Lower leagues shaping up

English soccer focus switches to Leagues One and Two, with Ipswich, Fleetwood and Wycombe setting the early pace. In League Two Forest Green and Exeter feature in a top-of-the-table clash.

With the top two divisions in England making way this weekend for international action, club focus turns to Leagues One and Two where the action continues and where the potential contenders are now beginning to emerge.

Almost all the clubs in these two divisions have now played 10 matches or more and while the bigger clubs, in terms of history, crowd size and resources, are up among the contenders, so too are some of supposed minnows.

In League One, it is Ipswich Town who have a four-point lead but just behind them are Fleetwood Town and Wycombe Wanderers, two clubs who have never previously got up to the second tier of the English game

This could be their season, although resources will be noticeably stretched once the campaign reaches the business end, once injuries and suspensions start to bite.

Fleetwood are coached by the combustible Joey Barton and have only been in the Football League since 2012.

Wycombe Wanderers are doing well despite the uncertainty over their financial future. There is a Dutch bid with Denis Bergkamp and Ronald Koeman seeking to b u the team although an American investor is first in the queue.

Also in the mix are the likes of Blackpool, Coventry City and Sunderland, all clubs who are looking to return to glory days of the past.

Tomorrow Blackpool host Rotherham, who were relegated from the Championship last season, in a real test of their credentials.

Blackpool played Bolton on Monday in their Lancashire derby which proved inconclusive and was a scrappy affair.

In League Two, Forest Green Rangers and Exeter City meet tomorrow in an early season top of the table clash. Rangers are one point ahead of their hosts with Newport County, Cheltenham Town and Crewe Alexandra all within two points of the top.

It is something of a traffic jam at the summit.

Exeter might have been out on their own had they not drawn at Crewe last weekend where manager Matt Taylor cut a frustrated figure as his team dominated their hosts but spurned a myriad of good chances.

He will be hoping for much improvement at home tomorrow and a chance to finally go top. To take a bet, go to www.bettingworld.co.za or www.tabonline.co.za or www.soccer6.co.za