Gloucester City take on Leamington for the second time in a week as they welcome the Brakes to the TigerTurf Stadium on New Year's day.
After a 1-1 draw at the New Windmill Ground on Boxing Day, the Tigers will be hoping to kickstart 2023 with three points in this National League North encounter.
Read more as we preview the traditional Boxing Day/New Year clash against today’s opponents.
Form
After two afternoons to forget against Darlington and Gateshead, Steven King’s side picked up a point on their travels against this afternoon’s opposition.
Matt McClure put City ahead early on, before Dan Turner equalised for the hosts just before halftime.
The draw steadies the ship for City as they stay in 11th place in the league table, while Leamington are six points behind in 14th.
It would be a welcomed point for Gloucester after a mini blip which has seen them lose three of the last four games.
Leamington were also knocked out of the FA Trophy prior to Boxing Day, as they were defeated by Tamworth.
While they would have been pleased with coming from behind, Monday’s result sees the Brakes’ winless run in the league stretch to nine. They are also yet to win on the road this campaign.
The opposition
Leamington are coming off a 15th place finish last season in what was their fifth consecutive season in the National League North.
After battling relegation in in 2017/18, it’s been mid-table finishes ever since for Paul Holleran’s team. They have tasted cup success, however, winning the Birmingham Senior Cup back in May.
Despite their sluggish form of late, they can look back on their fast start as the reason they maintain a healthy gap from the relegation zone. A league high 12 draws have halted their ability to push up towards the top half, though.
City will know all about the threat of former League Two forward Turner, who took his goal tally to six in Monday’s fixture.
They will also need to find a way past goalkeeper Callum Hawkins, who has kept eight clean sheets this season while on loan from Burton Albion.
Manager Holleran has been a stalwart at the club, having been in the role since 2009.
Past meetings
26 December 2022: Leamington 1-1 Gloucester City – National League North
2 January 2022: Leamington 0-1 Gloucester City – National League North
26 December 2021: Gloucester City 0-0 Leamington – National League North
2 January 2021: Leamington 1-1 Gloucester City – National League North
26 December 2020: Gloucester City 1-0 Leamington – National League North
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