“Wimbledon are on the verge of the very competitive automatic promotion places, as they have been for many weeks now, and they know that they need to keep up the pace to try and solidify one of those top three places.

Wimbledon have the 3rd best home record in the competition, winning 39 points from 19 matches so far. Barrow actually have the 3rd worst away record, with only 13 points from 19 away matches.

Barrow did pull off a shock away win at Notts County recently, but we know that Wimbledon also beat Notts County themselves only last week. Wimbledon won the reverse fixture 3-1 and can get another win over Barrow on the board here.”

“Port Vale currently occupy a playoff spot and remain in contention for automatic promotion, sitting just two points off the top three. While their recent form has been mixed (W1, D3, L1 in their last five), back-to-back home fixtures provide a major boost to their push for League One football next season.

Their 3-0 home victory last Saturday reinforced their dominance at Vale Park, where they are unbeaten in eight straight league games (W5, D3) and have lost just once in their last 15 home matches (W9, D5) since Round 4.

Morecambe, by contrast, are staring down the barrel of relegation, sitting six points adrift of safety before this round. Their away form is dire – seven straight league defeats on the road, eight in all competitions, and just one win in their last six league games (D1, L4).

Not only have they shipped 15 goals across their last eight away games, but scoring just two in response emphasises their struggles. While Port Vale have won just four of the last seven head-to-head encounters, their home advantage is significant.

The last three meetings at Vale Park have all seen the hosts prevail, underlining the challenge facing Morecambe as they fight to keep their season alive.”

“The Shots are in fantastic form, having won five of their last six games to take them up into 14th position and away from the relegation conversation.

It has not been an easy run of games either, as apart from Tuesday nights opponents Maidenhead, all the teams they had beaten were above them in the table at the time of facing them.

Their opponents on Saturday are Ebbsfleet, the side anchored to the bottom of the table. In midweek, they won just their second game of the entire season, with a single goal victory over 23rd place Fylde. Their only other win came way back in September at home to Hartlepool.

For the keen eyes amongst you, you will have noted that those stats mean no zero away wins for Ebbsfleet. They have picked up just five draws from their 19 games. Aldershot should have enough to beat Ebbsfleet in their current form.”