Altrincham
- Altrincham finished 13th on 57 points.
- Altrincham have won four of their last five competitive matches.
- Altrincham's game is all about pace on the wings, counter-attacking, and bursts of pressing to disrupt play.
- They have a settled core of players and their improved organisation in the closing stages of the season should make them a troublesome opening day opponent.
Southend United
- Southend United finished 6th on 81 points.
- The National League 2026-2027 season features Southend United's FA Trophy-winning swagger being tested by Altrincham at J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday.
- Southend United are a ball-dominant, tempo-controlling, high-energy pressing team which has been the hallmark of Dyer's coaching career.
- In Southend's favor is the FA Trophy crown that they should take into the summer with them.
Head-to-Head
The last two meetings between these sides have resulted in a 3-0 win for Southend and a 1-0 win for Altrincham .
Key Players
- Jimmy Knowles finished 2025-26 as the club's leading scorer with 11 league goals and was always a threat to break the game open in the second half, while Oliver Crankshaw offers bite in the final third, captain Tom Crawford provides control, energy and quality on set plays from the middle of the field.
- Southend's talisman is Andrew Dallas, the club's top scorer in 2025-26 and a player who can finish off chances with ease when they start coming in bundles.
- They have a bit more in terms of quality and creativity in the likes of Charley Kendall and Gus Scott-Morriss.
Betting Insights
- The odds reflect a pretty good chance of an away win with the visitors going into the game at 1.69 favorites, the hosts at 4.21 and the draw at 3.74.
- Both teams to score at 1.63 looks a strong option.
- A 2-1 away win is a good fit with the odds here and makes sense from a tactical view.
Prediction
2-1 away win for the visitors; both teams to score is also a strong option.
