League One weekend preview- 10th August 2013

The 10th of August sees the new Skybet League One season head into its second weekend, after a hectic 7 days which included the first games of the new season and the Capital One cup first round.

Bradford City v Carlisle United

League One new boys Bradford take on Carlisle at Valley Parade on Saturday.  Bradford will be looking to
continue their impressive opening day showing away to Bristol City, gaining a point, however the Cumbrians will be looking to bounce back from a Catastrophic opening day thrashing at the hands of Russell Slade's Leyton Orient. Midweek Bradford were dumped out of the League Cup at the first hurdle, losing to local rivals Huddersfield.  Carlisle caused an upset beating Championship side Blackburn on penalties after a 3-3 draw, David Amoo with a brace and Lewis Guy opening his Carlisle account.  Today (Thursday) Carlisle have strengthened in defence adding Charlton's Republic of Ireland u21 international Kevin Feely on a month loan.

Lee Miller is suspended for Carlisle following his red card on the opening day.  I have no doubt that Carlisle's struggles will continue at Bradford on Saturday. Prediction: Bradford 2-0 Carlisle.

Rory McArdle gave Bradford their first point

Brentford v Sheffield United

The second weekend of the season sees 2 of the divisions heavyweights go head to head at Griffin Park.  The Blades kicked off the season with an impressive win in front of the sky cameras at home to Notts County. They face one of their toughest trips this season to West London, on the back of their Capital One Cup defeat by Burton, looking to continue their league form. 

The Bees got a point at Port Vale to start their season, and head for their first home league game of the season with high hopes after an exciting midweek clash with Dagenham and Redbridge, winning 3-2.

Both sides go into this one looking to claim a very valuable, early 3 points. Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Sheffield United

Harry Maguire's header gave Sheffield United
victoru

Colchester United v Port Vale

The U's left it late against Gillingham

The Valliants make the trip to Essex on the back of a well earned point against promotion-tipped Brentford, leaving boss Micky Adams pleased.  Vale and Colchester both found themselves out the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, as the Vale park side edged out by Walsall, whereas the U's were hammered by fellow third tier outfit Peterborough. Joe Dunne's side kicked off the league season with a late win at League One newcomers Gillingham and will be looking to make it 6 points from 6.

Prediction: Colchester 2-1 Port Vale

Leyton Orient v Shrewsbury Town

Kevin Lisbie opened his season account against Carlisle

Early pacesetters Leyton Orient welcome the Shrews to East London this Saturday.  The rampant reds walked all over Carlisle on the opening weekend, smashing them 5-1. Graham Turner's Shrewsbury were left pleased with a point at home to the MK Dons last weekend, and will be looking for their first three points of the season this weekend. Graham Burke has been added for more creativity up front, on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa.

I think Shrewsbury will struggle to gain anything at the Matchroom Stadium this weekend. Prediction: Orient 3-1 Shrewsbury.

MK Dons v Crewe Alexandra

Daniel Powell will be a big loss for
MK Dons

Crewe travel to MK Dons after a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Rotherham first time out, with the Millers being 3-1 down going into the closing stages. Alexandra also has a disappointing midweek, losing to League Two side Bury 3-2. The news that star man Mathias Pogba will also be out for months is a massive blow for Steve Davis' side.

Meanwhile Karl Robinson was left pleased following the Dons' trip to Greenhous Meadow despite the bore draw, claiming he saw a 'good performance.' Much more pleasing for the men from Milton Keynes was the Capital One cup win away to Neighbours Northampton Town.

The Dons will be looking to impress back at Stadium:MK for the first time, but without wingers Daniel Powell and Dean Bowditch, both injured. Skipper Dean Lewington is also struggling with a knock picked up in the opening day draw at Shrewsbury.

The Railwaymen will have to improve defensively if they are to gain anything from Saturday's clash in Buckinghamshire. Prediction: MK Dons 2-0 Crewe.

