ALTRINCHAM will look to move further clear of the National League relegation zone when fellow strugglers Guiseley visit Moss Lane on Saturday (KO 15:00 GMT).
The Robins sit 19th in the table, two places and three points above the bottom four, as they prepare to host a Guiseley team directly above them.
The two sides are separated by four points but Guiseley, who won the reverse fixture 1-0 in August, have played a game less.
Alty were unbeaten in six home league games before Tuesday night’s 3-0 reverse against rivals Chester, who also missed a penalty early in the second half.
Lee Sinnott’s team have only won one of their last 10 league outings – a 3-1 home success over Woking on January 26.
Meanwhile, the Lions edged past Woking last weekend to secure a second win in their last three away league matches as top scorer Liam Dickinson, the much-travelled striker, netted his sixth goal of the season.
But the west Yorkshire outfit were dealt a blow by a 3-0 home defeat of their own in midweek against fellow National League side Dover in an FA Trophy replay.
Inevitably, Guiseley have found life tough in their first ever season in non-league’s top-tier in their 107-year history after achieving promotion via the play-offs, following five seasons in the then Conference North.
They are the third-lowest scorers in the division, with 30 goals in 31 games, and have been inconsistent of late with two wins, two draws and three defeats in their last seven league outings.
But boss Mark Bower has a number of players with Football League experience in his squad, including former Doncaster defender Adam Lockwood, on-loan York City striker Emile Sinclair and ex-Luton forward Tom Craddock.
He will hope to pick up points in Cheshire with Guiseley’s next four games against top-half opponents, starting against second-placed Forest Green Rovers at Nethermoor Park next weekend.
Former Accrington Stanley midfielder Will Hatfield was sent off early on in midweek but should be available to play this weekend, so Bower could name an unchanged side for the third game running.
Alty lost Jordan Sinnott to an ankle problem before kick-off against Chester and Simon Richman through injury in the first half. Both midfielders could be absent again on Saturday, along with Dylan Mottley-Henry who was injured in training with parent club Bradford City.
Both teams will be fully focused on claiming three much-needed points, which could be the platform to staying clear of danger in the three months of the season that remain.
Provisional Squads:
Altrincham: Deasy (GK), Coburn (GK), Leather, Heathcote, Holness, Griffin, Moult (c), Richman, Crowther, Ginnelly, Lawrie, O’Keefe, Williams, Cain, Margetts, Rankine, Reeves.
Guiseley: Drench (GK), D Atkinson (GK), Toulson, Lowe, R Atkinson, Hall, Parker (c), Lawlor, Hurst, D Boshell, Dudley, Boyes, Sinclair, Dickinson, Rothery, N Boshell.
Referee: Derek Eaton (Gloucestershire)
By Adam Higgins
@Higgins_Adam95
This game will form part of our Football LIVE coverage on Saturday afternoon. Don’t forget to join us from 2pm…
Recent Comments