Boro look to halt poor away form at high-flying Basford

Boro will definitely be without midfielder Chris Dawson and defender Isaac Assenso at Basford due to injury, while Josh Barrett is unlikely to be fit in time for the match.

Fourth-placed Basford, who are managed by former Nottingham Forest defender Steve Chettle, are pushing hard for a play-off spot, but their home form has been patchy of late, their latest result being a 2-0 home loss against struggling Buxton last Saturday.

United could be without skipper Matt Thornhill as he limped off injured just eight minutes of the Buxton game.

Centre-back Brad Gascoigne and midfielder James Reid are set to return from injury, while striker Zak Goodson has returned from a loan spell at from Newark.

United have only won one of their previous four home games, but Boro have also been very poor on the road having suffered eight defeats in their last 10 away games and only two victories.

When the two teams met in the reverse fixture on Tuesday October 1 they played out a 1-1 draw.

James Walshaw put Boro, who were then managed by John Deacey, in front at the Flamingo Land Stadium after only 24 minutes but Basford earned a point thanks Nat Watson's effort 19 minutes from time.