West Ham United vs Burnley (Sunday 10 March, 2pm):
Burnley visit the London Stadium in desperate need of three points, as they find themselves 11 points away from safety in the Premier League. The Clarets sit 19th in the English top flight, with only goal difference keeping them above Sheffield United at the root of the table. However, a fixture on the road may favour Vincent Kompany’s men, as eight of the 13 points they’ve amassed so far have come away from Turf Moor. After going nine games without a win, they’ll be hoping to turn their fortunes around against a West Ham side who are currently occupying one of the league’s European spots and are coming off the back of two impressive wins against Brentford and Everton, in which they’ve bagged seven goals. The two sides met earlier in the season in November – Jay Rodriguez scored a penalty just a few minutes after half-time and it looked for all the world like Burnley would claim all the points, before Dara O’Shea’s 86th - minute own goal and Tomas Soucek’s stoppage-time winner five minutes later meant the Hammers took all the shares back to East London.
Preston North End vs Stoke City (Saturday 9 March, 3pm)
Preston North End welcome struggling Stoke City to Deepdale, knowing that a win would keep them within at least four points of the Championship’s play-off places, having also played a game fewer than their surrounding competitors – their away match to Southampton was scheduled to be played before this one, although it was postponed due to fires that had broken out near St. Mary’s Stadium. The Lilywhites are unbeaten in their last seven games, contrasting with the Potters’ form – they have won just two of their last nine and sit in the division’s relegation zone with just 38 points. Will Keane struck twice in the reverse fixture at the beginning of September to give North End a comfortable victory.
Blackburn Rovers vs Plymouth Argyle (Saturday 9 March, 3pm)
Blackburn Rovers go head-to-head with Plymouth Argyle in an affair that seems almost perfectly matched. Both sides have gained 40 points at this stage, with Argyle just one place above their rivals in 16th due to a slightly more favourable goal difference. Just two points away from the dreaded relegation positions, both clubs will view this game as a mustwin. The Pilgrims were 3-0 victors when they breezed past Rovers at Home Park earlier in the season but have since lost some key players to the January transfer window, sending them into a downward spiral of poor results – they’ve picked up just two wins in eight league games since the window closed. However, the Blue and Whites, are enduring an even more torrid run themselves – since 2 December, they’ve managed to win just twice in 18 league matches. It doesn’t promise to be a thriller but it will be intriguing, nonetheless.
Blackpool vs Portsmouth (Saturday 9 March, 3pm)
With aspirations of promotion to the EFL Championship and a trip to Wembley by reaching the EFL League One play-offs, Blackpool face a tough test as they host table-toppers Portsmouth at Bloomfield Road. The Seasiders enter the match just four points off their desired sixth spot, where Stevenage currently sit. Neil Critchley’s side, led by top goalscorer Jordan Rhodes, will be hoping their home form, which is the third-best in the division, helps them get over the line against John Mousinho’s formidable Portsmouth outfit – they are unbeaten in nine. Despite The Tangerines entering the match 20 points behind their opponents, last time out at Fratton Park, Blackpool romped to a shock 4-0 victory.
Morecambe vs Wrexham (Saturday 9 March, 3pm)
John McMahon’s Morecambe are level on points with seventh-placed Walsall – who currently hold the final play-off spot in EFL League Two – behind only on goal difference. Next up, though: Title-chasing Wrexham, who will be hoping the presence of their Hollywood stars – and of course, star striker Paul Mullin – puts a halt to the Shrimp’s promotion push. Both sides are failing to put together a long streak of triumphs in the league but remain a real threat to whoever they face. Back in November, Wrexham waltzed to a 6-0 demolition of Morecambe, aided by a Mullin hat-trick, so McMahon’s men will certainly be wary of him and will be praying there isn’t a repeat of that scoreline at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium
How many of our North West teams will come out on top?
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