Eastleigh are looking down and not up heading into gameweek 41's National League clash with Hartlepool United at the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday.
The Spitfires are only three points clear of slipping into the relegation zone, but their opponents are not safe either, as only five points separate Hartlepool from 21st place in the division.
Match preview
Two wins on the trot in February gave Eastleigh hope of going on a positive run in the campaign's concluding months, but three losses in four matches have followed since the 5-2 win over Oxford City and 2-0 success against Bromley.
Those results have shown that last month's respite was a false dawn, as Kelvin Davis's men had lost six of the preceding nine National League games.
The sixth defeat on February 17 was the last straw for the club's management, prompting them to sack Richard Hill and appoint Davis, a decision that roused the Spitfires temporarily.
However, their third head coach of the season hopes to avoid being the one to take the Hampshire club down in 2023-24 in what has been a disappointing campaign for the club that ended last season ninth.
Eastleigh's defensive bugbear has been evident all season, with 80 goals conceded in 39 matches outdone only by the doomed Oxford City, pointing to where the home side's issues are before this weekend's game.
Hartlepool are only two points ahead of the club they visit on Saturday, and beating the Spitfires not only takes the Monkey Hangers five points clear of their hosts but could see Eastleigh slip into the bottom four.
However, recent results have not encouraged a side that seemingly escaped the relegation conversation after securing 13 points from a possible 15 from late January until February 20 before losing two of the following three matches.
A third straight loss was avoided last weekend as Kevin Phillips's men played out a goalless game with Southend, and the Durham club hope to build on that draw with a positive result in Hampshire.
However, their inconsistent away results could undermine that aim, with a 2-1 loss at Solihull Moors on February 24 ending a three-match unbeaten streak (seven points).
Preceding that was a one-win-in-eight road run (five defeats) that typified Phillips's team before his January appointment.
Pools' only loss on their travels was the one against Solihull Moors, suggesting an improvement for a team that has been beaten just once in four road matches under the former Premier League striker.
Team News
It remains to be seen who partners Scott Quigley up top on Saturday, with Hill utilising Paul McCallum and Chris Maguire in the last two games, with both scoring in defeats to Rochdale (4-1) and Barnet (2-1).
Few changes are expected for a team that have not suffered any reported injuries in recent matches.
Emmanuel Dieseruvwe (19 goals) has netted 11 more than Joe Grey for Hartlepool, and the forward's importance for the visitors cannot be emphasised enough.
It remains to be seen who plays in goal, as Peter Jameson (12 starts) replaced Joel Dixon (26 starts) against Southend last weekend.
Phillips is expected to stick to the 4-2-3-1 approach he has broadly utilised as Pools boss.
Eastleigh possible starting lineup:
McDonnell; Rutherford, Hodson, Francillette, Croll, Boldewijn; Taylor, Atanga, Reeves; Quigley, McCallum
Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Dixon; Lacey, Waterfall, Parkes, Ferguson; Crawford, Featherstone; Cooper, Cooke, Dickenson; Dieseruvwe
We say: Eastleigh 1-2 Hartlepool United
Eastleigh's one win in eight home games does not bode well against a team that has netted in every away match in 2024. While Phillips's away run remains a small sample size, backing them to nick a win is logical, having claimed seven points from a possible 12 under the former top-flight striker.
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