Notts County v Peterborough

The Posh are off to a good start

Notts County were left disappointed after a loss away to Sheffield United on Friday night, however they managed to overcome the challenge from League Two Fleetwood midweek and a glamouring 2nd round tie at Anfield awaits. County will also be without Gary Liddle and Manny Smith after the Magpies suffered two red cards in their first games this season.  Callum McGregor impressed on debut against Fleetwood and the on-loan Celtic man will be pushing for a start against the Posh, who find themselves heading to Meadow Lane on the back of 2 wins in 3 days, scoring 6 in the process.  New signing Britt Assombalonga immediately started to show why Peterborough paid a million pounds for his services, netting on debut last weekend.  The Posh are also through to round two of the league cup after hammering Colchester on Tuesday.  Both teams will be looking for a good start to their season and I can see this being a tough game for both sides.  Prediction: County 1-2 Peterborough.

Oldham Athletic v Walsall

The Latics season opener was an eventful one.  Lee Johnson's men were involved in a 7 goal thriller at Stevenage, winning 4-3. On the other hand, Walsall's Craig Westcarr scored a brace, firing them to a 3-1 win against Tranmere. Walsall followed that win up by beating fellow League One side Port Vale in the League Cup on Tuesday, meanwhile Oldham were edged out by championship outfit Derby.

Oldham will have to tighten up at the back come this weekend, whereas Walsall will be wary of the threat posed by the Boundary park club. Prediction: Oldham 2-2 Walsall

Oldham were delighted to beat Stevenage

Rotherham United v Preston North End

Preston had a shock win against Blackpool

Rotherham's first home game back in League One takes place on Saturday, where Preston visit. Preston kicked off the 2013/14 Capital One cup with a late win against Lancashire rivals Blackpool.  Last week North End gained a point at home to Wolves in one of the football league's celebratory fixtures. The Millers salvaged a late point in an impressive show at Crewe last week and then pulled off an upset midweek, dumping fellow Yorkshire club Sheffield Wednesday out.  Simon Grayson will be looking for his first 3 points of the campaign, whereas Rotherham will be looking to pit their wits against one of the better teams in the division. Prediciton: Rotherham 1-2 Preston

Swindon v Stevenage

Swindon are the only team in the football league still without a manager and are preparing for Hertfordshire club Stevenage to visit the County Ground.  Swindon faced one of the toughest games of their season last weekend, and succumbed to an early winner from Britt Assomalonga at Peterborough. However their fortunes turned around during the week, beating league two torquay. Stevenage caused one of the biggest shocks of the week, pulling off a 2-0 win at home to Mick McCarthy's Ipswich. Stevenage will be looking to avoid the same result as their opening league one game, as they shipped 4 to Oldham.  However Graham Westley took some positives from the 3 they did score. Prediction: Swindon 2-1 Stevenage

Westley was left with food for thought after their
defeat to Oldham

Tranmere Rovers v Crawley Town

Mike Jones snatched a
late winner for Crawley

Both of these sides won one and lost one during the first week of the season.  Tranmere were left disappointed after a 3-1 loss away to Walsall last Saturday but then the men from Merseyside were too much for football league new boys Mansfield.  Crawley's season opener saw them beat cash-strapped Coventry 3-2, then lose to league two Cheltenham following extra time in the cup.

This is a tough game for both sides, prediction: Tranmere 1-1 Crawley

Wolverhamton Wanderers v Gillingham

Leigh Griffiths will be looking for his first goal this season

Promotion favourites host Martin Allen's Gills this weekend.  Kenny Jackett will be looking to gain the men from Molineux's first win of the season, as they drew to Preston last time out. Gillingham will be out to prove they can go toe to toe with the big guns of league one, and to gain their first point after their opening day defeat to Colchester.  Midweek both teams were dumped out of the capital one cup, as Gillingham went down 2-0 to Bristol City and Wolves were once again in the limelight as they lost 1-0 to league two Morecambe infront of the Sky cameras. I think the midlands club will be too much for Gillingham, but who can blame me? Prediction: Wolves 3-0 Gillingham.

Coventry City v Bristol City (Sunday)

Crisis club Coventry stage their first game at Sixfields this Saturday, as a crowd of just 1100 is expected at Northampton. Coventry will be looking to improve on their double defeat this week, losing 3-2 on both outings, to Crawley in the league and Leyton Orient. The Robins make the trip for the first time without Albert Adomah, whos' move to Middlesbrough was completed this week. A win and a draw for the Reds this week saw them stay in the league cup and also put their first point on the board. Sean O'Driscoll's side will be looking to put in a good performance in their first away game of the new season. Prediction: Coventry 0-2 Bristol City

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored his first Bristol City
goal against Bradford