Second-from-bottom meets third-from-top in the National League on Saturday, with Aldershot Town hosting Grimsby Town at the Recreation Ground.

The hosts find themselves in the relegation places after a run of six straight defeats across all competitions, whilst the visitors remain in the playoff semi-final spots despite three straight defeats themselves.

Match preview

Aldershot's six defeats in a row include five straight losses in the league, which leaves them in 22nd place heading into Saturday's fixture, only avoiding bottom spot thanks to the troubles of the doomed Dover Athletic.

A disappointing seven points from their opening 14 league fixtures mean the Shots are already four points from safety in the early stages of the campaign.

After relatively-safe positions in the bottom half have been achieved in the past couple of seasons, manager Mark Molesley will already be feeling the pressure of the job despite being less than two months into his tenure.

Molesley was brought in to Aldershot to lift the club towards safety, but the new manager 'bounce' has not yet been felt after replacing Danny Searle in September.

In fact, seven defeats and just a single win - over the previously-mentioned strugglers Dover - mean Town have remained at the same level, if not worse, since taking the decision to replace Searle.

The lowest point of a disappointing start to Molesley's tenure arrived in midweek, when Aldershot were humiliated by Wrexham in front of their own supporters by a 5-0 scoreline.

Meanwhile, Grimsby head to the Recreation Ground on Saturday looking to recapture their early-season form that saw them surge toward the top of the National League table.

However, despite suffering back-to-back defeats in domestic action, which was followed by an FA Cup first-round exit at Kidderminster Harriers last weekend, the Mariners remain in third spot in the National League table.

After winning nine of their opening 12 league fixtures, Grimsby looked set for a comfortable return to League Two after suffering the heartache of relegation from the EFL last campaign.

The three-straight 1-0 losses have given Paul Hurst's side a slight reality check to what is a difficult league to earn promotion from, but the boss will take the positive aspect of the fact that it has arrived early in the campaign and not in the closing stages coming towards May.

This allows Grimsby plenty of time to set things right, which they will be expected to do on Saturday against an out-of-form Aldershot side that they have beaten in each of their last three meetings, although the last of these arrived over five years ago.

Team News

Mo Sylla looks set to make just his second start for Aldershot on Saturday, with his full debut arriving in the thumping defeat against Wrexham in the week.

He made an instant impact with a goal in his debut off the bench in the previous match, after he arrived at the club at the end of October.

Changes should be expected from Molesley, with a response needed after the run of defeats, with the likes of Alfy Whittingham and Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong potentially earning starts as a result of the alterations.

As for Grimsby, Joel Grant made his debut from the bench in the cup upset at Kidderminster last weekend, but he will be expected to remain amongst the substitutes at Aldershot.

First-choice goalkeeper James McKeown will return in goal, whilst the likes of Ryan Sears, Erico Sousa, Adam Crookes and Lenell John-Lewis are all expected to return to the starting lineup after six changes were made for the cup tie last time out.

After switching to a three-man back line against Kidderminster, Hurst will be expected to revert to his preferred 4-2-3-1 setup on Saturday.

Aldershot Town possible starting lineup:
Walker; Whittingham, Jordan, Foster, Kinsella; Wagstaff, Glover, Sylla, Vennings; Berkeley-Agyepong, Andrews

Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
McKeown; Sears, Waterfall, Towler, Crookes; Coke, Fox; Sousa, Mcatee, Hunt; John-Lewis

We say: Aldershot Town 0-2 Grimsby Town

Despite their struggles in the last couple of weeks, Grimsby will be expected to return to winning ways at Aldershot on Saturday, who are in deep trouble as things stand.

The visitors possess the quality to comfortably record a victory at the Recreation Ground, with the key being to pick up an early goal in order to settle them down.

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