EFL League Two returns tonight with another round of almost-unpredictable fixtures ready to get underway.

Here are some of the stories you need to be following from English football's fourth tier this weekend.

  • The Clough effect

It hasn't been a bad start for new Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough.

Since taking charge at the OneCall Stadium on November 6, the 54-year-old has overseen three successive victories - including a shock 1-0 win over Sunderland in the first round of the FA Cup.

Last week's 2-1 win at promotion chasers Forest Green Rovers was a statement of intent from the new Stags boss, giving the club their first league win of the season ahead of the game with Colchester United tonight.

Another win could move Mansfield as high as 16th before the start of play on Saturday and more importantly, five points clear of the relegation zone.

  • Newport back in action

There seemed to be no stopping Newport County at the start of this season. 

Nine straight league wins saw the Exiles comfortably top the table but a 3-2 defeat to Carlise United in their last outing has seen the gap to nearest rivals Cambridge United reduced to just one point with a game in hand.

They face a Port Vale side also looking to bounce back following two straight defeats to strugglers Tranmere Rovers and Scunthorpe United.

Those results have seen John Askey's men slip to 8th and if results were not to go their way this weekend, a defeat to the league leaders could put them in the bottom half.

  • Iron surprise turnaround

There hasn't been a dull day at Scunthorpe recently.

After confirming eight positive cases with a further ten players self-isolating because of it in October, the club returned to action with two wins from their last three games.

Last Saturday's 2-0 win over Oldham Athletic provided the club with their first three league points of the season but Tuesday's 1-0 victory at Port Vale proved the more impressive, scoring with their only shot on target.

They face a Morecambe side who have won just one of their last six league games and another three points for Neil Cox's men could move them five points clear of the drop.

  • Mellish's scoring streak

When Carlisle signed Jon Mellish last season, he had just two professional goals to his name.

Initially signing at Brunton Park as a defender, he again struggled for goals in his first season but after a move to midfield by head coach Chris Beech this summer, Mellish has gone on to manage 11 goals in all competitions so far this season.

Breaking his drought against Barrow on October 3, the now midfielder has gone on to manage a goal ever 149 minutes in League Two, with four of his seven goals coming in his last four games and he will be looking to make that five against Crawley Town this weekend.

The 23-year-old has also signed a contract extension until the summer of 2022 with head coach Beech delighted with his newfound impact so far.

He told the News and Star: “This is a brand new sort of situation for him and a lot of our players.

"I think he’s just got to enjoy the journey and not change because his biggest attribute is the fact he’s raw.

"He can pass, and can shoot with both feet, and head, so he’s got great attributes with his size and physicality, to be simple but very effective – that’s his biggest attribute.”

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