Southend United will be aiming to bounce back from successive defeats when they head to Moss Lane on Saturday afternoon to tackle Altrincham in the National League.
The Essex outfit are currently 15th in the National League table, picking up 21 points from 17 matches, while Altrincham sit 10th, boasting 24 points from their opening 17 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
Match preview
Altrincham finished fourth in the National League last season, which saw them qualify for the playoff semi-finals, but they were beaten by Bromley, with the Robins therefore staying in the fifth tier of English football.
The Greater Manchester outfit, who have never played in the Football League, are currently 10th in the National League table, boasting a record of six wins, six draws and five defeats from 17 matches, which has brought them 24 points.
Phil Parkinson's side are only four points off the playoff positions at this stage of the campaign, and they will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this match, including a 3-3 draw with Solihull Moors in the league last weekend.
Altrincham thumped Fylde 5-0 away from home at the end of October, meanwhile, and they have not actually been beaten in the National League since the start of October - a 2-0 loss at Braintree Town.
The Robins are unbeaten in their last six league fixtures in front of their own supporters, but three of their last four have finished level, including their last two against Gateshead and Hartlepool United.
Southend, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Yeovil last weekend; the Blues had goalkeeper Zach Jeacock sent off in the 29th minute of that contest, and it was always going to be an uphill task from that point.
Kevin Maher's side also lost a seven-goal thriller to Charlton Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup earlier this month, with their last victory proving to be a 2-0 success over Tamworth on October 26.
The Shrimpers have performed below expectations this season, boasting a record of five wins, six draws and six defeats from 17 matches, which has left them in 15th spot in the table on 21 points.
Southend are only seven points off the playoffs, though, and they will be expecting to put a run together at some stage of the campaign considering the talent in their squad.
The Blues, who famously played in the Championship during the 2006-07 campaign, are in their fourth straight season in the National League, finishing 13th, eighth and ninth at this level of football.
Team News
Altrincham will again have Regan Linney at the tip of their attack on Saturday, with the forward in brilliant form this season, finding the back of the net on nine occasions in the National League.
The home side have not reported any fresh concerns following their draw with Solihull Moors last time out, and it would therefore not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field against Southend.
Alex Newby has been another strong performer this season, scoring five times from a midfield position, and the Englishman is a certain starter for the Robins this weekend.
As for Southend, Jeacock will be suspended following his red card against Yeovil, so it will be a simple swap between the sticks, with Collin Andeng-Ndi set to feature from the start.
Gus Scott-Morriss is having an outstanding campaign, scoring nine times from a right-sided role, and the 27-year-old will be bidding to continue his excellent form on Saturday afternoon.
Aribim Pepple, meanwhile, has three goals in 12 appearances for the Essex club during the 2024-25 campaign, and there will be another start in the final third of the field for the on-loan Luton Town attacker.
Altrincham possible starting lineup:
Ross; Golden, J Jones, Baines, E Jones; Reddin, Wilson, Crawford, Newby; Humbles, Linney
Southend United possible starting lineup:
Andeng-Ndi; Taylor, Crowther, Ralph; Scott-Morriss, Coker, Morton, Husin, Bridge; Pepple, Walker
We say: Altrincham 1-1 Southend United
Altrincham have drawn four of their eight home matches in League Two this season, while Southend have also drawn four times away, and we are finding it difficult to separate the two teams here, ultimately settling on a 1-1 at Moss Lane.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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