The League Two promotion race continues to throw up twists and turns and there is also a crunch game in the fight for Football League survival.
Two key games start the weekend on Friday night
The League Two promotion race continues to throw up twists and turns and there is also a crunch game in the fight for Football League survival.
Before Saturday serves up the main course in the division, there are two tasty appetisers on Friday evening with implications for both ends of the table.
Having occupied a position in the top three recently,
Cheltenham Town are now fighting to stay in the play-off spots ahead of a trip to a
Southend United side who have also been on the slide.
Second-placed
Torquay United, meanwhile, will look to close to within a point of leaders Swindon Town with victory away to struggling
Barnet.
Table-topping
Swindon do have games in hand on their rivals and have won 11 home games in a row in the league ahead of
Bristol Rovers' visit to the County Ground.
Crawley Town's fourth win in a row at Bradford City was overshadowed by a mass brawl at full-time and Steve Evans will hope to refocus on the promotion push ahead of the game at
Burton Albion.
Bradford had three men shown red cards in the dressing room after that Crawley defeat and will take a depleted squad on the long journey to relegation rivals
Plymouth Argyle.
Shrewsbury Town are only outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference and will look to extend their unbeaten home record against
Aldershot Town.
Oxford United will not yet have given up hope of sneaking into the top three and Chris Wilder's side entertain
Morecambe at the Kassam Stadium.
Crewe Alexandra are unbeaten in nine matches and have won four games in a row to emerge as play-off contenders, and welcome lowly
Northampton Town to Gresty Road.
Richard O'Kelly has yet to make the desired impact at
Hereford United and League Two's bottom club head to managerless
Rotherham United.
Macclesfield Town have also changed manager of late and the returning Brian Horton will be hoping to lead the Silkmen to a first win of 2012 at
Gillingham.
Dagenham & Redbridge have climbed out of the bottom two this month, but are still in danger ahead of a trip to administration-hit
Port Vale.
AFC Wimbledon will be hoping to join
Accrington Stanley on 50 points for the season when the two clubs meet at the Crown Ground.
