Preview: Woking vs. Altrincham - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, who snapped their three-game losing streak last time out, will be looking to get one over the hosts, having failed to win any of their last three meetings since March 2021.

Match preview

Woking suffered a first-round exit from the FA Cup as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Oxford United when the sides squared off last Wednesday.

Rohan Ince cancelled out Billy Boden's 39th-minute opener to end the first half level before teenager Tyler Goodrham struck in the 53rd minute to send the visitors through to the second round.

Woking now turn their attention to the National League, where they are currently on a run of four consecutive victories and are unbeaten in their last six outings since October's 3-2 loss against Notts County.

This impressive run of results has been owing to the solid job done at the defensive end of the pitch as Darren Sarll's men have kept four clean sheets and scored five since a 3-3 draw with Dorking Wanderers on October 25.

Woking have picked up 11 wins, three draws and lost five of their 19 matches this season to collect 36 points and sit fourth in the National League standings, eight points off league leaders Notts County.

Elsewhere, Altrincham turned in a superb second-half performance last time out when they fought back from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over York City on home turf.

After trailing 1-0 at half time courtesy of Maxim Kouogun's 15th-minute opener, Phil Parkinson's men rallied in the second period as Elliot Newby and 27-year-old Ryan Colclough netted in a 21-minute spell to complete the comeback at J Davidson Stadium.

Prior to that, Altrincham were on a three-match losing streak, suffering defeats against Wrexham, Wealdstone and Barney, while conceding seven goals and failing to find the back of the net in all three games.

Consequently, the Robins have now moved to 17th place in the league standings, five points clear of the relegation zone, and victory on Saturday could see them rise level on 24 points with 12th-place York City.

While Altrincham will be looking to pick up successive National League wins for the first time since April, they have struggled for results on the road, where they have managed just one win in their 10 matches across all competitions this season and hold the league's sixth-worst record with six points from a possible 18.

Woking National League form:

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Woking form (all competitions):

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Altrincham National League form:

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Team News

Grego-Cox has been a standout performer for Woking this season and the Irish international, who has seven goals in his last six league matches, will be one to keep an eye out for.

Having started off the bench in the FA Cup defeat, the former Queens Park Rangers man should return to the starting XI on Saturday, teaming up with James Daly and Padraig Amond in the final third.

Off the back of an impressive comeback, Parkinson could name an unchanged XI this weekend, meaning we could see a back four of Edward Jones, Lewis Baines, Isaac Marriott and Toby Mullarkey shielding Oliver Byrne in goal.

Newby, who recently completed a loan move from Stockport County, opened his account in what was his second appearance for the club, and the 26-year-old should retain his role in midfield.

He should be joined at the centre of the park by Josh Lundstram and 20-year-old Chris Conn-Clarke, while Colclough and Connor Jennings should lead the attack for the third consecutive game.

Woking possible starting lineup:

Ross; Moss, Cuthbert, McNerney, Casey; Kellermann, Ince, Anderson; Grego-Cox10, Amond, Daly

Altrincham possible starting lineup:

Byrne; Jones, Baines, Marriott, Mullarkey; Jones, Lundstram, Newby, Conn-Clarke; Colclough, Jennings

We say: Woking 2-1 Altrincham

Buoyed by their victory over York City, Altrincham will head into the weekend with renewed belief as they look to strengthen their position in the league standings. However, they take on a Woking side who have enjoyed a better campaign and are on a run of five wins from their last six league matches. While we expect the visitors to put up a fight, we are backing Sarll's men to come away with a slender victory.

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