Wealdstone will be looking to bounce back from a hammering at the weekend when they welcome Solihull Moors to St Georges Stadium on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the visitors bounced back from a thrashing of their own with a victory last time out, so will be hopeful of recording back-to-back wins in National League action.
Match preview
Despite losing nine of their final 11 matches in the 2020-21 campaign, Wealdstone managed to survive relegation from the National League after finishing two places and six points above the relegation places.
After an unbeaten pre-season, hopes will have been high for a positive start to the season to shake off the dreadful finish to the last one, but after losing the opening two games and failing to win in the next two as well, hopes quickly turned to fear for Stuart Maynard's men.
However, two wins and just one defeat in the four matches that followed were vital for morale and form for the season ahead.
Although, the Stones were brought back to reality when they were thrashed 5-0 at Torquay United on Saturday, which still leaves the side sitting in a healthy 16th place as things stand.
As well as the goals conceded in that one, concerns will have continued to build for the manager surrounding the lack of goals scored at the other end of the pitch too, with just the nine being managed from as many matches after the failure to find the net at the weekend.
As for the visitors, Solihull head to the St Georges Stadium in midweek in high spirits, after a 2-0 victory at home to Southend United on Saturday was the ideal way to respond to a poor 5-1 defeat in their last away fixture, at Dagenham & Redbridge.
An own goal in the first half, followed by a second-half penalty from Jimmy Ball, were enough to see Neal Ardley's men earn their fourth victory in their last six outings in the National League.
Previous wins over Aldershot Town, Torquay and Boreham Wood as well have helped lift the Moors to eighth place in the table, level on points with the playoff places just one position above them.
Whilst finding the back of the net has been a problem for the hosts, the same cannot be said of Tuesday's visitors. A return of 16 after nine matches is a healthy total, although Ardley will be concerned that the 15 conceded is not sustainable if his side are to push for a playoff place this time around.
Despite winning six of the final seven matches under temporary manager Mark Yates at the back end of the 2020-21 campaign, Solihull finished five points and four places off the playoff positions.
- D
- W
- L
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- D
- L
- W
Team News
Wealdstone handed a debut to forward Jay Bird on Saturday, coming on as a first half substitute after arriving on loan from MK Dons. He will be pushing to start from the off on Tuesday, alongside Josh Umerah.
Ira Jackson Jr will miss out again, though, as he serves the second match of his suspension after receiving a straight red card against King's Lynn Town two matches ago.
Meanwhile, Solihull welcomed back Jamey Osborne at the weekend after a long nine-month injury layoff. However, this was a substitute appearance for just a few minutes in the final stages of the match, so he will have to make do with a number of starts from the bench as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
Midfielder Kyle Storer unexpectedly missed out on Saturday's win, so it remains to be seen whether he is available to return to the starting lineup.
Wealdstone possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Eleftheriou, Cook, Barker, Tavares; Lewis, Cooper, Charles, Elito; Umerah, Bird
Solihull Moors possible starting lineup:
Boot; Sbarra, Gudger, Howe; Maynard, Maycock, Ball, Donawa, Cranston; Newton, Dallas
We say: Wealdstone 1-2 Solihull Moors
We think Solihull's fine recent form will continue against a Wealdstone side that may still be suffering following a heavy defeat at the weekend. It will certainly not be easy but the visitors should narrowly come out victorious here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
