League 2 Predictions New Year’s Day – Thursday 1st January 2026

Monday night’s full fixture schedule produced a number of surprise outcomes that have shaken things up at the top and bottom of League Two.

Bromley go into 2016 proudly at the summit while Walsall drop to third courtesy of a last-gasp concession. Only two points meanwhile separate the bottom five.

What awaits us this Thursday then as we watch on through a hungover fog and, very possibly, a number of regrets?

Barnet v Crawley Town

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 12th v 20th

Barnet preview: The Bees should send Bristol Rovers a belated Christmas card because without them Dean Brennan’s side would be marooned in mid-table, their hopes of a play-off berth all-but-gone.

Monday’s victory over the Pirates was their second in a matter of weeks but those wins aside Barnet have been treading water for months now, drawing far too often.

This surprises from a statistical standpoint because only Salford have registered more shots on target this term.

Crawley preview: This is Crawley’s worst run of results under Scott Lindsey across both of his spells in charge, an eight-game winless streak that puts them firmly in the relegation reckoning. There has been a 25% drop-off in shots undertaken in their last five outings, compared to their five matches prior.

Score prediction: 1-1.

Barrow v Salford City

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 19th v 5th

Barrow preview: Few fancied Barrow in the football betting on Monday evening as they travelled to Prenton Park winless in nine. Moreover, just three weeks earlier, Tranmere had downed the Bluebirds 3-0.

Yet just half an hour in, the visitors were three up and coasting. That right there is League Two in a nutshell.

Salford preview: The Ammies ended 2025 with only their second goalless stalemate of the year but they can consider themselves unlucky not to have bettered Fleetwood. Five big chances went begging all told on Monday with Adebola Oluwo the main culprit, spurning three of them. Luke Garbutt also struck the post.

Still, the draw extends Salford’s unbeaten run to six and counting.

Score prediction: 2-2.

Bromley v Newport County

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 1st v 23rd

Bromley preview: Twenty-seven points from 30 has rocketed the Ravens to top spot and there are no signs of their momentum stalling anytime soon.

They were strongly backed in the League Two betting to prevail at Crawley and Bristol Rovers over Christmas and they duly did so, bagging three goals apiece.

At home meanwhile, Andy Woodman’s men have scored at least twice in each of their 11 fixtures.

Newport preview: A first home win of the season on Monday evening has generated some hope that safety can be secured under Christian Fuchs. It lifts the Exiles off the bottom for the first time since early October.

It’s a touch cruel therefore that their very next game is away to the league leaders.

Score prediction: 2-0.

Cambridge United v Walsall

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 8th v 3rd

Cambridge preview:  The U’s impressive victory at Chesterfield on Monday evening was textbook and displayed several of their attributes.

First there was resilience shown, as the in-form Spireites began on the front foot. Then there was a clinical goal scored against the run of play. Finally, Neil Harris’ men game-managed the rest of the contest, nullifying their opponent’s threat.

Cambridge are unbeaten in nine and improving week on week.

Walsall preview: The Saddlers are not averse to suffering a temporary blip. It happened in October and it’s occurring again, with just five points from 12 picked up over the festive period.

The concern however is that a repeat of last season could play out, when a blip extended into a sustained and dramatic slump.

Striker Daniel Kanu is key to preventing this, the 21-year-old firing 29% of their league haul.

Score prediction: 2-1.

Colchester United v Milton Keynes Dons

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 10th v 4th

Colchester preview: It took a late penalty to attain a draw at Gillingham on Monday but when it comes to the Essex side the big picture is worth focusing on over an isolated result.

Transformed since thrashing Chesterfield in early October, Colchester have subsequently accrued 1.9 points per game.

MK Dons preview: The Dons last failed to get on the scoresheet way back in August and with Alex Gilbey and Callum Paterson in their ranks it’s easy to see why. The former has fired one in three from midfield while Paterson boasts five goal involvements in five.

The promotion-chasers faced a tricky four-game sequence of fixtures post-Christmas. Already they have beaten Swindon and drawn with Notts County.

Score prediction: 1-2.

Crewe Alexandra v Cheltenham Town

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 13th v 18th

Crewe preview:  A 4-1 thumping of Tranmere away was an anomaly for the Railwaymen who elsewhere are experiencing a season of diminishing returns.

That stand-out win on Merseyside aside, Crewe have drawn four and lost three since mid-November, notably failing to beat Newport (twice) and Bristol Rovers, both struggling sides.

