Accrington Stanley and Salford City will be hoping to get 2024 started on a winning note when they face off at Wham Stadium in League Two on New Year's Day.
The hosts are currently in ninth place in the league standings, with 35 points after 25 matches, while the visitors are down in 21st place with just 23 points after 24 matches.
Match preview
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After securing 13 points from a possible 18 in October, Accrington Stanley had got themselves into contention for a playoff spot, but with just one win in their last seven league games, they have slipped to ninth place.
In their last outing, the Reds played out a 1-1 draw against Barrow, with Joe Pritchard scoring the only goal for Accrington to earn his side a point after going a goal down to a Benjamin Whitfield strike early in the second half.
That marked John Coleman's side's fifth consecutive away game without a win and left them three points off AFC Wimbledon in the seventh and final playoff spot at the end of the calendar year.
However, they now return to Wham Stadium, where they are unbeaten in their last two matches, including a 2-1 win over Walsall just before Christmas and a 0-0 draw to Doncaster Rovers at the start of December.
The hosts will head into this one with the confidence that they can get a favourable result here, as they did manage to beat this opponent 2-1 in the reverse fixture at The Peninsula Stadium back in August.
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Meanwhile, Salford City are languishing in 21st place in League Two and played out their ninth consecutive league match without a win when they were beaten 3-0 by Grimsby Town on Friday night.
That result followed a crushing 5-1 loss to Tranmere Rovers on Boxing Day and marked the end of Neil Wood's reign in charge of the club as Gary Neville and co opted to axe the manager following the result.
Wood assumed control of the club in May 2022 after Gary Bowyer's departure, and his first season at the helm saw Salford reach the League Two playoffs, only to be eliminated by local rivals Stockport in a penalty shootout.
Simon Wiles stepped in as interim manager for Friday night's match against the Mariners but was unable to help his side avoid a third loss on the bounce and a fourth defeat in their last five home games.
The Ammies are in a bad way at this moment, just six points above Sutton United, who are the first side below the dotted line, and they need a change of fortunes quickly, or non-league football may become a very real possibility for them next season.
Team News
Rosaire Longelo has been carrying a hamstring injury that he sustained against Crewe Alexandra last month and has been flagged as a doubt for Monday's fixture.
Pritchard scored his second goal in three matches against Barrow and should continue in the number 10 role behind Josh Woods, while Kian Spence will be hoping to make the starting 11 after coming off the bench in the last match.
Salford will be able to welcome back Conor McAleny for this match after the midfielder was forced to sit out their 3-0 loss to Grimsby for the two yellows he was shown against Tranmere on Boxing Day.
Ossama Ashley, Stevie Mallan, Liam Shephard and Callum Hendry are all likely to be ruled out of this match due to injury.
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Walsh; O'Brien, Gubbins, Hills, Shipley; B. Woods, Martin; Nolan, Whalley, Pritchard; J. Woods
Salford City possible starting lineup:
Cairns; Ingram, Mariappa, Tilt, Garbutt; Watt, McAleny; Bolton, Lund, John; Smith
We say: Accrington Stanley 2-1 Salford City
Salford City are in desperate need of a positive result here to bring some much-needed positivity to the dressing room, but it is hard to see that happening with the side showing very little to suggest that a comeback in the second half of the season is on the cards.
Accrington Stanley will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a deflated Ammies squad, and we feel they will hand their opponents a fourth consecutive league defeat in this one.
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