Bristol Rovers' new head coach Steve Evans takes charge of his first game tonight and says he feels "incredible" after losing eight-and-a-half stones in weight.

Evans, who was last in the dugout as Rotherham manager until his sacking in March, said: "It's been a big journey. A combination of static biking, walking the dogs at home and swimming, so that journey must continue because I want to see my four-and-a-half-year-old grandson when he's 21."

Working with a "specialist team", the 63-year-old has transformed his fitness, now swimming and spending time on a bike daily alongside dieting.

You can read more about Evans' journey and the challenge he faces to get Rovers out of trouble in League Two here.

Image source, Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers will have a new man in their dug out as they aim to climb out of the League Two relegation zone.

Former Rotherham boss Steve Evans is the man tasked with that very job with his side sitting 23rd after Saturday's 3-0 home defeat against Swindon which saw Darrell Clarke sacked after suffering 10 straight league defeats - the worst run in club history.

So, a huge job for Evans from the off. Will he stop the rot?

It'll be a tough start with Crewe going into this game having ended their four-game winless run with a dominant 4-1 victory over Tranmere in their last outing.

The Railwaymen sit a point outside the play-off places in eighth and a win will see them move up to fifth.

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Cambridge United have the chance to move into the League Two play-off places if they pick up a win this evening.

The U's are unbeaten in their past six league games (W2 D4), drawing their past two 1-1.

Neil Harris' side are also looking solid defensively, conceding just three goals during that time.

Accrington suffered their first defeat last time out against Bromley after going on a six-match unbeaten league streak prior.

Stanley, who sit 17th in the league, will know that a win tonight will see them move up a couple of places and give them extra breathing space above the danger zone.

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Barrow return to Holker Street for a big basement battle with Cheltenham tonight but have not been able to call on many home comforts this season.

The Bluebirds have won only two of their 10 home games, scoring just eight times, and have lost four of those without scoring, including the past two.

It spelled the end for Andy Whing, with Neil McDonald placed in interim charge for Saturday's game at Gillingham, in which Barrow battled back from 2-0 down inside half an hour to snatch a late 2-2 draw thanks to Josh Gordon's double.

One of the issues which always gets mentioned in relation to Barrow is the club train at FC United's ground in North Manchester, done in a bid to attract more players on short-term contracts.

Fans feel this has contributed to a lack of connection with the players as they are never seen around the town, and it possibly means playing at home is not as much of an advantage as it should be.

They'll need the fans tonight, Barrow are winless in seven league games and sit above the Robins on goal difference alone, with both only four points clear of the drop-zone.

Steve Cotterill's side have picked up seven points from their past four games and won 1-0 at high-flying Swindon in their last game on the road.

Image source, Opta/Shutterstock

Big games this evening for both Cambridge United and Crewe Alexandra. The U's welcome Accrington Stanley and Crewe host strugglers Bristol Rovers knowing wins would propel them into the play-off places.

At the other end of the table, second from bottom Bristol Rovers aim to end their run of 10 defeats in a row, in a bid to climb out of the drop zone in Steve Evans' first game in charge.

Barrow in 18th and Cheltenham 19th go head-to-head with both sides knowing what a win would do to steer them away from trouble. Both are level on 21 points and four points clear of the relegation zone.

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League One's latest round of fixtures got off with a bang on Thursday night as Reading dented Luton Town's promotion hopes.

The Royals led 2-0 through a Lewis Wing penalty and Jack Marriott's 52nd-minute effort from the edge of the area against his former club.

Jack Wilshere's side managed to claw themselves back on level terms thanks to Jordan Clark and Nigel Lonwijk, but Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan snatched a winner for Reading 12 minutes from time to end the Hatters' four-match unbeaten league run.

More of the same entertainment tonight, please.

Image source, Shutterstock

League One

• Northampton v AFC Wimbledon

League Two

• Barrow v Cheltenham
• Cambridge United v Accrington
• Crewe v Bristol Rovers

Image source, Shutterstock

Good evening one and all!

I know, I know, it's like Christmas has come early with all this EFL action and I'm sure you're all here with bells on.

It's five days, four hours and 45 minutes until the big day but you've only got another half-an-hour to wait for kick-off tonight.

And we've got plenty to unwrap before Northampton meet AFC Wimbledon in League One and three games in League Two.

Let's get cracking...