Why should I watch..?

To get a steer on where improving Witton Albion stand in relation to one of the best teams in the Northern Premier League’s Premier Division.

They enter Christmas on the back of their longest unbeaten run in the top-flight this season, a sequence they extended to five matches with a win at Hednesford on Saturday.

It lifted Carl Macauley’s men to 14th place in the table, and they still have plenty of games in hand.

Warrington make a short journey to Northwich buoyed by collecting maximum points from their past four matches, including a last-gasp victory against Buxton last weekend.

Yellows have also fared well at Wincham Park on recent visits, including a come-from-behind success on Boxing Day last season when substitute Tony Gray scored a decisive goal late on.

What they’ve said

“Warrington are so strong defensively, something you can see from their results – they don’t concede many goals at all.

“That paints a picture of how compact they are off the ball and they make it difficult for opponents to break through.

“They’ve been picking up points recently too and that’s why they find themselves where they are in the table.”

Carl Macauley, Witton Albion manager

Numbers game

These two teams boast the best defensive records in the Northern Premier League’s top-flight; Warrington have conceded only 10 goals to date, while Albion have let in 20.

It’s an important afternoon for…

Albion’s attack

Warrington’s defence is officially the most difficult to breach in the Northern Premier League’s top-flight.

Paul Carden’s men have shut out the opposition in a dozen of their 20 Premier Division fixtures to date, while Witton are the next best with eight to their name.

Finding a way to score will be a difficult task for the home team.

Witton team news

Danny McKenna (ankle) is definitely out, while Chris Noone was missed the weekend trip to Hednesford Town because of an injury.

Long-term absentee Nick Ryan has resumed light training, but remains unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Michael Wilson has completed a transfer to Clitheroe after the Blues sent to Albion a seven-day notice of approach.

Form guide (past six league games)

Witton W W D D W L

Warrington W W W W D L

Disciplinary

Witton Y41 R2

Warrington Y42 R2

Last season’s meetings

Warrington 2-2 Witton (April 2, 2018)

Witton 1-2 Warrington (December 26, 2017)

Remember when…

Warrington visited Wincham Park last season?

Witton manoeuvred themselves into a winning position by the break thanks to Will Jones' opening goal.

Yellows started meekly, playing with a lone striker despite the home team's defence being shorn of three regulars and with Joel Bembo-Leta making his debut after signing on Christmas Eve.

Paul Carden sent on Tony Gray as an interval substitute though, and the striker's introduction changed the game.

The Guardian was there, and this is how we reported it: Witton 1-2 Warrington: match report

Odds (Betfred)

Witton 7/5

Draw 5/2

Warrington 6/4

Essential information

When Wednesday, December 26

Kick-off 3pm                                         

Address Wincham Park, Chapel Street, Wincham, Northwich CW9 6DA

Admission Adults £10, Concessions £7, Under 21s £5, Under 16s £2

Parking Available for free at the ground