After three weeks away from LS20 The Lions are back at Nethermoor for the second in the space of three days as Southport make the trip to West Yorkshire on Tuesday night for a 7:45pm kick-off.
Match sponsored by: Lighthouse Risk Services LLP
Tickets for can be purchased online in advance here, tickets will also be on sale on the night at the turnstiles with payment by cash only, it is also cash payments only inside the ground for programmes, food and drink and 50/50 cash draw tickets.
The Lions are looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to York City on home soil and pick up a vital three points to move away from the dreaded dotted line, a win would be the first at home in the league since October.
The Sandgrounders meanwhile are on a great run of form, without defeat in all compeitions since 16th October and in the league since 9th October. They ended Hereford’s winning streak on Saturday at Haig Avenue to make it nine games without a defeat. In that time Southport have lifted themselves off the bottom of the table to within three points of a play off place in 12th.
Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill’s men have put together a string of good performances in the last couple of weeks and earned well deserved victories at Chester and Ashton but couldn’t find the net at Nethermoor on Saturday. The Lions are currently the joint lowest scorers in the league with 11 goals from 14 games.
Managed by Liam Watson Southport’s last visit to Nethermoor ended in a 4-2 defeat just under a year ago when Jonathan Wafula, Josh Parsons, Kaine Felix and Lebrun Mbeka found the net in an emphatic victory. It will be the first clash between the two sides at Nethermoor with fans present since March 2019.
Speaking after Saturday’s loss Joint Manager Russ O’Neill said “Gutted, there is only one word for it. It was a great goal and we had just hit the crossbar at the other end, I thought we were on the front foot. I am disappointed for the lads, that is the overiding feeling. I am massively disappointed we didn’t get something out of that game, I thought we thoroughly deserved it.”
O’Neill confirmed that Jordan Thewlis will be available for the clash with Southport with his suspension not kicking in until the trip to Brackley Town and praised his performance on Saturday. Speaking about the long term absences through injury of Kaine Felix and Andy Kellett O’Neill said “We are waiting for another scan on Kaine’s foot. Andy Kellett is back in full training so he is a maybe for Tuesday night.”
Looking ahead to Tuesday’s clash with Southport O’Neill added “I have a lot of time for the manager there, they had a sticky start but I think it mirrored ours in playing all of the full time teams and they struggled. I don’t think the Saturday, Saturday games helped both teams at the beginning, we are used to Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday to get the ahead of steam.”
“They have been on a really good run, we will be really up against it and it will be a tough game for us. We are expecting nothing less from a Liam Watson team.”
Don’t miss the final home game before Christmas and be at Nethermoor on Tuesday with kick-off at 7:45pm.
Tickets for home fans can be purchased online in advance here.