Cheltenham preview: The Robins were subpar in their derby loss to Swindon on Monday, a result that would have been worse if not for heroics from Joe Day in nets.

They went into the game in decent shape after turning their campaign around under Steve Cotterill. Until we have evidence to the contrary let’s put it down to an off day.

Score prediction: 1-2.

Fleetwood Town v Grimsby Town

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 9th v 15th

Fleetwood preview: The Fishermen showed admirable fortitude to secure a point at Salford on Monday and could have ultimately left with a win, racking up five shots on target.

Bolstered by a seriously good home record all season, Fleetwood have converted 1.9 goals per 90 at the Highbury Stadium.

Grimsby preview: An eight-game winless streak had Grimsby in dire straits when hosting Shrewsbury on Monday evening. The 1-0 result therefore mattered infinitely more than the performance.

Which is a good job because the Mariners hardly looked convincing in beating the Shrews. They remain a shadow of their autumn selves.

Score prediction: 3-1.

Harrogate Town v Tranmere Rovers

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 24th v 17th

Harrogate preview: It must be exasperating being a Harrogate fan, knowing what a seismic difference a proven finisher would make. Exactly half of their 14 league losses have been decided by a single-goal margin. Then there are five draws to account for.

Since Christmas, the Sulphurites have lost 1-0 back-to-back on their travels. So often they are close and yet so far.

Tranmere preview: Rovers have faced 52 shots in their last three outings. In their three games before they had just 33 to deal with. In part this explains their recent slump, that and having an over-reliance on Charlie Whitaker to score their goals.

Only two other players have converted for them in their last 10 league fixtures.

Score prediction: 0-1.

Notts County v Accrington Stanley

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Ranking: 6th v 16th

County preview: No team had a tougher festive schedule than County and by and large they fared well, drawing against Walsall and MK Dons, with a tight defeat at Chesterfield in between.

Even so, prior to Christmas they were second. Now they are sixth.

Low-scoring affairs have been commonplace with the Magpies this term. Ten of their 17 contests since the end of August have produced two or fewer goals.

Stanley preview: The Reds have improved of late, their only losses since late-October coming against Bromley and Cambridge, both in splendid form.

Two home wins since Christmas puts them in good stead with Shaun Whalley scoring in one and assisting in the other.

Score prediction: 2-0.

Oldham Athletic v Chesterfield

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 14th v 7th

Oldham preview: The Latics are loving life at present, unbeaten in four and now eying an unlikely play-off push rather than worrying about an unlikely relegation scrap.

A 96th minute winner away at the league leaders on Monday night sees their confidence sky-high.

Chesterfield preview: The Spireites will be keen not to see Cambridge again, barring a possible match-up in the Play-Offs. A draw and a loss against the U’s in recent weeks mars what is otherwise an excellent return from October on.

Paul Cook’s side have only failed to score once on their travels this term.

Score prediction: 1-1.

Shrewsbury Town v Bristol Rovers

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 21st v 22nd

Shrewsbury preview: The Shrews’ only victory since mid-October was a tight bettering of rock-bottom and broken Newport. There are definite parallels to be drawn between that game and this one, with a similar outcome fancied too.

Rovers preview: When Steve Evans took the reins at the Memorial Stadium the Gas were reeling from ten straight losses. A draw at Crewe therefore, in his opening game, was cause for optimism. At last, some resilience was on display. Then came a 2-3 home reverse vs Bromley, that saw the hosts storm into a shock two-goal lead. Again, positives could be mined.

Monday’s defeat to Barnet however was a harsh reality check, outclassed throughout and with very little to offer in return.

The team were roundly booed at the final whistle.

Score prediction: 1-0.

Swindon Town v Gillingham

• Kick-Off: Thurs, 15:00
• Rankings: 2nd v 11th

Swindon preview: Three clean sheets in four is the chief takeaway from Swindon’s festive commitments, a pertinent detail because they typically have the firepower to fully capitalise. Aaron Drinan has scored 0.72 goals per 90 this season and furthermore is well rested after his recent suspension.

Gillingham preview: The Gills have remarkably drawn seven of their last eight and would presumably settle for yet more stalemates, as they travel to Swindon and Notts County in the coming days.

The Kent side have only struck first in three of their 11 draws in 2025/26.

Score prediction: 2-1.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*