Why should I watch..?

Witton Albion’s response to the disappointment of losing heavily in the FA Trophy at Workington last weekend will be fascinating.

They were better than a 4-0 score-line suggests, although a sequence of five successive defeats away from home in the Northern Premier League is a cause for concern.

They travel to the West Midlands without suspended captain Anthony Brown too.

Hosts Stourbridge are attempting to recover as well from losing star striker Jordan Archer, who has joined Chester, and fellow attacker Devarn Green to Tranmere Rovers.

Their replacements, Kyle Perry and Luke Shearer, were both on target in a 4-0 thrashing of Sutton Coldfield in midweek.

That helped put behind them successive defeats on home turf against neighbours Halesowen and Grantham.

What they’ve said

“It’s never easy having to change style and personnel, but we’ve had to find solutions pretty quickly.

“Our new players will take time to settle, but I’m happy with what we’ve been able to do.

“We were quietly efficient in what we did against Sutton Coldfield [in midweek], and the most pleasing thing is that there is more to come.”

Gary Hackett, Stourbridge manager

“This group has shown in the past that it has a knack of bouncing back quickly after a defeat – something they’ve done time and again.

“I expect this weekend to be no different, and a chance to test ourselves against an opponent like Stourbridge is why we fought so hard to be promoted last season.”

Gary Martindale, Witton Albion assistant manager

Numbers game

Witton have proven to be frail on their travels recently, losing their past five Premier Division matches away from home

Witton team news

Witton have recruited teenage attacking midfielder Owen Dale from Crewe Alexandra on a month-long loan.

He arrives to bolster a squad that will be without injured full-back Matty Devine (hamstring) and suspended captain Anthony Brown.

Danny McKenna (calf) and Michael Wilson (ribs) are hopeful they can both return to action after sitting out last weekend’s FA Trophy defeat at Workington.

Man to keep an eye on

Nick Ryan

With captain Anthony Brown unavailable to play while he serves a one-match ban, responsibility to marshal Albion’s defence falls upon the former Stalybridge man.

He is likely to come against Kyle Perry, a new recruit for the Glassboys, and their physical – and aerial – duel may be one of the most important for Witton to win.

Form guide (past six in league)

Stourbridge W L L W W D

Witton L W W L L L

Most recent meetings

Witton 2-1 Stourbridge (NPL Premier, March 3 2015)

Stourbridge 3-0 Witton (NPL Premier, January 3 2015)

Odds

Stourbridge 8/11

Draw 11/4

Witton 11/4

Essential information

When Saturday, November 4

Kick-off 3pm

Address War Memorial Athletic Ground, High Street, Amblecote, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4HN

Admission Adults £10, OAPs £7, Under 18s £5, Armed Forces personnel and accompanied under 13s Free

Parking None for spectators at the ground