MY ACCOUNT
There is a full programme of action in League Two on Tuesday, including at the County Ground where leaders Leyton Orient will put their perfect start to the new league season on the line against Swindon.
Second-placed Walsall will also be on the road, as they head north to take on Barrow, while Stevenage will fancy their chances of picking up a home victory against struggling Rochdale.
Swindon vs Leyton Orient (Tuesday, 7.45pm)
Leyton Orient are yet to put a foot wrong in League Two this season, winning their opening three matches without even conceding a goal.
Richie Wellens’ side will be looking to make it four wins on the bounce when they visit a Swindon outfit that are yet to taste success in any competition this season and only registered their first goal at the weekend.
The stats
Orient have not just started this season strongly, as dating back to last term they have won 10 of their previous 14 matches in League Two, a run that includes a 2-1 victory at Swindon back in April.
Swindon are suffering something of a hangover from last season’s play-off disappointment, as well as the loss of head coach Ben Garner, who departed for Charlton over the summer.
The Robins boasted the best away record in League Two last term, but their home form was patchy and they have only won nine of their 24 regular-season matches at the County Ground since being relegated back to the fourth tier in 2021.
Prediction
Orient are the form team in League Two and have won four of their last five away matches in the division, a record they look well placed to extend on Tuesday.
Swindon did score their first goal of the season against Carlisle last time out, but they remain a team in transition following a summer of upheaval.
An away win looks the most likely outcome and Orient may fancy their chances of triumphing to nil given they are yet to concede a league goal this term.
Barrow vs Walsall (Tuesday, 7.45pm)
Both Barrow and Walsall have started the new season strongly, but while the Bluebirds saw their unbeaten record ended at the weekend, the Saddlers are still yet to taste defeat.
The stats
Barrow were being written off as relegation favourites at the start of the season, but they were able to win their opening two matches before losing at Sutton last time out.
Walsall have impressed under Michael Flynn and they would have made it three wins from three in League Two had they not conceded a stoppage-time equaliser against Stevenage at the weekend.
Three of the previous four meetings between these two sides have ended all-square, with Barrow winning the other, meaning Walsall have not beaten their Cumbrian opponents since February 1970.
Prediction
Despite having not beaten Barrow for over half a century, Walsall will fancy their chances of taking at least a point from their latest trip to Holker Street.
Flynn’s men have won their only other away fixture this season against Newport and they appear to have established a new-found resilience this term after finishing the last campaign 16th.
Walsall also have a striker in form, with Danny Johnson having netted five goals in four matches so far this term – the on-loan Mansfield forward could easily add to that tally on Tuesday.
Stevenage vs Rochdale (Tuesday, 7.45pm)
Stevenage are another side that have started the season strongly, with Danny Rose’s last-gasp equaliser against Walsall meaning they have taken seven points from their opening three matches.
Rochdale can only dream of such form at the moment, as Robbie Stockdale’s side are the only team in League Two yet to register a point.
The stats
Having also beaten Championship outfit Reading in the EFL Cup, it is fair to say Stevenage have started the season strongly, especially as three of their four matches to date have been away from home.
Boro also have a good recent record against Rochdale, as they are unbeaten in the last four meetings between the two sides, winning three of those games, including a 1-0 success at the Lamex Stadium in April.
The Dale’s form does not make pretty reading, as they have lost six of their last eight matches in League Two, a run that dates back to that defeat at Stevenage in the spring.
Prediction
Stevenage should be confident of winning this match against a Rochdale side that have scored only one goal and picked up no points in League Two to date this season.
Rochdale have only won two of their last 16 league fixtures away from home, with 11 of those games ending in defeat, and it is difficult to see that record improving at the Lamex Stadium.
