Accrington vs. Salford City (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Accrington Stanley and Salford City will be hoping to get 2024 started on a winning note when they face off at Wham Stadium in League Two on New Year's Day.
The hosts are currently in ninth place in the league standings, with 35 points after 25 matches, while the visitors are down in 21st place with just 23 points after 24 matches.
We say: Accrington Stanley 2-1 Salford City
Salford City are in desperate need of a positive result here to bring some much-needed positivity to the dressing room, but it is hard to see that happening with the side showing very little to suggest that a comeback in the second half of the season is on the cards. Accrington Stanley will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a deflated Ammies squad, and we feel they will hand their opponents a fourth consecutive league defeat in this one.
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Colchester vs. Gillingham (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Colchester United and Gillingham lock horns in a League Two clash on New Year's Day at JobServe Community Stadium, with both sides aiming to kickstart their year on a positive note.
Both sides are competing at opposite ends of the table, with the hosts just a spot above the relegation zone while the visitors are only three points off the last playoff spot.
We say: Colchester United 1-2 Gillingham
This match promises to be a tight and tense affair, with both sides desperate to get their 2024 off to a bright start.
Colchester's home advantage and potentially better conversion might give them a chance in the match, but Gillingham's defensive resilience and ability to create a lot of chances might see them edge this.
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Crawley vs. Swindon (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Round 26 of the 2023-24 League Two season sees Crawley Town and Swindon Town square up against each other at the Broadfield Stadium on New Year's Day.
Both are currently level on points and in mid-table positions, but victory for either side could propel them towards the playoff zone.
We say: Crawley Town 2-1 Swindon Town
Clashes like this are often tight and intense, with both teams desperate not to lose ground as they are level on points. However, the recent trend in this fixture favours whichever team is at home and we think this trend will continue.
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Crewe vs. Bradford (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Crewe Alexandra and Bradford City kickstart their year on Monday when they go head-to-head at Gresty Road in round 26 of the League Two season.
While the hosts are aiming to end a six-match winless streak in the league, the visitors are looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches on New Year's Day.
We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Bradford City
Both teams are heading in different directions at the moment, with the visitors experiencing a turnaround since Alexander took charge while the hosts are struggling.
The result is likely to show the reality of where both sides are right now, as Bradford have shown they can win on the road in recent games.
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Doncaster vs. MK Dons (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Doncaster Rovers and MK Dons will both be looking to make a winning start to 2024 when they lock horns at the Eco-Power Stadium on Monday.
The sides have fared vastly different of late, with the hosts winless in five consecutive matches, while their visitors have won each of their last four outings.
We say: Doncaster Rovers 1-2 MK Dons
Doncaster have struggled at both ends of the pitch of late and face an uphill task of coming away with all three points here. We are backing MK Dons to emerge victorious come the end of the 90 minutes.
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Forest Green vs. AFC Wimbledon (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Forest Green Rovers and AFC Wimbledon get their respective 2024 involvements underway with a meeting at the New Lawn on Monday afternoon.
The home side were beaten for a second consecutive match last time out, while their visitors drew the curtain on 2023 with an emphatic victory.
We say: Forest Green Rovers 1-2 AFC Wimbledon
Forest Green have improved their attacking output of late, but huge question marks remain over their defensive stability. We are backing Wimbledon to get the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
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Grimsby Town vs. Walsall (Monday, 3.00pm)
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On Monday, Grimsby Town will kick off the New Year by welcoming Walsall to Blundell Park in North East Lincolnshire.
Both sides ended 2023 on positive notes, with the Mariners moving 10 points clear of the League Two relegation line thanks to a 3-0 triumph over Salford City, while the Saddlers defeated Wrexham 3-1, and will begin 2024 in 13th.
We say: Grimsby Town 1-2 Walsall
While each are coming off a strong performance, the consistency and overall depth of the visitors has us leaning towards them winning a rare encounter at Blundell Park.
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Morecambe vs. Harrogate (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Morecambe and Harrogate Town get underway in the second half of the 2023-24 League Two campaign when they square off at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on New Year's Day.
Having suffered a 2-0 defeat in August's reverse fixture, the home side will head into the game looking to get one over the Sulphurites and begin the new year as they mean to go on.
We say: Morecambe 1-1 Harrogate Town
With just one point separating Morecambe and Harrogate Town in the table, we anticipate an end-to-end affair at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium with both sides going all out in search of a morale-boosting result. Both teams are evenly matched on paper and we predict they will settle for a point apiece.
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Stockport vs. Mansfield (Monday, 3.00pm)
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In a battle of the top two teams in League Two, Stockport County will kick off 2024 by welcoming Mansfield Town to Edgeley Park on Monday.
On Friday, the club from Greater Manchester had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Bradford City, with their lead atop the table now down to five points, while Mansfield Town moved into second after claiming a 1-1 result against Doncaster Rovers.
We say: Stockport County 1-1 Mansfield Town
This should be a fascinating contest between two evenly-matched sides who have been perhaps the most consistent all season in this competition.
We expect to see some chances, though maybe not as many as they are used to having, given how sound defensively both teams are, while they have each found ways all season to earn points even when undeserved.
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Sutton vs. Newport (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Sutton United and Newport County take to the pitch for the first time in 2024 when they go head to head at the VBS Community Stadium in round 26 or the League Two on Monday.
Having suffered a 3-1 loss in August's reverse fixture, the Amber and Chocolates will head into the game looking to get one over the visitors and pick up a fourth consecutive New Year's Day victory since 2020.
We say: Sutton United 0-1 Newport County
With the second half of the season now underway, Sutton and Newport will look to begin the new year on the front foot and pick up a morale-boosting result. Coughlan's men head into the game as the more in-form side we can see them scraping a narrow victory in this one.
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Tranmere vs. Notts County (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Tranmere Rovers and Notts County take to the pitch for the first time in 2024 when they square off at Prenton Park in a thrilling New Year's Day showdown.
Both sides head into the game off the back of a strong end to last year and we anticipate an end-to-end affair as they look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
We say: Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Notts County
Tranmere and Notts County enjoyed a strong finish to the first half of the season and will look to hit the ground running in the new year. The Superwhites' home form has been key in their recent resurgence and we fancy them claiming a fourth straight win at Prenton Park.
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Wrexham vs. Barrow (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Barrow can leapfrog Wrexham for third in League Two and an automatic promotional place when they visit the Racecourse Ground on Monday.
The Red Dragons saw their five-match domestic unbeaten run end with a 3-1 defeat at Walsall this week, with the Blue Birds moving to within a point of them in the table after playing to a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley.
We say: Wrexham 2-2 Barrow
Six of the last eight meetings between these two teams has resulted in a draw, and this one could end up that way as well.
Given the form Wrexham and Barrow are in at home and away respectively, and how close things are in the table, we expect a spirited affair on Monday, though we do not believe either will have a decisive edge.
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Barney Corkhill
