Two teams with plenty to play for in the latter stages of the 2024-25 National League campaign will lock horns on Tuesday evening, with playoff hopefuls Altrincham set to tackle relegation-threatened Wealdstone.
Altrincham are currently eighth in the National League table, one point behind seventh-placed Rochdale, while Wealdstone occupy 21st, level on points with 20th-placed Dagenham & Redbridge.
Match preview
Altrincham will enter Tuesday's clash off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Aldershot, which made it three losses in a row for the playoff hopefuls, while they have been beaten in four of their last five National League fixtures.
The Robins are in poor form at the worst possible stage of the season, as they bid to stay in playoff contention, with the team currently eighth in the table, one point behind seventh-placed Rochdale, who have played two games fewer.
Phil Parkinson's side finished fourth in the National League last season, losing to Bromley in the semi-finals of the playoffs, but they are once again in contention to challenge for a spot in the Football League.
Altrincham have been strong in front of their own supporters this season, picking up 30 points from 17 matches, while Wealdstone have only been victorious in three of their 18 league games away from their own stadium.
The Robins drew 3-3 with Wealdstone in the reverse fixture between the two sides earlier this season, but it was 4-1 to Altrincham in the corresponding game during the 2023-24 campaign.
Wealdstone, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 3-3 draw with Eastleigh on Saturday, with the team picking up just one point from their last three games in the National League.
Neil Gibson's side are 21st in the National League table, boasting a record of eight wins, 12 draws and 15 defeats from 35 matches to collect 36 points, level on points with 20th-placed Dagenham & Redbridge.
Wealdstone do have two games in hand over Dagenham, though, and they managed to win three straight fixtures in February, overcoming Yeovil Town, Braintree Town and Ebbsfleet United.
The Stones finished 16th in the National League last season, and it would not be a surprise to see them in and around that position once again come the end of the campaign, but their main focus for now is to escape the bottom four.
Team News
Altrincham will be without the services of Regan Linney through suspension, which is a major blow considering that the striker has scored 19 times and registered six assists in 33 appearances in all competitions this season.
Alex Newby is another striker in excellent form, scoring 13 goals and registering 11 assists in 33 appearances, and the 29-year-old will feature in the final third of the field for the promotion hopefuls.
There should also again be a spot for Jake Bickerstaff, with the 23-year-old bidding to add to the one goal that he has managed in all competitions during the current season.
As for Wealdstone, Alex Reid moved onto 13 goals for the season with his brace against Eastleigh on Saturday, and there will again be a start for the attacker on Tuesday night.
The visitors have not reported any fresh injury issues from that contest, so the same squad is set to be available, and it would not be a surprise to see Gibson name an unchanged side.
Micah Obiero has struggled for goals this season, only managing three, but the 24-year-old is a vital player for Wealdstone, and he is again set to lead the line against Altrincham.
Altrincham possible starting lineup:
Lainton; Banks, Cooper, Olson, Pasiek; Marriott, Osborne, Reddin; Amaluzor, Bickerstaff, Newby
Wealdstone possible starting lineup:
Gunter; Cook, Mariappa, McAvoy, Grant; Kretzschmar, Randall-Hurren, Sohna; Boldewijn, Obiero, Reid
We say: Altrincham 2-1 Wealdstone
Altrincham's form is disappointing, but the Robins are due a big performance, and we are expecting them to get the job done on Tuesday evening against a Wealdstone outfit that are in danger of dropping out of the National League.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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