SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, England (Interstat) — Southend United looks to maintain its recent dominance over Gateshead when the two sides meet in a National League fixture at Roots Hall on Tuesday.

The hosts enter the match unbeaten in their last two, including a 2-2 draw at Carlisle United on Saturday. Their form at home has been strong, with a 5-1 thrashing of Morecambe and a 3-0 win over Brackley Town last month highlighting their attacking capability. However, consistency has been an issue, with a 2-0 home loss to Boreham Wood on Feb. 24 punctuating their playoff push.

Gateshead arrives following a morale-boosting 2-1 victory at Solihull Moors on Saturday, which snapped a two-game losing streak in league play. The Heed’s recent results have been a mixed bag, showcasing resilience in a 4-4 draw with Morecambe and narrow wins, but also revealing defensive vulnerabilities in several losses.

The head-to-head record heavily favors Southend. In their most recent meeting last August, Southend delivered a comprehensive 3-0 away victory at Gateshead.

In the league table, both teams are positioned in the mid-table region, making this a contest with potential implications for the playoff chase as the season enters its final months.

A statistical projection by Interstat forecasts a tightly contested draw, with a final score of 1-1.

Southend United’s next five fixtures: - March 14: vs. Forest Green Rovers - March 17: vs. Rochdale - March 21: at Altrincham - March 25: vs. Woking - March 31: vs. Yeovil Town

Gateshead’s next five fixtures: - March 14: vs. Sutton United - March 17: vs. Wealdstone - March 21: at Boreham Wood - March 24: vs. York City - March 28: vs. Yeovil Town

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. local time at Roots Hall.