Oxford City are looking for an upset against Leicester
Eighth-tier Stafford Rangers host Grimsby
Stockport head to seventh-tier Cray Wanderers
The first round of the FA Cup takes place from Friday to Monday and there are several teams who will be hoping to cause an upset.
Oxford City vs Leicester – Friday, November 6 (7.45pm)
Key stats
Oxford City have lost just one of their last nine fixtures
Leicester have won three of their last five matches
The Foxes are in League One, three divisions above National League North side Oxford
Recommended bet
Team News
Leicester are without Ben Nelson, Jayden Joseph and Jakub Stolarczyk due to injury while manager Russell Martin hinted a couple players will not feature because of the artificial surface at The MGroup Stadium.
Need to Know
Three divisions and 63 places separate Oxford City and Leicester, with the hosts second in the National League North and the Foxes 10th in League One.
Leicester, who won the FA Cup in 2021, are appearing in round one of this competition for the first time since the 2008-09 edition.
Score Prediction: Oxford City 1-3 Leicester (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Barnsley vs Aldershot – Saturday, November 7 (3pm)
Key stats
Barnsley are 23rd in the League One table
Aldershot are 14th in the National League, two tiers below the Tykes
Aldershot have lost four of their last five away matches
Recommended bet
Team News
Ben Hamed Toure and Fabio Jalo remain sidelined for Barnsley, who could also be without Tobi Adeyemo after he picked up a knock last Saturday.
Conor Lawless will need to be assessed for Aldershot after he was forced off in the first-half of last weekend's win over Gateshead.
Need to Know
Barnsley are struggling in League One, winning just two of their 12 matches and collecting nine points to leave them in the relegation zone.
But the Tykes should still have enough quality to overcome Aldershot, who have won just two of their last eight away games and are in the bottom half of the National League.
Score Prediction: Barnsley 2-1 (23/4 with LiveScore Bet)
Boreham Wood vs Wigan – Saturday, November 7 (3pm)
Key stats
Boreham Wood are top of the National League (W14 D2)
Wigan are 21st in League One, leaving them a point from safety
Boreham Wood are on a six-game winning streak at home
Recommended bet
Team News
Jay Bird may drop to the bench for Boreham Wood, with Matt Rush expected to take his place.
Wigan are without Dara Costelloe because of a groin injury and there are doubts over Scott Hogan, who was forced off during Tuesday's draw with Mansfield.
Need to Know
Boreham Wood are unbeaten in the National League this season, collecting 44 points from 16 matches, and they could be facing Wigan in League Two next term if they continue this sparkling form and the Latics fail to turn things around in League One.
The Wood have won six home games in a row, scoring at least three times in all of those victories.
Score Prediction: Boreham Wood 3-0 Wigan (9/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Carlisle vs Salford – Saturday, November 7 (3pm)
Key stats
Carlisle are on a seven-game unbeaten run (W6 D1)
Salford have won eight League Two matches in a row
Both teams have scored in the last five meetings between these two at Brunton Park
Recommended bet
Team News
Teddy Jenks is a doubt for Carlisle after picking up a knock against Altrincham last weekend.
Salford could be without Luke Molyneux, who was forced off against Exeter with an injury on Saturday.
Need to Know
Goals have not been an issue for either side heading into this contest, with Carlisle scoring 16 goals across their seven-game unbeaten streak and Salford notching 18 times during their eight-match winning run in League Two.
Three of the last four meetings between these two clubs have produced four or more goals.
Score Prediction: Carlisle 2-2 Salford (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Eastleigh vs Shrewsbury – Saturday, November 7 (3pm)
Key stats
Eastleigh have won three of their last five home matches
Shrewsbury have the fifth-worst defensive record in League Two, conceding 22 goals
The Shrews are unbeaten in their last three away games
Recommended bet
Team News
Eastleigh defender Temi Eweka has undergone surgery after suffering multiple facial fractures against Barrow and is unavailable.
Jack Price could make his first appearance for Shrewsbury since August after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Need to Know
There have been a total of 15 goals in Eastleigh’s last three home matches, with over 3.5 goals landing in each of those contests.
Shrewsbury’s last three away games have also provided entertainment, with a 2-1 win over Grimsby followed by a 3-2 victory against Crawley and a 3-3 draw at Rotherham.
Score Prediction: Eastleigh 3-2 Shrewsbury (16/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Hornchurch vs Blackpool – Saturday, November 7 (3pm)
Key stats
Hornchurch have won seven and lost nine of their 16 National League games
Blackpool have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 matches
The Tangerines are 19th in League One, just one point above the drop zone
Recommended bet
Team News
Will Greenidge picked up a knock in Hornchurch's defeat to Fylde last weekend and he will need to be assessed.
Blackpool defender Fraser Horsfall's ankle problem has flared up again and he misses out as he prepares to see a specialist.
