Solihull Moors V Eastleigh
Monday 26th August 2019 – 19:45 Kick-Off
English National League
Pick: Solihull Moors to WIN
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: MoPlay
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/5 | 3/1 | 41/10 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 24th August 2019 at 20:10)
Preview: High-flying Solihull Moors, who did suffer their first league defeat of the season at the weekend, welcome a struggling Eastleigh without a win in five to their Damson Park stadium in West Midlands for an England National League match that will be shown live on BT Sport.
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Solihull Moors Preview – Promotion aspirations to get back on track?
It had been an almost perfect start for the team who were unlucky to miss out on promotion last season, when finishing only three points behind the champions in second place before disappointing in the play-offs. That was until their trip to Woking at the weekend, with a 2-0 defeat putting an abrupt end to their unbeaten start. To top it off, they were also dislodged from the summit of the English National League.
Can we expect a positive response to be forthcoming? That was only their first loss of the current league campaign, so it is far from panic stations regardless. However, the signs are encouraging regarding the possibility of Solihull Moors bouncing back. Particularly with them being back at home for this Bank Holiday fixture, with their record on their own patch absolutely perfect thus far.
After three previous league games played at home, The Moors are still to drop a single point following victories over Torquay (3-0), Aldershot (2-1) and Ebbsfleet (2-1). Meanwhile, not since 26 January have the team currently managed by former England goalkeeper Tim Flowers tasted defeat on home soil, taking 24 from a possible 33 points in said fixtures in that time (W8 D3).
Furthermore, no team in the division has been as ruthless in front of goal. Solihull have netted 15 times from their five matches played so far, which is at least three more than everybody else despite drawing their fist blank on Saturday at Woking. Behind these impressive numbers are two strikers in rich veins of form, with both Paul McCallum and Nathan Blissett on four goals apiece.
Eastleigh Preview – The Spitfires to finally break their away duck?
Another team who felt the agony of missing out on promotion last season were Eastleigh, who, like their matchday opponents, fell at the semi-final stage in the play-offs. As far as similarities go, though, that is about all we have, as this was a team that could perhaps consider themselves a little fortunate to have qualified for the play-offs last time around.
Eastleigh would finish the previous league season down in seventh position, which was the final spot to award a play-off berth. The gap between them and a Solihull Moors side that finished all the way up in second place, though, was clear for all to see – not only was there a distance of twelve points separating them but their contrasting goal differences (Eastleigh with -1 while Solihull finished with +30) underscored how much less consistent Eastleigh were compared to their rivals.
The latter point has not taken long to bore out in the new season, one that begun brightly enough but has faded badly. An opening victory over Notts County, beating a team 1-0 at home that had dropped down from League Two, was the perfect start. Little did they know then what we know now, which is that they haven’t celebrated a winning outcome ever since.
A 1-1 draw at home to Dagenham & Redbridge last time out making it five games without a win. Away from home, meanwhile, they are still awaiting their first point – or even a goal scored for that matter – following earlier defeats at Yeovil Town (1-0), Barrow (2-0) and, more recently, away to Stockport Country (2-0).
Solihull Moors V Eastleigh Key Facts:
- Last season, Solihull Moors finished in second place, 12 points ahead of an Eastleigh side that finished in seventh.
- Solihull Moors have won three out of three at home so far this season, whereas Eastleigh have lost all three of their away fixtures.
- Meetings between these two in 2018-19 both ended in victory for Solihull Moors, who were 4-1 winners at home.
Betting Summary
An inspired start to the season, winning four of their last five league matches whilst scoring a bucket load of goals – three more than any other side in the entire division, in fact – means Solihull Moor are, understandably, priced up as clear favourites here. They’ve a 100% record at home so far (3 from 3) and won 8 of their last 11 at home in the league, in an unbeaten run that stretches right back to January.
With just a handful of teams currently beneath them in the league table, Eastleigh will not need reminding how poorly they have begun the new season. It is no win in five since stunning Notts County on the opening matchday, losing all three of their away fixtures without so much as scoring a goal. To compound matters, this was a fixture they lost 4-1 in last season.
In terms of starts, you cannot really get more polar opposites. Solihull have made a strong start, despite losing last time out, and should be brimming with confidence, whereas Eastleigh are a demoralised outfit currently on a four game winless run comprising of three successive away defeats. The outcome should, in theory at least, follow the form book with the hosts coming out on top.
