Fylde and Hartlepool United square off in the National League on Tuesday evening having both won their most recent matches.
That has led to the the two teams - who are nine points apart - starting the game in 23rd and 16th position in the standings respectively.
Match preview
Having failed to win a single National League fixture in November and December, Fylde supporters would have been feeling downbeat heading into the new year.
However, on January 1, they kicked off 2024 in style, recording a 2-0 victory over Rochdale to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.
With that making it 12 points from 11 games, there is more of a positive spin on their recent form, when you also consider that they have only lost twice in six games.
Chris Beech will feel that he and his players have some momentum ahead of fixtures against teams in Hartlepool and York City who could emerge as direct rivals to avoid the drop.
The Coasters head into this fixture having lost just one of their last six matches at Mill Farm, but Fylde are facing a team who have got back to winning ways themselves.
Hartlepool lost back-to-back fixtures against Oldham Athletic over the Christmas period, putting them under pressure ahead of playing lowly Oxford City.
Veteran manager Lennie Lawrence was handed the reins on a temporary basis and led Hartlepool to a 2-1 victory in that encounter, withstanding pressure in the closing stages to secure an important three points.
Four points now separate Hartlepool from the bottom four, but defeat on Tuesday would leave them just seven points ahead of 23rd place.
Their away form has bene impressive of late, collecting five points from three games before they went down 2-0 to Oldham at Boundary Park on December 30.
Team News
Barring any fitness issues, Beech is expected to name the same Fylde XI that started the win over Rochdale.
Danny Ormerod scored both goals during that match and will lead the attack, with the only potential alteration seemingly being that of Kieran Glynn for Nick Haughton in midfield.
Changes will also be few and far between with the Hartlepool starting lineup after they prevailed against Oxford City in similar style.
Anthony Mancini has only recently returned from injury but he is likely to keep his spot ahead of Jake Hastie.
Fylde possible starting lineup:
Richardson; Barrett, Graham, Davis, Conway; Adshead, Whitehead; Ustabasi, Haughton, Charman; Ormerod
Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Dixon; Hendrie, Ferguson, Onariase, Stephenson, Featherstone, Wallace, Cooke, Crawford, Mancini, Grey
We say: Fylde 1-2 Hartlepool United
With both teams on a high after their last outings, this has the potential to be an entertaining match. Fylde require the points far more than their higher-profile opponents, yet we feel that the visitors will have enough quality to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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