The Mariners finish 2023 with an away trip to the Peninsula Stadium to face manager-less Salford City on Friday night.
Following back-to-back league defeats Town will be looking to finish the year with their first away win of the campaign against Salford which would also be the first league double over any opponent this season.
Team News
Rekeil Pyke, Arthur Gnahoua and Alex Hunt all went off injured in the Boxing Day defeat at Mansfield however, David Artell doesn’t believe these injuries are too serious and is hopeful all three will feature on Friday.
Donovan Wilson is still pushing for a return to the matchday squad, a late fitness test will decide whether the forward returns to the squad before the end of the calendar year.
Salford City
On Wednesday morning Salford parted company with head coach Neil Wood who had been in charge for the last 18 months, in that time he led The Ammies to their highest ever Sky Bet League Two position last term.
Assistant Coach Simon Wiles will be taking interim charge of the club and will be in the dugout on Friday night.
Salford’s recent history has been well documented since their 2014 takeover by members of the Manchester United ‘Class of 92’, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Ryan Giggs are all part of the clubs ownership structure.
Managed by now Bradford City manager Graham Alexander the club made history reaching the Football League for the first time in their history in 2019, thanks in part to a goal from former Mariner Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in a 3-0 win over AFC Fylde in the Play-Off Final.
In the 2019/20 season the Ammies made it to the EFL Trophy Final, COVID-19 initially curtailed the final, it was however re-arranged for 2021, a 0-0 draw meant penalties would be needed, Salford won the tie 4-2 on penalties to win the competition.
Last season Salford finished seventh in the table and faced Stockport County in the play-offs, despite leading by a goal to nil in the first leg, Stockport came back to win on penalties after the game ended 2-2 on aggregate.
Friday’s hosts are a point below the Mariners and two places worse off going into the game.
The previous meeting between the two sides in August saw Town come away with a two-nil win thanks to a brace from Abo Eisa, that the first win of the season.
Form
Salford are without a win in their last eight league games losing five and drawing four, their previous two fixtures have ended in defeats losing 2-1 away at Colchester and 1-5 against Tranmere on Boxing Day.
With just two wins at home in eleven games Salford have struggled for form at the Peninsula Stadium, they have lost three of their last five at home drawing the other two.
Matt Smith is the club’s leading goal scorer with fifteen goals this season in all competitions, Smith is the joint third top goalscorer in the division.
David Artell’s side are without a win in three and are still chasing a first away win of the season.
Prior to the Boxing Day defeat against Mansfield, Town had drawn all three of their previous away games in the league.
Coverage
UK and overseas supporters will be able to watch Friday’s match against Salford City on Mariners TV with match passes available for £10 – they are available HERE.
UTM
