Altrincham

vs

Gateshead

Preview

Altrincham

• Phil Parkinson has moulded Altrincham into a disciplined, possession-based unit this season that controls the tempo, builds from the back, but can overpower sides in midfield with their width from the full-backs.
• Altrincham have won two and drawn one of their last three matches and are in better form than Gateshead.
• Altrincham sit 14th in the National League with 54 points from 45 games.
• Altrincham have won 12 of their 22 home National League matches and have averaged 1.36 goals per game at home.

Gateshead

• Rob Elliot has adopted a more pragmatic approach at Gateshead, where his side look to transition quickly, get the ball wide and defend resolutely.
• Gateshead have eight wins and four draws from 22 away league games (D4, L10), conceding 43 goals at an average of 1.95 per-match.
• Gateshead are 17th with just five points fewer (50).

Head-to-Head

• Altrincham have won three of the last five H2H matches and won 2-0 away just seven months ago.
• While Altrincham have the advantage in the H2H record (W3 of the last 5) and the form guide, they haven’t beaten Gateshead in two previous attempts in Manchester.

Key Players

• Jimmy Knowles is Altrincham’s main scoring threat this season with 11 goals from 44 appearances in the league, while Kain Adom tops the Gateshead scoring charts with ten goals from just 23 league appearances.
• For Altrincham, Oliver Crankshaw has scored two of their last five goals, while Keaton Ward has been good for a goal or two recently for Gateshead, bagging two of their last five.

Betting Insights

• A home win looks likely, with 2.24 representing a great odds for the home team in this one, but I’m going for goals in this game.
• Both teams to score (1.43) and over 2.5 goals (1.48) are my selections here, as both teams will surely look to push forward to get the three points and make for a lively affair.

Prediction