Opposition NOTES- WINCHESTER City

Winchester lie just three points above the relegation zone in the Southern Premier Division South and hopinhg to improve on a run of one win in five that has seen them looking over their shoulders.

After finishing directly in the middle of the pack last season, the Citizens remain in severe relegation danger currently sitting in 15th place in the table, three clear of Poole Town who are in the last relegation spot.

What may be City's saving grace is their away form that has made up of five of their eight wins in the league and 18 of their 32 points that they have picked up.

This strong away form has them in eight place in the away form chart, although that has taken a downward turn recently having lost three in a row on their travels in a 4-2 defeat against Walton and Hersham, going down 2-0 to Basingstoke Town and losing to Dorchester Town.

In their 14 away games so far this season, the Hampshire based side have a record five wins, three draws and six defeats this season with a negative goal difference of minus one having scored 21 goals and conceded 22.

This is much stronger than their home form at the City Ground where they have the third worst record with 14 points from their 15 games including seven defeats, one of those being City when they defeated Winchester back in October 4-2.

After Brandon Smalley gave City the lead in the reverse fixture after rounding keeper Luke Cairney, Winchester had turned the game around to go 2-1 in front before King Baidoo then equalised to draw the scores level at the interval.

Baidoo would score again in a rollercoaster encounter before top scorer Joe Hanks put the game to bed for a crucial City away win that kept them at the top of the table.

The Citizens main danger man to look out for Ik Hill who scored in the reverse fixture, one of 14 goals that the 24 year old wideman has scored this season.

His goals will be crucial for the away side to survive relegation this season and make a push further up the Southern Premier Division this season.

Goals have not been the primary concern for long serving manager Craig Davis's side this season, it is the wobbly defence that has dented their hopes of another mid-table finish and instead has them worrying about the form of Frome Town.

Only the bottom two sides in the division, Chertsey Town, Plymouth Parkway and Swindon Supermarine have conceded more than the 52 goals that City have conceded in the league this season, and their defensive frailties could be the nail in their coffin.

Winchester have six clean sheets in their 29 matches this season, but only one of those have come in their last 11 matches which was in their most recent win which was against mid-table Swindon Supermarine.

After securing a mid table finish last season, Winchester will be hoping that they can pull away from the relegation zone and close up to the middle of the pack.

Despite losing their last three on the road their stronger away form compared to home form should give them hope that they can get a result on Saturday against the Tigers and build some much needed momentum and belief.