Vics will be looking to return to winning ways and bounce back against Blyth Spartans – a team that succumbed to a 5-1 drubbing at the Victoria Stadium just six weeks ago – after a disappointing defeat to Vauxhall Motors in midweek.

That loss followed a super performance at the Highbury Stadium to beat table toppers Fleetwood Town 3-0 in front of their own fans, their only home league defeat so far this season.

Spartans have had similar fortunes in the past week. After putting four goals without reply past play-off chasers AFC Telford United at Croft Park on Saturday, Mick Tait’s men followed that up with a 3-1 defeat away at Workington on Tuesday night.

Vics had been on an unbeaten run of 10 games away from home prior to Tuesday night’s reverse and remain as one of the most in form sides in the Blue Square North on our travels, with just three defeats in 15 away outings. Second placed Southport are the only side to have lost so few away matches so far this campaign.

But Blyth are on a run of form themselves though, particularly at home where their record matches Vics’ – they have won eight, drawn two and lost just four of their 14 matches at Croft Park. They sit five places behind Vics in 14th, but are just three points adrift with a game in hand. At home, they do have a better goal difference than Vics though, having scored one more (30) and conceded three less (19). Spartans are unbeaten in their last five home games in the league.

Former Vics attacker Paul Brayson currently tops the club’s scoring charts, and also leapfrogged Fleetwood’s Adam Warlow to go to the top of the Blue Square North chart too, after netting a brace against AFC Telford United on Saturday to take his season tally to 19.

Stike partner Ian Graham also has double figures for the campaign and currently sits 14th in the scorers chart with 10 goals. He is doubtful for tomorrow’s clash though after coming off with a thigh injury midway through the defeat to Workington on Tuesday night.

He isn’t the only injury concern for Spartans either. Midfielder Chris McCabe broke his leg a fortnight ago, defender Darren Craddock missed the Workington game with a foot injury and midfielder Michael Tait also sat out that match due to mumps. Right back Stephen Harrison meanwhile serves the final game of a three-match suspension.

Vics have recalled Mark Cadwallader from Witton Albion, after Lee Elam’s departure to Bradford Park Avenue yesterday left Preece with just 16 available players. Jonny Allan joined in the warm up at the Motassist Arena on Tuesday night, but is yet to return to full training and remains a few weeks away from being available for selection.

Andy Preece on Blyth Spartans:

"Blyth have done pretty well this season. We’ve been on a good run but we’re only three points ahead of Blyth. They’re very good at home and they’ve beaten Telford 4-0. So it will be a tough, tough game. Obviously with the way we beat them at our place, and I know their manager kept them in after the game for a while, they’ll want to put that right. It has always been a tough place to go, the crowd get behind the team and they enjoy playing at home. It’s a long way to travel and they do take advantage. If you’re not quite ready and you’re not prepared they can really do damage to teams and we’ve got to be ready for it. They’ve got some good players and we just want to make sure we give a good account of ourselves after Tuesday night."

Jonny Allan Update:

"Jonny is coming along now. He’s joined in on the warm-ups and he should definitely be in full training next week."

Team Selection:

"We haven’t picked up any fresh injuries. The only movement is that Lee Elam has left for Bradford Park Avenue. He has gone there until the end of his contract, so until the end of the season. So obviously that’s one body we’ll be short of and we could do with Jonny Allan back as soon as possible."