- League standing: Southend are 3rd in the National League 2026/2027 with 27 points from 13 matches, Halifax are 10th with 20 points.
- Home form: Southend have 4 wins and 2 losses from 6 home games in the National League 2026/2027, averaging 2.17 goals per game on their own patch.
Southend have the Shaymen’s number
Southend are the odds-on favourites here at 1.62, with the draw 3.92 and Halifax 4.28. That's not a bad price on the home side, but I'll play it safe and go with the both teams to score: yes option at 1.5 here, as this looks a good fit between a possession side and a transition team.
Southend's style
Kieron Dyer has Southend playing with high-intensity possession, they are an exciting team to watch because they play with real intensity in possession, they have a structured press when out of possession and they have the width of two hard-running fullbacks and two attacking wingers.
Halifax's approach
Halifax will have to be careful not to get caught at the back if they try to sit off and wait for their turns as they are very adept at counter-attacking football. John McGrath has his team set up in a direct 4-2-3-1 formation, where they press high up in the early stages and look to make quick transitions when they win the ball back.
The Shaymen have beaten Solihull Moors 2-0 and Gateshead 4-1 in the National League 2026/2027 either side of a 3-2 win over South Shields in FA Cup Qualification 2026. They may have an edge in form, but Southend have their measure in this fixture, as they have won 5 of the last 5, including a 6-2 away win in National League 2025/2026.
Southend have 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in their last 5 matches and have won back-to-back games coming into this one. They look the more likely winners here, but I wouldn't expect Halifax to allow Southend to run away with it as they have plenty of bite at both ends, so I'm tipping BTTS: Yes.
- Leon Chambers-Parillon has been their sharpest shooter this season, the former Tottenham youth player has scored 6 in 11 National League 2026/2027 games and has the pace to get on the end of things.
- Zak Gilsenan is their most predatory player, the former Cheltenham player has 4 goals in 9 National League 2026/2027 appearances and can be a real handful for opposing defenders.
- Halifax will be in good spirits heading into Saturday's clash as they have three wins in a row and have been in good form since the middle of August, winning 3, drawing 1 and losing 1 of their last five matches.
