Following on from Saturday’s disappointment at Boreham Wood, Southport find themselves on the road again on Tuesday to visit Chester.

The previous meeting between the sides came in the fourth round qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup and kick-started the Sandgrounders’ surge that has seen them climb out of the relegation zone.

For Chester it seems to have had the opposite effect. Since that defeat in the middle of October the Blues have not won a game, although they have proved themselves to be very adept at draws – four of their last five matches have seen the points shared, including Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Bromley.

Chester will be without club captain and former Sandgrounder Luke George for Tuesday’s clash as he is three games in to a six match ban for violent conduct. His presence and edge in the midfield will be especially missed as this area has been Southport’s great strength of late.

His absence will be a huge boost for the away side led by former Chester manager Steve Burr, who will need no introduction to George’s capabilities having taken him to the Deva Stadium in the summer of 2015.

Burr’s two most recent signings at the Merseyrail Community Stadium, Ruben Jerome and Ben McKenna, will be hoping to demonstrate their credentials to their new boss and fans, and there wouldn’t be many better times to make an impact than in a clash with as much meaning as this.

With Burr having shown his eye for a signing from the very beginning of his stint as Southport manager, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if either of these two were to decide where the points head.

By Christy Byrne.

source www.southportfc.net