Looking to distance themselves from the trouble at the bottom of the league standings, Woking will welcome Gateshead to the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Tuesday night in the National League.
The Cardinals have suffered back-to-back defeats at the beginning of the calendar year, while Gateshead come into this clash following a thrilling match in the FA Trophy.
Match preview
Having been knocked out of the FA Trophy at the third-round stage last month, Woking have been afforded more than a week to mull over a 3-0 loss at promotion-chasing Solihull Moors on January 6, when James Clarke, Callum Maycock and Mark Beck all found the net for the West Midlands side.
The Cardinals kicked off the New Year with a defeat at the Laithwaite Community Stadium despite goals from Rhys Browne and Reece Grego-Cox, with Tommy Widdrington's Aldershot Town arriving in Surrey and escaping with maximum points to put the hosts under further pressure at the bottom.
Woking currently occupy 20th place in the National League standings, ahead of 21st-placed Ebbsfleet United due to their superior goal difference, and just seven points ahead of Kidderminster Harriers, who have struggled enormously on their return to this level following a seven-year absence.
Only the Black Country Harriers have netted fewer goals than the Cardinals' 28 during the fifth-tier campaign to date, with Michael Doyle's men netting just 13 in as many matches in front of their home supporters at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.
No side in the division has collected fewer points on home soil than Woking in the National League during 2023-24, with their last home success in the league coming via a 2-0 scoreline over Dorking Wanderers on August 28, when Ricky Korboa and Dennon Lewis made the net ripple.
Gateshead booked their spot in the fifth round of the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon by defeating National League South strugglers Weston Super Mare at Gateshead International Stadium, although the fifth-tier hosts had to rely on penalty kicks to secure their passage into the next stage.
Strikes either side of the half-time break from Louis Storey and Marcus Dinanga cancelled out Dayle Grubb's opener and looked set to put the Tynesiders through, but a 93rd-minute equaliser from Lloyd Humphries for 10-man Super Mare forced the contest to be decided from 12 yards, where Gateshead held their nerve to win 4-3.
Despite making admirable progress in the FA Trophy recently, Robert Elliot's men have begun to stutter severely in the National League, collecting just the single point from their last three matches, including a 5-0 thrashing at league leaders Chesterfield last Wednesday.
Following a comfortable 14th-placed finish on their return to this level after winning National League North in 2021-22, Gateshead are making a serious push for the playoffs this campaign, with Tuesday's visitors sitting eighth in the league table, one point behind Rochdale in seventh.
The North-East club have fared admirably on their travels this season, earning 21 points from 13 National League outings, and the Cardinals' last four wins across all competitions - within 90 minutes - have arrived away from Gateshead International Stadium, including a 5-1 demolition of Rochdale in the FA Trophy on December 12.
Team News
Woking recently announced that Alfie Pavey has secured a loan switch to Braintree Town for the remainder of the season, so the 28-year-old will not be around to help his parent club secure safety.
Dion Kelly-Evans is set for his Cardinals debut on Tuesday night, with the right-back becoming the club's first January arrival after moving from Banbury United.
As leading marksman Grego-Cox looks to bag his seventh of the term against Gateshead, he should be joined up front by Irish veteran Padraig Amond.
After appearing from the bench in the loss at Chesterfield, youngster Oliver Thompson produced a stellar performance against Super Mare and could be rewarded with a league start on Tuesday.
Twelve-goal forward Dinanga will hope to be the main source of invention for the visitors in an attacking sense, and he should be partnered with Stephen Wearne in the front line.
Woking possible starting lineup:
Andre; Cuthbert, Moss, Osew, Habergham; Akinola, Amond, Bradshaw, Kellerman; Wilkinson, Browne
Gateshead possible starting lineup:
Beach; Booty, Richardson, Storey, Hunter, Stott; Hannant, Hasani, Jobe; Wearne, Dinanga
We say: Woking 1-2 Gateshead
Woking did not produce the performance required to live with Solihull Moors last time out, and the hosts are set for a difficult evening on Tuesday.
Gateshead were deserved victors in the FA Trophy on the weekend, and we are backing them to collect another win in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
