Eastleigh welcome Gateshead to the Silverlake Stadium for an important fixture at both ends of the National League table.

After both playing on Easter Monday, this will be a quick turnaround for the two sides.

Match preview

A draw with lowly Aldershot could have been costly for Eastleigh on Monday, as their poor run of form continued.

However, they were fortunate that Bromley failed to beat Boreham Wood, meaning the Spitfires remain in the final playoff spot for now.

They still have a two-point gap over Bromley, but the draw with Aldershot was the second game running where they have dropped points to a side fighting relegation.

Losing against Torquay United on Good Friday was a very disappointing result, and their run of one win from five games is putting their promotion hopes in real jeopardy.

Playing their game in hand earlier than their closest rivals gives Eastleigh an opportunity to take the initiative and move up the standings, but they will have their work cut out despite facing a side also still in the relegation picture.

Former Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson remains in charge as a player-manager at Gateshead, and he looks set to keep them in the fifth tier after their promotion last season.

Williamson's side have picked up five successive wins in the National League to pull themselves away from danger after being in quite an ominous position not long ago.

A penalty shoot-out win over Barnet after a sensational 3-3 draw recently means they will also contest the FA Trophy final this season at the end of May.

Still with two games in hand, the Heed are six points clear of trouble now thanks to their miraculous run, and all the sides below them have just three or four games remaining.

Sitting above the goliaths of the division, Wrexham and Notts County, in the form table illustrates how brilliant their run has been.

However, they do have a daunting, marathon-like run to the end of the season, as their two games in hand mean they will have to play every midweek until the season's finale.

This is their second fixture in just over 48 hours, and overall they will have played 10 matches in a month by the end of April.

Team News

Alfie Lloyd made his first start in over a month for Eastleigh in their 3-3 draw with Aldershot on Monday.

Defender Corey Panter has not featured for the side since being sent off against Bromley in late February, with George Langston and Christian Maghoma set to start in the heart of defence.

Marcus Dinanga returned to the squad and started in Monday's win at Altrincham, but there are a fair number of players missing for Gateshead.

Elliot Forbes, Kenton Richardson, Lewis Knight, Tom Allan and Will Harris are all expected to miss out for the visitors.

Eastleigh possible starting lineup:
McDonnell; Rutherford, Maghoma, Langston, Harper; Cisse, McKiernan, Carter; Lloyd, McDonagh, Whitehall

Gateshead possible starting lineup:
Marschall; Tinkler, Storey, Pye; Pani, Wearne, Francis, Whelan, Campbell, Conteh; Dinanga

We say: Eastleigh 1-2 Gateshead

Eastleigh have been very underwhelming recently, even against sides who have not been in good form.

Nobody has beaten Gateshead in nine matches, and with the best form in the division of late to distance themselves from trouble, they could have a big say on the playoff picture with a result here.


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