A match between two evenly matched teams who are locked in a
tight battle to earn automatic promotion, this afternoon’s match at Stadium MK
could well be a bit of a barnstormer.
MK Dons and Mansfield Town are both coming off wins over relegation
strugglers Forest Green.
But the Dons are the ones with the slight edge in form
entering this fixture with three wins, one draw and a loss from their last five
and a boat-load of goals to boot, with 13.
The Stags have a pair of wins and defeats and the lone draw
over the same period. Despite netting nine goals they have struggled to find
the back of the net at times and they’re not as strong on the road.
Whereas their hosts have only lost once in front of their home
fans in 2024.
Enter the Dragons...
Wrexham v Forest Green (15:00 BST)
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Wrexham could achieve another Hollywood ending with a win at
the Racecourse today and other results going their way.
The Red Dragons, who are on the cusp of earning automatic
promotion out of League Two, are on a two-game unbeaten run and tough to beat
at home.
Meanwhile, Forest Green are holding on for dear life and
after months of taking on water, they are desperately trying to survive another
relegation.
Rovers have lost two in a row - although they were unlucky
to drop points against Mansfield midweek – and another two defeats will
certainly finish them off.
When asked about promotion, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson told
BBC Sport that “destiny is in our hands.”
Forest Green’s destiny looks somewhat bleaker right now.
Elsewhere in League One...
#bbcefl
It's getting very tight in the race for play-off places with Lincoln, Blackpool and Stevenage all hot on the heels of both Barnsley and Oxford.
Steve Evans' Stevenage welcome relegation-threatened Burton Albion. A win for either side could prove vital, and a confidence boost for the away team who haven't won since 17 February.
Meanwhile, Reading's rollercoaster season could take another twist as they head to fifth-placed Barnsley, determined to seal their safety and inject a few nerves into the Yorkshire side.
Here's a full list of today's League One fixtures which get under way at 15:00 BST:
Bolton
v Portsmouth
Derby v
Leyton Orient
Oxford
v Peterborough
Barnsley v Reading
Cambridge
v Charlton
Carlisle
v Blackpool
Cheltenham
v Bristol Rovers
Fleetwood
Town v Northampton
Lincoln v Wigan
Port
Vale v Exeter
Shrewsbury
v Wycombe
Stevenage v Burton
A walk in the park for Stockport?
Stockport v Morecambe (15:00 BST)
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
League leaders Stockport could win the League Two title and automatic promotion in front of their home fans today if they earn at least a point at Edgeley Park.
The Hatters haven't lost since mid-February and it would be a surprise if they didn't wrap things up this afternoon.
Their opponents Morecambe have had a week to forget.
Deducted three points by the EFL for failing to adhere to an agreement to pay players on time in 2023, their slim hopes of a play0off spot are all but over.
The Shrimps captain Ferrend Rawson has called on the owner to sell the club.
Stuttering Rams look to give themselves breathing space
Derby v Leyton Orient (15:00 BST)
RexCopyright: Rex
Two draws in their last two games has allowed Derby’s
promotion rivals to catch them up and they are now nervously looking over their
shoulder as Bolton and Peterborough approach in the rear view mirror.
Both Bolton and Posh have games in hand too so this feels
like a very important match in The Rams’ season as they seek a return to the
Championship.
Having battled with Portsmouth for the automatic spots all
season, Paul Warne would be delighted if Pompey secured three points today
against Bolton, which would give his side much-needed breathing space in a race likely to go down to the wire.
As for today’s opponents, Orient had threatened to get into
the play-off picture with a good run of form earlier this year but it looks
like they are going to come up short.
They start the match eight points outside the play-offs with
only three games remaining but I’m sure Richie Wellens will be telling his team
the importance of finishing strongly.
Can Bolton spoil Portsmouth promotion party?
Bolton v Portsmouth (15:00 BST)
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Portsmouth fans will be hoping today is the day when their team seals promotion to make a return to the Championship.
In it’s simplest terms, they will go up as champions if they
beat third-place Bolton today. They can also be promoted, not quite as
champions yet, depending on how Derby and Peterborough get on in their games.
That’s where it starts to get a little complicated but let’s
cross that bridge when we come to it.
Their opponents Bolton will have designs on spoiling the
Portsmouth promotion party, knowing a victory of their own could put them into
second this evening.
The Trotters start the day two points behind Derby but also,
maybe crucially, have a game in hand. In order to make that count, they can’t
afford any slip ups here.
Welcome along
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of today's action across League One and League Two.
We're in mid-April which means there are massive games everywhere you look. In other words, it's make or break time for teams across the country who are dreaming of promotion or being kept awake by relegation nightmares.
In League One, Portsmouth could go up as champions if they win today, but it won't be easy against fellow promotion contenders Bolton.
