Seven North-West based teams are in midweek action all over the country on Tuesday night on a busy night of live action.
Four teams will be hosting opponents at home while Preston North End, Morecambe and Barrow will pick up a combined 568 miles on the road in a hope to travel back to the region with maximum points.
The Lilywhites are in Championship action as they face Millwall at the Den as Ryan Lowe’s men look to build on their 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City.
Emil Riis Jakobsen’s brace, with his second the crucial equaliser in stoppage time, meant manager Ryan Lowe was pleased with his team’s reaction as Jakobsen netted his 11th and 12th of the season. Preston North End new boy Bambo Diaby will be in contention to make his debut.
“It doesn’t feel like a winning goal but it definitely feels like a good moment because these lads – their application, their attitude and their desire to never say never has epitomised them today.”
Ryan Lowe
Wigan Athletic are also in Sky Bet League One action as they welcome Oxford United to the DW Stadium – the Latics were held to a 0-0 away at Cheltenham on the weekend – with two games in hand on Rotherham at the top of the table.
Wigan sit in second and are on a 19-game unbeaten streak – the longest current run in English football.
Leam Richardson has certainly got his side firing on all cylinders and understands “a point is better than none” to be promoted out of the division.
Morecambe will be looking to climb out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone as they travel to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday.
With only two wins in the last 10 games, Stephen Robinson’s side will be hopeful they can recreate the reverse fixture as the Shrimps ran out 1-0 winners earlier on in the season despite Sheffield Wednesday’s impressive 1-0 victory against Ipswich on the weekend.
Half an hour down the road from Wigan also in Sky Bet League One is Bolton Wanderers who will be hosting Cambridge United at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The Trotters are coming off the back of a very impressive 6-0 win against Sunderland which saw Black Cats manager Lee Johnson sacked.
Ian Evatt’s side are now unbeaten in three and are pushing their way up the table as they sit in 14th. Their Cambridge United are coming into the game off a 1-1 draw with fellow North-West outfit Fleetwood Town FC on the weekend.
Into Sky Bet League Two action as Salford City welcome Carlisle United to the Peninsula Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Ammies will be hoping to knock on the door of the play-off spots as they sit five points off the top seven.
Salford’s recent 1-0 defeat at Northampton was a disappointing one, according to manager Gary Bowyer who will be looking for an immediate reaction.
However it won’t be an easy feat as Carlisle ran out 2-1 winners at Brunton Park the last time the two sides met.
League Two promotion hopefuls Tranmere Rovers are also in action as they’re looking to bounce back from a disappointing 4-0 home defeat to league leaders Forest Green Rovers.
They face Stevenage at Prenton Park with Rovers manager Mickey Mellon hoping for a positive reaction against a Stevenage side who are full of confidence unbeaten in five, which includes a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Harrogate last time out.
Finally, Barrow travel down south to Northampton as the Bluebirds look to steer away from the League Two relegation zone and to start to pick up points.
Mark Cooper’s side only have one win in eight with a 2-1 loss away in Wales to Newport County on the weekend – their opponents Northampton won’t be an easy task as they sit comfortable in the Play-Off places and are looking to also find some momentum from their weekend’s 1-0 win over Salford.
