League One Preview - Sunday 28th December

With a full Sky Bet League One fixture programme taking place on Sunday afternoon, Henry Hudson brings us his weekly look ahead to the games that will take place.....

A full schedule of Football League fixtures on a Sunday is very unusual but Sunday prayers may have to take second place as the festive period of football takes centre-stage.  In the spirit of a treasured tradition, all the teams in the division play on Saturday and all kick-off at 3.00pm.

A very late winner for Leyton Orient at Gillingham meant they stayed top on goal-difference and they travel to the team breathing down their necks, Wolverhampton Wanderers in what is undoubtedly the game of the weekend.  A side that could leapfrog both of these teams with a victory is Mark Warburton’s Brentford who have won the last three games under the former academy boss. They host MK Dons who are starting to flirt with the play-off places after a series of good results and a win for the Dons could move them within four points of the top six.  Orient, Wolves and Brentford are the three teams beginning to break away from the other automatic promotion chasers Preston, Peterborough, and Rotherham.

In what are the last League One matches of 2013, teams in the relegation zone start to really comprehend a long relegation battle in the new year and of course the stigma of being bottom as the year ends becomes a stark reality for one team. Either Crewe Alexandra or Notts County will end the calendar year bottom of the division and both travel to mid-table teams, Colchester and Crawley, respectively.  Despite an awful year, Bristol City could climb out of the relegation zone if they win at home to fellow relegation-scrappers; Stevenage and if Sheffield United are defeated at Bramall Lane by Tranmere Rovers.

Bradford and Swindon both suffered disappointing defeats on Boxing Day and are falling short on their respective play-off places.  They will look to end the year on a high with when they face-off at Valley Parade. Despite a recent loss to Coventry City, Peterborough have consolidated a place in the play-offs ahead of their trip to Carlisle.  Another team well in the hunt for a top six are Rotherham United who won at rivals Bradford on Boxing Day. They make a longer trip to Port Vale where a win could move them up to fourth ahead of Preston who themselves travel to Shrewsbury Town.