Why should I watch..?

To see how both teams respond to disappointing results in midweek.

Witton went down 2-1 to Mickleover, their first home defeat of the campaign, while Workington bowed out of the FA Cup following a replay loss after extra-time at Kidsgrove.

Albion have found points harder to come by on their travels this term, losing four of their six Premier Division fixtures away from Wincham Park, while their hosts on Saturday are unbeaten in the league in front of their own supporters.

Carl Macauley’s men endured mixed fortunes on two visits to Borough Park last season, returning frustrated after Connor Tinnion’s late leveller denied them a victory in league before they crashed out of the FA Trophy following a 4-0 hammering at the end of October.

What they’ve said

“We have two home games coming up and we need to come up with two wins.

“That’s our responsibility and Lee [Andrews] and I will be looking for a positive response against Witton on Saturday.”

Dave Hewson, Workington co-manager

“We’ve one or two things to consider, including whether we rotate the squad more than we have done.

“Our style of play demands a high level of energy and intensity, and with two long away trips – one 48 hours after the other – we have to be even more wary of that.

“We salvaged something on Tuesday by keeping a clean-sheet in the second-half and showing a bit of pride and fight to try and pinch a point.

“That gave us some positives to take after such a poor first-half performance.”

Carl Macauley, Witton Albion manager

Numbers game

Witton haven’t lost three successive Northern Premier League matches in more than a year – coincidentally also a run that featured a home defeat against Mickleover

Witton team news

Carl Macauley will wait until the last possible moment to decide on the involvement of midfielder Cesaire (hamstring) and full-back Matty Devine (thigh) after they both sat out Tuesday’s game.

Tom Owens (hand) and Nick Ryan (leg) are long-term absentees.

It’s an important afternoon for…

The whole Witton Albion team

After winning only one of their past seven matches in the Northern Premier League, Carl Macauley’s men find themselves 16th in the table.

That sequence has been interrupted by eye-catching successes in the FA Cup against Spennymoor Town and FC United of Manchester that have taken them to the brink of an appearance in the first round proper.

However a midweek defeat at home to Mickleover, who had previously collected only two points from 21 on offer this season, was a disappointment.

With a trip to Basford United looming on Monday, they’ll want to head into next weekend’s fourth qualifying round encounter with Solihull with a couple of positive results.

Form guide (past six in league)

Workington D L D L L W

Witton L L W D L D

Last season’s meetings

Witton 1-0 Workington (October 10, 2017)

Workington 1-1 Witton (August 22, 2017)

Odds (Bet Victor)

Workington 7/5

Draw 12/5

Witton 9/5

Essential information

When Saturday, October 13

Kick-off 3pm

Address Borough Park, Workington, Cumbria CA14 2DT

Admission Adults £10, Concessions £5, Under 17s £1, Accompanied under 12s Free