, as they fight on three fronts.

Successful Bolton promotion campaigns of the past have featured strong cup runs, so it is not time to put all their eggs in that basket just yet, while Portsmouth's sticky run of one win in five means the gap between the top two is just two points with two games in hand for Bolton.

Cheltenham, as shown in beating Pompey last Saturday, are much improved from early in the season, but Bolton will still have this earmarked for three points on their quest to reach the Championship.

Peterborough United and Darren Ferguson know what makes a successful promotion campaign, as together they have enjoyed that feeling four times down the years.

Uncovering diamonds from leagues down below and scoring bucketloads of goals has usually been the answer.

This season is following a similar pattern, with their 50 goals the best tally in League One, led by Ephron Mason-Clark and Jonson Clarke-Harris as they sit two points behind the top two.

If Posh have the promotion formula, Charlton would love them to share it.

This is the Addicks' fourth season down in the third tier and, my word, are they are finding it tough.

Seventh, 10th and 13th in the previous three campaigns, they are stuck in 13th again and without a win in any competition since 28 November.

Michael Appleton needs to arrest that quickly if this season is not to become another one to forget in south east London.

Barrow sit just outside the automatic play-off places and they travel to bottom-of-the-table Sutton United, This will be Steve Morison's first game in charge of Sutton having succeeded Matt Gray, who was sacked on 19 December. Morison was appointed last week, with the former Cardiff boss taking the helm of a Sutton side that has won just one of their past nine league games.

Crewe will be looking to make it three league wins on the bounce as they host a Swindon Town side that have lost on all of their previous four league visits to the Alex, last winning there in 2017.

Notts County make the trip to Grimsby with play-off hopefuls County coming off the back of a 4-2 defeat at Tranmere on New Year’s Day. Grimsby have lost four of their past seven home league games, including the past two in a row. They have not lost three consecutively at Blundell Park in the same Football League campaign since 2018.

Image source, Rex Features

Troy Deeney’s League Two strugglers Forest Green, who have not won a league game since 28 October, take on a Harrogate side who have won four of their past six league games.

Here's the full list of games in League Two (all 15:00 GMT kick-offs):

• Accrington Stanley v Gillingham
• Colchester United v Bradford City
• Crawley Town v Salford City
• Crewe Alexandra v Swindon Town
• Doncaster Rovers v Newport County
• Forest Green Rovers v Harrogate Town
• Grimsby Town v Notts County
• Morecambe v Mansfield Town
• Stockport County v Walsall
• Sutton United v Barrow
• Tranmere Rovers v Milton Keynes Dons
• Wrexham v AFC Wimbledon

While Wrexham and AFC Wimbledon will be fully dialled in on the serious business of promotion from League Two, both sides head into today's game fresh from the gloss of giant-killing feats in cup competitions.

Wrexham’s FA Cup win at League One Shrewsbury was the third time this season they have won against higher-division opponents, but the Dons can boast better after claiming their fifth upset of the campaign on Tuesday by beating League One Oxford to reach the last eight of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Wrexham’s home form has been formidable this season, taking 32 points from a possible 39, and they have won 10 of their past 14 in the league, taking them within two points of leaders Stockport.

But Wimbledon will travel with hope, if not outright expectation.

Boasting one of the best away records in League Two, they have lost just twice on the road this season and conceded a meagre 10 goals in those 13 trips, so maybe do not set your sights on a goal fest.

Johnnie Jackson’s side have produced a mixed bag of league results in recent weeks, mixing three wins with two draws and two defeats in their past seven, but are still nestled in the play-off places in seventh and within a not insurmountable 10 points of the top three.

The gaffer will have to watch from the stands as he completes a two-match touchline ban after his red card at Crawley last month.

The form book makes this a more intriguing match-up than the league positions of first v 13th would suggest.

Stockport have led League Two since October thanks to 12 straight wins from early September to mid-November.

But since that fourth-tier record-equalling run, the Hatters have won twice and dropped 14 points in their past eight League Two fixtures, cutting their lead over Mansfield and Wrexham to two points and their cushion in the automatic promotion spots down to three.

They did put eight past struggling Sutton in that sequence, however, and the home fans will be hoping County have pressed the reset button during their 12-day break.

In contrast, form horses Walsall seem to have turned a corner and head to Stockport on their best run of the season.

They responded to a six-match winless league run with five victories in their past six, including the notable scalps of Wrexham and Notts County.

Mat Sadler and his Saddlers, who have hit 11 goals in their past three league games, are looking for a fourth straight win and to complete a league double over County.

Image source, PA Media

Mansfield fans may have felt fully justified in letting out a few groans and grumbles last weekend after missing a golden chance to go top of League Two.

Leaders Stockport were not in action so the Stags had the tantalising chance to unseat them from the summit for the first time since October, having just beaten the Hatters on the road.

But the party fell flat when Crewe handed Town their second league defeat of the season and their first home reverse of the season in League Two.

Nigel Clough’s side face a Morecambe team who have won one of their past seven in League Two since Ged Brannan took charge in late November.

The Shrimps have a big hole to fill up front after losing their leading scorer Michael Mellon in midweek.

The on-loan 20-year-old has scored 13 league goals this season, but was recalled by his Premier League paymasters Burnley, as was Cardiff midfielder Eli King.

Morecambe supporters also have not had a home win to cheer since 28 October, although it is worth mentioning they have played at the Mazuma Stadium just four times since that landmark and have lost just twice there all season.

• Barnsley v Bristol Rovers
• Blackpool v Exeter
• Bolton v Cheltenham
• Cambridge v Fleetwood
• Carlisle v Oxford
• Charlton v Peterborough
• Northampton v Wigan
• Portsmouth v Leyton Orient
• Reading v Port Vale
• Shrewsbury v Stevenage
• Wycombe v Lincoln

• Accrington v Gillingham
• Colchester v Bradford
• Crawley v Salford
• Crewe v Swindon
• Doncaster v Newport
• Forest Green v Harrogate
• Grimsby v Notts County
• Morecambe v Mansfield
• Stockport v Walsall
• Sutton v Barrow
• Tranmere v MK Dons
• Wrexham v AFC Wimbledon

Before we preview some of the key games taking place today, here's the full list of fixtures.

League One? READY!

League Two? READY!

Three, two, one, GO!!

With the Christmas decorations down and Gladiators set to return to our TV screens this evening, who is ready to hang tough in the fight for promotion and the battle to avoid relegation?

Which key players will win their duels to decide the outcome of matches?

And which teams will be fighting at the end of the season in the eliminators for promotion and relegation?

Stick with us for the next couple of hours as 46 League One and Two clubs take to their arenas up and down the country!

Enjoy!

Image source, PA Media