Preview: Stevenage vs. Salford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Promotion hopes are on the line for both sides in what looks set to be an important clash.

Match preview

Stevenage enter the weekend in the driving seat to be promoted automatically to League One this season.

They are one point ahead of the chasing pack and still have a game in hand over all of the sides below them as they enter their final 10 games of the campaign.

Recovering from an awful run of form in February which saw Stevenage pick up just two points from a possible 15 has aided their push greatly.

Their response has seen them collect 10 points from their last five matches in League Two, but their only defeat in that time was a hugely disappointing one at Spotland against Rochdale, who are cut adrift at the bottom.

Making Broadhall Way a fortress has been crucial to their promotion ambitions though, as they have the best points-per-game record in the division, averaging almost 2.4 points per home game this season.

Salford are another side enjoying a purple patch at the right time, helped by the fact they have scored a league-high 15 goals in their last five matches.

Three of those came in a crazy 4-3 defeat at Crewe Alexandra which saw them take the lead with five minutes remaining but still lose.

That has been their only defeat in that time though, as they too have picked up 10 points in their last five, like Stevenage.

Neil Wood's side currently occupy the final playoff spot in seventh, two points ahead of Mansfield Town, who Salford beat 5-2 away from home last month.

This game starts a run of three successive matches against teams in the top six for Salford, so it could make or break their season.

Stockport County away in an all-Greater Manchester affair is still to come, as well as a clash with league-leaders Leyton Orient at the Peninsula Stadium in early April.

Stevenage League Two form:

L

W

L

W

W

D

Salford City League Two form:

L

W

D

W

L

W

Team News

Terence Vancooten returned to the Stevenage squad for their draw with Carlisle United last weekend, and manager Steve Evans could include the Guyana international from the start for a first appearance in almost two months here.

Dean Campbell is a doubt for the hosts after missing the last three matches, while first-choice keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond remains out.

Elliott List is their other injury absentee, as the midfielder has featured just once this season.

Salford top scorer Conor McAleny returned to the subs bench in their win over Doncaster Rovers, making a brief two-minute cameo towards the end.

Ryan Watson is expected to miss out again though in midfield, with Richard Nartey, Ash Eastham and Jack Jenkins also nursing injuries.

Stevenage possible starting lineup:

McCracken; Smith, Sweeney, Piergianni, Clark; Vancooten, Reeves, Gilbey; Reid, Norris, March

Salford City possible starting lineup:

Cairns; Lowe, Vassell, Leak, Touray; Mallan, Watt, Bolton, Galbraith, Barry; Hendry

We say: Stevenage 2-2 Salford City

Stevenage are strong at home and have rediscovered form at the perfect time to sustain a promotion push.

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