Southport face Darlington at The Pure Stadium, Southport, Merseyside on Tuesday, Jan 26 at 8:45 PM in a basement battle that neither side can afford to lose. Both clubs are deep in the relegation picture in the National League – North, and defeat here could prove costly come the end of the season.

Southport come into this fixture struggling badly (1W 3L in last 5). Darlington travel struggling badly (0W 3L in last 5), which may hand the initiative to the hosts.

Despite playing at home, Southport face a side that has dominated this fixture historically. Darlington have won 5 of 10 encounters, with 3 draws. Their last encounter ended in a 2–2 draw.

Verdict: This looks an evenly matched contest. Home advantage gives Southport a slight edge, but Darlington are capable of causing problems. A draw would be a fair result.