By Tony Alvarez
I like to look forward to matches I will be attending so although this match doesn’t have the same attraction as the Crawley vs Cheltenham clash I previewed a couple of weeks back I have choose to look ahead at this evenings League Two tie.
Aldershot welcome Southend (and me) to their EBB Stadium on the back of a short spell of fine form having picked up some much needed points, after Saturdays 1-0 victory over Macclesfield Dean Holdsworth’s men have won their last three and picked up 10 points from the last 12 available to calm any relegation fears there were around the club, this is despite having a terrible January on and off the pitch.
Prior to the win against Macclesfield they had beatenHerefordalso 1-0 and recorded a fine 2-1 win away at AFC Wimbledon.
In January as well as having some horrific results which included three straight defeats at the start of the month they also lost many players including some of their better known ones such as Luke Guttridge and Jermaine McGlashan.
Although Southend are League leaders they have not had it all their own way of late in the last four fixtures whilst Aldershot have recorded three wins and a draw, Southend have picked up seven points with two wins a draw and a loss.
The Essex club however do come into this fixture on the back of two victories with a Bilel Moshni strike being enough to see off Crewe on Saturday before a 2-1 victory away atGillinghamlive on Sky Sports last Monday.
It is expected that Holdsworth will keep faith in the men who took all three points away at Macclesfield last time out after striker Guy Madjo has recovered from a knock he received in that game.
Southend manager Paul Sturrock could also name an unchanged starting 11 from the side who won atCrewe, the only doubt is whether or not full back Luke Prosser who missed that game through illness can force his way back into the side.
This match up is intriguing as despite their League position Aldershots defence at home is not too bad only conceding 12 goals in 14 games, whilst Southend have been scoring for fun on their travels notching 34 goals in their 15 games.
On the flip side of that coin Aldershot have been shocking in front of goal at home finding the net only 11 times, whilst Southend are not exactly “as safe as houses” conceding 22 goals when away from Roots Hall.
Aldershot striker Danny Hylton will be looking to recapture his form that earned him League 2 player of the month in October, in all competitions in October he scored 7 goals in 6 fixtures but has not found the net since and has recently found himself being played wide left of just being Madjo in attack.
This is the first of three consecutive home games forAldershotwhere they will look to continue their charge towards mid table. Following this match they welcome Barnet before Morecombe are visitors to the Hampshire side.
If I was too make a prediction for tomorrows game I would go for a 2-1 win for Southend they haven’t been particularly impressive but then neither have Aldershot despite their victories, I’m also going to hazard a prediction at Bilel Moshni finding the net as he seems to score every time I watch Southend play which is incredibly for someone who is primarily a defender.
What are your thoughts? Will Aldershot be able to stop the League leaders? What is your result prediction? Can Hylton finally end his baron spell? Will Moshni add to his tally?
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