MATCH PREVIEW: Who will blink first

Hands up if you expected Workington to be in the bottom four of the Premier Division after four games?  Quite a few, I suspect, based on what was a tough start to the campaign.

Hands up if you thought FC United of Manchester would be in a similar position after the same number of matches?  Not many at all, having been labelled amongst the promotion favourites by ‘those in the know’.

Yet, here we are previewing the ‘bottom four derby’ with both teams going into an encounter that is shallow in history but always one eagerly anticipated when the fixtures are released in July.  The fact that both are still seeking that elusive first win of the new season probably adds kudos to Saturday’s contest at Broadhurst Park.

Broadhurst Park

Still too early to say it is a ‘must win’ game but there will be a mighty sigh of relief in whichever camp claims the three points.

Not that a win is guaranteed with the last two outings at this excellent venue resulting in a draw.   

Last season, we crossed swords three times with the honours falling in favour of Mark Beesly’s Reds.  The Borough Park league clash finished in a goalless draw (that was a first in the series) but we gave a good account of ourselves against the early season league leaders.

It was a different story when FCUM returned to Cumbria less than a month later, in October, for the first ever cup-tie between the two.  They controlled the FA Trophy qualifier from start to finish and emerged comfortable 2-0 winners.

But then, last January, we gave them a scare on what was, incredibly, a third Tuesday fixture last term.  We so nearly pinched a notable win, before a 2-0 lead was wiped out by a late United fightback.

We were still bottom of the table after that January tussle but our hosts would have gone top with a victory.

The clubs have met eight times in the NPL with Reds winning on three occasions, FC United successful twice and the other three encounters ending in draws.

They started the season with a 3-0 defeat at Warrington Rylands, the team they lost to in last season’s play-offs, obtained a point from a home draw against Leek Town (1-1), were then comprehensively beaten by Gainsborough Trinity (0-3) and lost last Tuesday at Hyde United (0-1).

Both teams seem to be suffering a hangover after the events of last season and it will be interesting to see who blinks first on Saturday.

Billy Barr will welcome Kai Nugent back into the squad after the midfielder served his one match suspension.

Venue: Broadhurst Park, Moston, Manchester.

Postcode: M40 0FJ

Mileage: 139

Kick-off: 3pm