Notts County are unbeaten in their past 11 home league games against Colchester (W9 D2). The Magpies are also unbeaten in their past six League Two games (W4 D2).

Tough task for Colchester today.

First goal of the day in League One comes at Mansfield where Huddersfield have taken an early lead through Bojan Radulovic in the battle of two sides trying to gain on the play-off pack.

Barnsley have also gone 1-0 up on Luton through Reyes Cleay in another game in that part of the table while Joel Colwill has put Cardiff 1-0 ahead at Northampton as the Bluebirds aim to go top.

Big early save from Sam Walker in the Bantams goal.

Kyle Dempsey's pass breaks to Jordi Osei-Tuto in the box but Walker denies his effort with his legs.

Chesterfield with the first sight of goal as they win a free-kick on the edge of the Crewe penalty area.

James Berry has a pop but it's straight at home keeper Tom Booth.

Chesterfield won this fixture 5-0 last season but they come up against a Crewe side who have won their past two home League Two games, scoring more than three goals in each of those.

Something has to give today then...

Keith Hill
Former Bolton and Barnsley boss on BBC Radio Manchester

Both teams are at it straight from the kick-off.

Tackles are flying in, the atmosphere is electric.

It's got a really good pace to it.

Interestingly no Xavier Simons in Steven Schumacher's Bolton XI but there is just a second league start for Kyle Dempsey since October 2024.

Former Trotter Antoni Sarcevic is on the bench for the Bantams.

Let the sub-plots commence...

Right, here we go then... 19 games kicking off across League One and Two right now.

Ready for the Saturday afternoon madness to begin? Strap in.

The pick of the games elsewhere in League Two this afternoon sees promotion hopefuls Bromley welcome Salford, while high-flying MK Dons travel to Tranmere.

At the other end of the table, there are some key battles as second from bottom Cheltenham take on fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers, with the Gas on a six-game losing streak and basement boys Newport visit Oldham.

Fleetwood will look to close in on the top seven when they welcome relegation-battlers Shrewsbury, as will Cambridge, who visit Barrow.

Image source, Shutterstock

Swindon dropped to second after Walsall's lunchtime win but will go back to the top of League Two with a win against injury-hit Grimsby who have signed goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell on an emergency one week loan deal for this fixture.

Last time out, Ryan Tafazolli became the 15th player to score a league goal for Swindon Town this season (excluding own goals) – the highest number of different scorers of any side in England's top four divisions.

Since the start of February earlier this year, Grimsby have lost just three of their 17 away league games (W7 D7) – the fewest defeats on the road of any any-present League Two in that timeframe.

Swindon Town have won seven of their last eight league games against Grimsby Town (L1), scoring 2.8 goals on average per fixture across that time.

Grimsby Town have won just two of their 26 away league games against Swindon Town (D6 L18), both victories coming via 1-0 scoreline in February 2000 and April 2018.

Image source, Getty Images

Crewe welcome Chesterfield for an enticing encounter between two sides very much with ambitions of promotion this season.

The Alex are unbeaten in their past three (W2 D1) and sit just outside the play-off spots.

"I don't think we've ever been miles off," Crewe boss Lee Bell told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We have a meeting every eight games and statistically, if you take MK Dons out of it [a 3-1 defeat] in the last seven we're doing well.

"We're right up there and we have to look at the bigger picture."

Meanwhile, visitors Chesterfield, who sit in seventh place, are unbeaten in five, albeit having drawn three of those (W2).

The Spireites have applied themselves very well since winning promotion from the National League in 2024 and another play-off push at a minimum seems to be on the cards.

Image source, Rex Features

Notts County are the most in-form side coming into this weekend, picking up more points than any other team in their past six games (W4 D2).

The Magpies were 12th after suffering a late defeat at Crewe at the end of September, but a strong run since then has propelled them right back into the automatic promotion mix.

Colchester aren't doing too badly themselves of late. The U's bounced back from defeat against Bromley with an excellent 2-0 victory at title-chasing Walsall last time out.

Danny Cowley's side have won four of their past six (D1 L1) and given the congested nature of this division, a few more wins in the coming weeks could see them knocking the door for the play-off places.

