Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Stevenagevs.Guiseley

sportsmole.co.uk, 31 October 2024, 23:20
In the first round of the FA Cup, League One side Stevenage are set to host seventh-tier side Guiseley on Saturday at Lamex Stadium.

The home team are 15th with 17 points after 14 matches in League One and lost 4-1 against Bolton Wanderers on October 29, while the visitors are seventh in the Northern Premier Division with 22 points from 13 league games.

Match preview

Stevenage are in poor form having lost five of their last six matches, conceding 12 times while scoring three goals in those games.

The hosts are seven points clear of the 21st-placed Cambridge United, who occupy the division's final relegation spot, but they are also six points from sixth-placed Bolton, who occupy the final promotion playoff spot.

Manager Alex Revell raised concerns about his team's ability to retain possession at crucial moments in the aftermath of his side's loss against Bolton, suggesting that individual errors have proved to be the club's undoing in recent weeks.

In last season's FA Cup, Stevenage were knocked out in the third round by Maidstone United in January, losing 1-0 after Samuel Corne's 45th-minute goal.

The home side have lost their last two matches at Lamex Stadium, but they did win five of the prior six home games.

As for Guiseley, they come into Saturday's clash having lost 2-1 against Armthorpe Welfare on October 22.

The visitors reached the first round of the FA Cup after winning four preliminary qualifying rounds, including a 1-0 win against Kidderminster Harriers in their most recent FA Cup match on October 12.

Boss Mark Bower was upbeat about his team's trip to Stevenage, though he acknowledged that many of his players will not have faced a challenge as difficult as the one they will encounter on Saturday.

Bower's side have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five games, and have only won three of their nine most recent matches.

The away team have also not won any of their last three away fixtures, but they did win the prior four matches on the road.

Stevenage form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

L

L

Guiseley FA Cup form:

W

W

W

W

Guiseley form (all competitions):

Team News

The hosts could start Murphy Mahoney in goal in place of Taye Ashby-Hammond, and replace Kane Smith with Nick Freeman at right-back.

In midfield, it would not be surprising if Daniel Phillips was partnered by Harvey White, while Eli King could also feature in the middle of the pitch.

Jake Young may start up front as a striker, flanked by wide players Jordan Roberts and Elliott List.

As for Guiseley, Bower's side had no fixture last weekend and their injury situation has lessened as a result.

They may start Joe Cracknell in goal behind a defence consisting of Liam Ridehalgh, Lebrun Mbeka, John Lufudu and Oliver Brown.

Jake Lawlor and Joe Ackroyd are candidates to start in a double pivot, while William Longbottom and Gabriel Johnson could start in the forward line.

Stevenage possible starting lineup:

Mahoney; Freeman, James-Wildin, Piergianni, Butler; Phillips, White, King; Roberts, Young, List

Guiseley possible starting lineup:

Cracknell; Ridehalgh, Mbeka, Lufudu, Brown; Moke, Lawlor, Ackroyd, Ekpolo; Longbottom, Johnson

We say: Stevenage 2-1 Guiseley

While Stevenage may make changes from the team that faced Bolton, it is difficult to see how Guiseley can take advantage given the calibre of their opponents.

Previews by email

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly remain fully behind head coach Hansi Flick despite the team's latest title setback against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has been seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after sustaining a suspected hamstring problem in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have written a new page of English football history thanks to their 5-1 destruction of London rivals Crystal Palace in Saturday's Premier League derby. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 17 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will be wrapped up with a clash between two sides from the Marmara region, as Istanbul Basaksehir welcome Kasimpasa to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday evening. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Leicester loan star Facundo Buonanotte wants to see a Tottenham forward join him so they can rekindle their partnership. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's rivals will hate it but they can definitely claim London is red after their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus continued his resurgence with two goals as the Gunners demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.