Plenty on offer on big derby day

Northampton Town v Oxford United
League Two
Saturday, January 22nd

After a dramatic week in the transfer market it's back to on the pitch action tomorrow afternoon as an in form Oxford side look to ruin the débuts of Shaun Harrad and Francis Laurent. Both should be in the squad at least along with Michael Built, the 18-year-old signed onto a pro deal this week by Town. Billy McKay and Leon McKenzie will also be back in the frame after they both missed the defeat at Gillingham so the squad is looking a lot thicker than at this stage last week.

Oxford have risen to the brink of the playoffs following a good recent run of form and are aiming for a double over the Cobblers after their impressive win at the Kassam earlier in the season.Steve Maclean has resigned with the club on loan until the end of the season from Plymouth Argyle and will be looking to add to the two goals he's netted so far. Alfie Potter could return to the side after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury whilst Tom Cradoock will be hoping to score for the fourth successive game.

It’s the start of a run of home games now and if we can kick off with a positive here we can start to get right back on track. Here’s hoping that the strikers that we do have will prove their worth and have us forget about the last few days!


Elsewhere in League Two...

Chesterfield, five points clear at the top, face a stern test of their promotion credentials this weekend with a trip to sixth placed Shrewsbury Town. The Shrews were winners at Accrington on Tuesday night and will be desperate to close the gap on the top places. There’s another belter of a game at Adams Park where second placed Wycombe meet third placed Rotherham with both sides waiting on any slips from the league leaders. Port Vale are still fourth despite defeat at Crewe last week and will hoping to bounce back at home to Cheltenham Town. Crewe themselves go to Aldershot whilst fellow playoff hopefuls Bury visit Southend tonight.

At the bottom, in form Hereford go to Accrington but will be without Michael Manset who signed for Reading this week having helped them off the foot of League Two. There's a real basement battle with Stockport hosting Lincoln and Barnet go to Macclesfield who are without a win in five games. Burton have slipped to 20th but their cup run means that they have plenty of games in hand and they attempt to move on without Harrad when they visit Bradford.

Meanwhile, Gillingham are still on a fine run and they face Torquay at Plainmoor. Morecambe have won their last three league games and travel to Stevenage aiming to force their way into the top half.