FC Halifax Town v Woking: Opposition focus

How have Woking been doing of late?

It’s been a very tough time for the Cards recently.

Much of that comes down to the circumstances of the league. Woking can’t get relegated, nor can they make the play-offs, so rather than spend money bringing players in or strain every sinew to get results, the focus – rightly – has been on planning for next season.

As a consequence of that approach, there have been a series of very demoralising defeats.

It’s also meant that the club have blooded a number of academy players, who have actually done pretty well.

It hasn’t helped that an awful injury crisis has hit the club, with as many as 10 players out at the moment.

With three others also absent for different reasons, that’s a huge loss for an already small, part-time squad to overcome.

What shape do they come into the game in?

Recent results have been poor, with the aforementioned reasons making the Cards brittle at the back and toothless in front of goal.

Nonetheless there have been bright spots, and Dowson will no doubt use this fixture as another chance to see what his young academy players – like Jack Skinner and Leo Hamblin – can do.

What’s their style of play, what can Halifax expect to come up against?

A typical Dowson side is one that is incredibly tough to beat, strong at set-pieces and potent in its wing play.

Those elements will still be in place, but just at a more watered-down level than usual due to the sheer number of first team regulars absent.

What are their strengths and weaknesses as a team?

Strengths are that they will always put up a fight, and the energy of Charlie Cooper and Kane Ferdinand in midfield has been good in recent weeks.

As for weaknesses, the attack has been particularly poor of late. Admittedly they have lost a lot of their goal threats, but the stand-in forwards – such as Sam Dalby and Jonte Smith – just haven’t been able to fire

What will they hope to get out of the rest of the season?

Frankly – and as Dowson has openly admitted – the club just wants the season to end. Aside from that, they do want to finish outside the relegation places so that they can say with justification that they wouldn’t have gone down even if relegation had been in place.

Injuries/suspensions?

A huge amount as mentioned, with perhaps the most important absentees being skipper Josh Casey, goalscoring midfielder Max Kretzschmar and Jamaica winger Jamar Loza

Likely line-up and formation?

My guess (4-3-3): Ross, Cook, Gerring, Diarra, Lofthouse, Cooper, Ferdinand, Freeman, Hodges, Dalby, Skinner