- Team standings: Southend United are 2nd in the National League 2026-2027 with 20 points from 10 games – the same as 3rd-placed AFC Fylde.
- Home defence: The Shrimpers have conceded ten goals in five home games in the National League 2026-2027 (Won 3, drawn 0, lost 2).
- Away form: The Coasters have an away record in the National League 2026-2027 (Won 5, drawn 0, lost 1).
The Shrimpers can’t afford any slip-ups
Form and recent results
Southend United have the points tally of a promotion challenger in the National League 2026-2027 with 20 from ten games and have been in good form in the past five games (Won 3, drawn 1, lost 1). The home team have had some dramatic results recently with a 3-1 home win over Tamworth followed by a 6-1 road win at Gateshead and a 4-2 home loss to Barrow.
Style and key player
Kieron Dyer has his Southend side playing a front-foot, high-intensity style that can be flexible in terms of system and allows them to transition from defence to attack and vice versa with ease. Leon Chambers-Parillon leads the scoring charts in the National League 2026/2027 with five goals in nine games and is the most likely finisher for Southend on Saturday.
Fylde are flying
Craig Mahon has built his AFC Fylde side around an attack-first 4-3-3 system that has width, full backs that can overlap, and forwards who can quickly interchange. The Coasters have won three of their last five (Drawn 1, lost 1) so they come into this game looking like a dangerous team to take on at the moment.
Fylde's last two games have seen them split the points, losing 2-1 at home to Altrincham before beating Boston United 1-0 in the same week away from home. Luca Thomas has been their livewire in this run of games during which Fylde have scored nine goals, so he'll arrive at Roots Hall hot and in form.
Southend’s home advantage should see them through
Odds and tactics
The bookmakers have the home side as slight favorites here at 1.68, and that seems about right given that The Shrimpers are 2nd. This looks like a clash of Southend's organised press against Fylde's wide and direct attack, so the team that controls the midfield could have the upper hand.
- With AFC Fylde's incredible away form of 5-0-1, I'm going to take the odds of 3.82 on the draw and 4.02 on the visitors to go for it.
- I think this will be a tight game but with goals and expect Southend's recent home form of 2-0-1 to see them through to get the win.
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.4 is a small bet that fits the profiles of both teams and BTTS at 1.44 is a similar story as this should be an open, fast-paced affair.