Depending how the sides above them fair this afternoon there is a chance fifth-placed Cardiff could return to the summit with a win at Northampton, while a big win for seventh-placed AFC Wimbledon at home to lowly Wigan could even take them top, depending on results elsewhere.

Barnsley welcome Luton and Mansfield host Huddersfield in two clashes on the fringe of play-off pack while at the foot of the table Blackpool will seek to haul themselves out of the drop-zone as they head to Leyton Orient, five points above them, while Reading welcome Rotherham seeking to pull away from danger.

Promotion contenders Stevenage play host to Doncaster who face a fight towards the bottom end of League One this season.

After a good start, the hosts have hit a rough patch in form while their opponents haven't won a league game since 6 September.

Stevenage have won a joint-league high 10 points from losing positions in League One this season, whereas opponents Doncaster have lost 12 points from winning positions – the most of any side in the competition.

Naz Premji
BBC Final Score commentator at Toughsheet Community Stadium

This battle of the B's at the Toughsheet Community Stadium is a proper top of the table clash in League One with both sides having a chance to go top with a win.

The two sides are in contrasting form with Bolton on a run of five straight wins in all competitions and Steven Schumacher's side are really motoring.

Mason Burstow and Amario Cozier Duberry have been instrumental in this run and Burstow is the top scorer in the division. Bradford haven't won a game in their last six fixtures in all competitions and come into this off the back of three straight defeats.

Graham Alexander didn't hide his emotions after their loss to Doncaster in the Vertu Trophy and made it clear that his squad need do better and try and turn this poor run around.

The Bantams are good travellers and have only lost once on the road in League One so far this season.

There's a lot of talent on show in both sides and this has the ingredients to be a real cracker.

Image source, Shutterstock

The pick of the afternoon programme in League One sees third-placed Bradford head to fourth-placed Bolton.

Should Lincoln lose at Wycombe then four teams are in position to overhaul them at the summit with a win, including both of these sides.

Graham Alexander's Bantams are winless in their past five games, though the 2-1 defeat at Burton last time out was their first reverse in eight matches and only second of the season.

Bolton are motoring under Steven Schumacher, winning their past three games, their past eight at home in all competitions and boasting the best home record in the division with 20 points, and no defeats, in eight games.

The Trotters are also unbeaten in their past eight against Bradford, dating back to April 1993 while the Bantams’ last win at Wanderers came in September 1990, a month before Andy Cook was born.

Image source, Shutterstock

Lincoln head to Wycombe sitting top of the third tier for the first time in nearly five years.

The Imps won a pulsating game at home to Doncaster 2-1 last Saturday to go level at the top with Stockport, but the Hatters' 3-0 defeat to Peterborough on Thursday night saw them fall below them on goal difference.

Michael Skubala’s side might have their work cut out to extend that lead, however, City have won on just one of their past nine visits to the Chairboys, earning six points over all, and in total Wycombe have taken 21 points from their past 13 encounters, doing the double over the Imps last season.

Lincoln have also failed to score in their past three away games, their worst run since April 2003, and have taken just a single point from them.

Wanderers, by contrast, have claimed 12 points from their past six games unbeaten under Michael Duff and have conceded only four goals in that run.

We might know a lot more about both these teams' promotion credentials by tea-time.

So, after an important win for Plymouth and Walsall moving top of League Two - for now at least - let's start taking a closer look at today's 3pm kick-offs.

Phil Sproson
Former Port Vale captain on BBC Radio Stoke

Vale fans are streaming out with boos.

It has been arduous for them, the criticism will come thick and fast for Darren Moore.

The team feel devoid of confidence, we had some good chances today.

We were asleep when the goal went in, it was a very disappointing performance and result.

A point apiece for Gillingham and Barnet. Probably a fair result in the end.

The Bees started much the stronger side and went ahead through Callum Stead's clever finish but couldn't capitalise further on their dominance.

They were made to pay when Bradley Dack curled in an excellent equaliser for the hosts from a free-kick about 25 yards out on the stroke of half-time.

It was a real moment of quality - something that was very much lacking in the second half and both sides are forced to settle for the draw.