In-form Stevenage are set to host down-on-their-luck Exeter City at Lamex Stadium this Saturday in League One.
The Boro have won three on the bounce ahead of this weekend, and will be confident of taking maximum points against the Grecians as they look to climb the table in the second part of the season.
Match preview
Alex Revell's Stevenage started 2025 poorly by losing once and drawing twice, but have since won three in a row, and are now looking up towards the playoff spots.
The Boro are currently 15th in League One, but the 37 points they have earned from their 26 matches so far has taken them to within seven points of sixth-placed Leyton Orient.
Last time out, Saturday's hosts beat promotion-chasing Wrexham 3-2 on the road thanks to goals from Dan Kemp, Jamie Reid and Jake Young, who had their side leading 3-1 until Max Cleworth pulled one back on the 90-minute mark.
That victory was particularly impressive considering the Red Dragons were previously unbeaten at the Racecourse Ground this campaign, and Revell's side should take great confidence from their performance into the remainder of the season.
This weekend, Stevenage will be expecting another victory against a team that are struggling, and three points could take them as high as 11th in the table if results elsewhere prove favourable.
Meanwhile, Gary Caldwell's Exeter are without a league win since Boxing Day, and now have the worst form of any club in League One.
The Grecians are 17th having played two games more than their hosts, and their tally of 32 points is just eight more than Burton Albion and Crawley Town have managed, both of whom are in the relegation zone.
Most recently, the visitors were thrashed 6-2 at home by Orient, who raced into a three goal lead with less than 15 minutes on the clock, and netted a fourth before the interval.
Caldwell said after the match that his side were 'bullied' by the O's and that he had to fix that before this weekend's clash, though he did mention the fact that his first-choice back three are all currently injured, while Tristan Crama has had his loan spell cut short.
On Saturday, Exeter are likely to be missing a number of defenders once again, and given how poor they were on Tuesday, it will take an impressive turnaround to avoid yet another defeat.
Team News
Revell is likely to stick as closely as possible to the team that beat Wrexham when selecting his XI for this weekend, though right-back Kane Smith was withdrawn with an injury in that game.
In Kane's place, Nick Freeman should start alongside Dan Sweeney, Carl Piergianni and Lewis Freestone in the backline.
Similarly, midfielder Eli King was substituted off late on with an injury, and Charlie Goode may patrol the centre of the park beside Daniel Phillips on Saturday.
As for Exeter, they have little choice but to field the same defence that struggled against Orient considering that Jack Fitzwater, Pierce Sweeney and Johnly Yfeko are all injured.
With this in mind, expect a makeshift back three featuring wing-back Jack McMillan, midfielder Ed Francis and Cheick Diabate, who was recalled from a failed loan spell at League Two Bradford City.
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Mahoney; Freeman, Sweeney, Piergianni, Freestone; Phillips, Goode; Roberts, Kemp, Reid; Appere
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; McMillan, Diabate, Francis; Woods, Richards; Alli, Aitchison, Watts, Niskanen; Magennis
We say: Stevenage 3-1 Exeter City
Stevenage will come into the game full of confidence after their strong win over Wrexham last time out, while the visitors will be looking to stop the rot.
However, considering their poor form - as well as the fact that they have so many defenders out - it is hard to see Exeter taking anything from this weekend's match, so expect a fourth consecutive win for the Boro on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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