Exeter City host Northampton Town in League One this weekend, with the Grecians looking to climb above the Cobblers in the table.
Heading into the weekend, just one point separates the two clubs in the standings, with both sides sitting dangerously close to the drop zone in 17th and 18th.
Match preview
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The hosts have notably struggled for form since the turn of the year, with their recent triumph over rock-bottom Cambridge United the only success they have had in the league in 2025.
Gary Caldwell's side have won just once in their last 10 league matches, conceding a whopping 26 goals and losing seven times during that run.
Letting goals in has been a major issue for Exeter this season, as they have shipped 49 goals in 31 games so far this year, one of the worst records in the division.
Last time out, the Grecians failed to build momentum from their 1-0 win over Cambridge, as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat away to Charlton Athletic.
Despite claiming the majority of their 35 points on home soil, the hosts still have one of the worst home records in the division, with only three sides performing worse on their own patch, and all three of those teams currently occupy a place in the relegation zone.
They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 10 home games in all competitions, which is a major reason why they are struggling to get results in front of their own fans.
Exeter will be aiming to get some revenge on Northampton this weekend, as the visitors claimed all three points when the teams met back in August, when goals from Callum Morton and Cameron McGeehan completed the comeback for the Cobblers, after they fell behind to Tristan Crama's opener.
With games in hand over teams above and below them in the standings due to their excellent FA Cup run that saw them bow out on penalties to Nottingham Forest in the fourth round, Exeter could climb up the table with a few positive results.
Despite having the luxury of games in hand, Exeter are only three points clear of danger in the table, with the visitors just one point above them, having played two more games.
If the hosts can win this weekend and then get some momentum going, they can alleviate any fears of falling into the relegation zone and potentially improve on their previous two finishes of 14th and 13th in the division.
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Northampton's victory back in August was the first win of the campaign for the Cobblers, and the visitors have found it difficult to string together a run of victories all season.
They won just two league matches in 16 attempts between October 29 and the beginning of February, but this month has been a positive one for Kevin Nolan's side, with the Cobblers claiming nine points out of a possible 15.
Nolan has been in charge at Sixfields Stadium since December, after Northampton's previous manager Jon Brady resigned earlier that month.
The Cobblers have won four times under Nolan and they have claimed three draws from his 12 matches in charge to date, and he has already helped to improve what was a wretched away record at the club.
Until Nolan's arrival, their only league away win this season was a 3-1 success against Huddersfield Town back in September, but the former West Ham United midfielder has guided his side to two wins and two draws in their six away games with him in charge.
Their two road victories under Nolan came against two sides involved in the relegation battle in League One, as Northampton secured vital 1-0 wins against both Burton Albion and Mansfield Town.
Those triumphs were further evidence of the progress that the visitors are making under Nolan, as they managed to keep clean sheets in both those games, despite conceding 50 goals so far this season in the league.
Scoring goals has also been an issue for the visitors, as they have netted on average less than a goal a game, with 32 goals in 33 games.
Having won those close away encounters with fellow relegation rivals in recent memory, the visitors will fancy their chances of repeating those triumphs this weekend, as long as they can find a breakthrough themselves.
Team News
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The hosts have several injury concerns ahead of this match, as Pierce Sweeney is a doubt with a calf injury.
In further blows for Exeter, Yanic Wildschut (cruciate), Jack Fitzwater (hamstring) and Johnly Yfeko (hamstring) are also out, while Jay Bird has left the club this week to join Rochdale on loan for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be without both of their goalscorers in the reverse fixture back in August, as Morton is out of this game due to injury and McGeehan is suspended.
Elsewhere, Patrick Brough (leg) is not expected to feature for Nolan's side this weekend, while Tyler Roberts and Ali Koiki could be in the squad following recent injuries.
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; MacDonald, Hartridge, McMillan, Harper; Colwill, Francis, Niskanen; Trevitt, Magennis, Watts
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; Odimayo, Dyche, McGowan, Guinness-Walker; Pinnock, Taylor, Shaw, Hoskins; Fosu, Costelloe
We say: Exeter City 0-1 Northampton Town
The visitors will fancy their chances this weekend against an Exeter side that have not performed well at home throughout this campaign.
They will miss the presence of their top scorer McGeehan, but we still think that they can secure a narrow win here to boost their survival hopes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