Need to Know
Blackpool have struggled at the back, keeping just one clean sheet in 12 games, and they may find it tough to keep out Hornchurch, who are on a seven-game scoring run at home.
But the Tangerines should have enough quality in their ranks to overcome the hosts, who have lost their last three National League matches.
Score Prediction: Hornchurch 1-3 Blackpool (15/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Kidderminster vs Doncaster – Saturday, November 7 (3pm)
Key stats
Kidderminster have gone eight games without a win in the National League
Doncaster are 20th in League One, one place and a point above the relegation zone
There have been a total of 21 goals in Doncaster’s last five away matches
Recommended bet
Team News
Kidderminster are expected to be without the injured trio of Zak Brown, Callum Dolan and Connor Mahoney.
Will Keane is sidelined for Doncaster with a calf issue and James Collins is not fit enough to be involved.
Need to Know
Kidderminster have been sliding down the National League table over the last couple of months, with their last league win coming in mid-September.
Doncaster have won two of their last four games, most recently triumphing 4-1 at Rochdale, and they should have enough quality in their ranks to edge this one.
Score Prediction: Kidderminster 1-2 Doncaster (27/5 with LiveScore Bet)
Altrincham vs Notts County – Saturday, November 7 (5.30pm)
Key stats
Altrincham are two games without a win in the National League
Notts County are on a three-match unbeaten run (W2 D1)
The last two wins for the Magpies have been by 2-0 scorelines
Recommended bet
Team News
Altrincham duo Jimmy Knowles and on-loan forward Leo Farrell are both out until the New Year.
Notts County have a clean bill of health.
Need to Know
Altrincham have struggled for goals at home, failing to net in two of their last three matches, while Notts County’s last two wins have been accompanied by clean sheets.
Score Prediction: Altrincham 0-2 Notts County (6/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Peterborough vs Reading – Saturday, November 7 (8pm)
Key stats
Peterborough are 22nd in League One, 16 places behind Reading
The Royals’ three-game unbeaten run was ended by Oxford United on Wednesday
Three of the last four meetings between these two clubs at London Road have been draws
Recommended bet
Team News
Harry Ashfield, Vernon Masara and Carl Johnston could come out of the side if Peterborough boss Robbie Savage opts to make changes.
George Earthy, Benn Ward and Paddy Lane remain sidelined for Reading.
Need to Know
After winning their first two games under new manager Robbie Savage, Peterborough have struggled since and are five matches without a victory.
The Posh have failed to score in their last two outings and Reading, who are 16 places better off than their opponents in League One, can edge to victory.
Score Prediction: Peterborough 0-1 Reading (7/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Stafford vs Grimsby – Sunday, November 8 (Noon)
Key stats
Stafford ply their trade in the Northern Premier League Division One West
Grimsby are four divisions above their opponents in League Two
Grimsby are on a two-match winning run, scoring nine goals during this period
Recommended bet
Team News
Grimsby defender Edon Pruti is unavailable after he underwent surgery on a double leg break suffered against Northampton last month.
Need to Know
Grimsby are challenging for League Two promotion and the extra quality in their squad can see them dispatch Stafford, who are four tiers below the Mariners.
But the hosts can at least get on the scoresheet, something they achieved five times when beating Gateshead 5-0 to qualify for the first round.
Score Prediction: Stafford 1-4 Grimsby (9/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Cray Wanderers vs Stockport – Sunday, November 8 (2.15pm)
Key stats
Cray Wanderers are a semi-professional side who compete in the Isthmian League
Stockport are four divisions higher as they sit second in League One
County are the third-highest scorers in League One with 26 goals
Recommended bet
Team News
Adama Sidibeh has suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury and misses out for Stockport.
Need to Know
Stockport are in the hunt for a place in the Championship and they head into this contest with six wins in their last eight matches.
As the third-highest scorers in League One, County’s quality should shine through against their lower-level opponents.
Score Prediction: Cray Wanderers 0-3 Stockport (24/5 with LiveScore Bet)
Oldham vs Sheffield Wednesday – Sunday, November 8 (5.15pm)
Key stats
Oldham are 15th in League Two, just three points above the relegation zone
Sheffield Wednesday are ninth in League One, two points from the play-off places
Both teams to score ‘No’ has been a winning bet in three of Oldham’s last four matches
Recommended bet
Team News
Kai Payne and Kane Drummond are both suspended for Oldham.
Sil Swinkels is suspended for Wednesday but Jamal Lowe returns from a ban and Di'Shon Bernard is in contention after recovering from injury.
Need to Know
Dave Challinor takes charge of Sheffield Wednesday for the first time and he will be hoping for a new-manager bounce, with the Owls four games without a win.
A tight contest could be on the cards, with under 2.5 goals a winning bet in Oldham’s last three games and Wednesday’s last four.
Score Prediction: Oldham 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday (15/2 with LiveScore Bet)