In the fourth tier, it's Stockport and Wrexham who have the chance to seal their promotion.
It'll be an all-action afternoon so let's get straight into the build-up.
Live Reporting
Steve Mather, Luke De Costa and Dan Wareing
All times stated are UK
A battle between automatic-promotion rivals
MK Dons v Mansfield Town (15:00 BST)
A match between two evenly matched teams who are locked in a tight battle to earn automatic promotion, this afternoon’s match at Stadium MK could well be a bit of a barnstormer.
MK Dons and Mansfield Town are both coming off wins over relegation strugglers Forest Green.
But the Dons are the ones with the slight edge in form entering this fixture with three wins, one draw and a loss from their last five and a boat-load of goals to boot, with 13.
The Stags have a pair of wins and defeats and the lone draw over the same period. Despite netting nine goals they have struggled to find the back of the net at times and they’re not as strong on the road.
Whereas their hosts have only lost once in front of their home fans in 2024.
Enter the Dragons...
Wrexham v Forest Green (15:00 BST)
Wrexham could achieve another Hollywood ending with a win at the Racecourse today and other results going their way.
The Red Dragons, who are on the cusp of earning automatic promotion out of League Two, are on a two-game unbeaten run and tough to beat at home.
Meanwhile, Forest Green are holding on for dear life and after months of taking on water, they are desperately trying to survive another relegation.
Rovers have lost two in a row - although they were unlucky to drop points against Mansfield midweek – and another two defeats will certainly finish them off.
When asked about promotion, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson told BBC Sport that “destiny is in our hands.”
Forest Green’s destiny looks somewhat bleaker right now.
Elsewhere in League One...
#bbcefl
It's getting very tight in the race for play-off places with Lincoln, Blackpool and Stevenage all hot on the heels of both Barnsley and Oxford.
Steve Evans' Stevenage welcome relegation-threatened Burton Albion. A win for either side could prove vital, and a confidence boost for the away team who haven't won since 17 February.
Meanwhile, Reading's rollercoaster season could take another twist as they head to fifth-placed Barnsley, determined to seal their safety and inject a few nerves into the Yorkshire side.
Here's a full list of today's League One fixtures which get under way at 15:00 BST:
A walk in the park for Stockport?
Stockport v Morecambe (15:00 BST)
League leaders Stockport could win the League Two title and automatic promotion in front of their home fans today if they earn at least a point at Edgeley Park.
The Hatters haven't lost since mid-February and it would be a surprise if they didn't wrap things up this afternoon.
Their opponents Morecambe have had a week to forget.
Deducted three points by the EFL for failing to adhere to an agreement to pay players on time in 2023, their slim hopes of a play0off spot are all but over.
The Shrimps captain Ferrend Rawson has called on the owner to sell the club.
Stuttering Rams look to give themselves breathing space
Derby v Leyton Orient (15:00 BST)
Two draws in their last two games has allowed Derby’s promotion rivals to catch them up and they are now nervously looking over their shoulder as Bolton and Peterborough approach in the rear view mirror.
Both Bolton and Posh have games in hand too so this feels like a very important match in The Rams’ season as they seek a return to the Championship.
Having battled with Portsmouth for the automatic spots all season, Paul Warne would be delighted if Pompey secured three points today against Bolton, which would give his side much-needed breathing space in a race likely to go down to the wire.
As for today’s opponents, Orient had threatened to get into the play-off picture with a good run of form earlier this year but it looks like they are going to come up short.
They start the match eight points outside the play-offs with only three games remaining but I’m sure Richie Wellens will be telling his team the importance of finishing strongly.
Can Bolton spoil Portsmouth promotion party?
Bolton v Portsmouth (15:00 BST)
Portsmouth fans will be hoping today is the day when their team seals promotion to make a return to the Championship.
In it’s simplest terms, they will go up as champions if they beat third-place Bolton today. They can also be promoted, not quite as champions yet, depending on how Derby and Peterborough get on in their games.
That’s where it starts to get a little complicated but let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.
Their opponents Bolton will have designs on spoiling the Portsmouth promotion party, knowing a victory of their own could put them into second this evening.
The Trotters start the day two points behind Derby but also, maybe crucially, have a game in hand. In order to make that count, they can’t afford any slip ups here.
Welcome along
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of today's action across League One and League Two.
We're in mid-April which means there are massive games everywhere you look. In other words, it's make or break time for teams across the country who are dreaming of promotion or being kept awake by relegation nightmares.
In League One, Portsmouth could go up as champions if they win today, but it won't be easy against fellow promotion contenders Bolton.
In the fourth tier, it's Stockport and Wrexham who have the chance to seal their promotion.
It'll be an all-action afternoon so let's get straight into the build-up.