Crewe Alexandra play host to Colchester United on Friday evening looking for the win that will take them into second position in the League Two table.
Meanwhile, Colchester make the long trip to Cheshire searching for a victory that will move them closer to the top half of the standings.
Match preview
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At a time when Walsall have moved clear at the top of the table, it has gone somewhat under the radar that Crewe have lost just once in League Two since the middle of August.
Their solitary defeat in 17 league outings was a 2-1 reverse at Newport County, Lee Bell's side currently on an unbeaten run stretching 11 matches.
Disappointingly, however, six draws have been posted during that period, albeit two of them coming away at Walsall and second-placed Port Vale.
Last time out in the league, Crewe recoded a 2-0 victory at seventh-placed Grimsby Town, a result that has created a four-point advantage over the chasing pack for the playoffs.
Nevertheless, at a time when Crewe have put together an eight-match undefeated streak in the league at Gresty Road, the Railwaymen will have greater ambitions at this stage.
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As for Colchester, they are on a run of no defeats in six league encounters, a necessary streak that has taken them away from the relegation zone.
Danny Cowley's side now hold an eight-point advantage over the bottom two, also sitting just nine points adrift of the playoffs even though they remain in 18th position.
Although Colchester still have just four wins to their name from 19 games, they have encouragingly kept four clean sheets in a row in this division.
Furthermore, the U's are unbeaten in their last five away league fixtures, highlighting the size of the task that will face Crewe on Friday night.
Team News
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Barring any fresh injury issues, Bell may decide that he has no reason to tinker with his Crewe XI.
The first alterations at Grimsby came with a 2-0 lead having been established, the visitors efficiently seeing out the contest from that point.
Jack Lankester netted a goal and an assist in that fixture, making it four successive matches that he has contributed one or the other.
Although Colchester duo Mandela Egbo and Tom Flanagan picked up their five yellow cards of the season last time out, they will serve no suspension courtesy of the yellow-card cut-off coming the previous week.
Teddy Bishop and John-Kymani Gordon are both options to come back into the midfield and a creative role respectively, but Samson Tovide should retain his place ahead of Lyle Taylor down the centre of the attack.
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Marschall; Connolly, Knight-Lebel, Demetriou; Sanders; Cooney, Tabiner, Conway, Williams; Lankester, Holicek
Colchester United possible starting lineup:
Macey; Egbo, Flanagan, Donnelly, Iandolo; McDonnell, Read; Anderson, Payne, Edwards; Tovide
We say: Crewe Alexandra 2-1 Colchester United
Given the prolonged unbeaten records of both sides in the fourth tier, this contest should be far more competitive than their league positions suggest it could be. Nevertheless, we are backing the home side to come through in a hard-fought fixture, reducing the gap to leaders Walsall in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
