AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs Morecambe Prediction

Mixed league form either side

AFC Rushden & Diamonds sit at seven wins, six draws and seven losses across their last 20 matches, a fairly even spread with some heavy defeats mixed in among the wins. Their FA Cup form has been sharper than that league record though, with three straight cup wins by 2-1, 3-1 and 3-0 to reach this stage.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds: 20 completed matches; Morecambe: 20 completed matches.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds

20 matches

Win

35% 7 / 20

Draw

30% 6 / 20

Loss

35% 7 / 20

Scored

31

Conceded

29

Difference

+2

Morecambe

20 matches

Win

40% 8 / 20

Draw

20% 4 / 20

Loss

40% 8 / 20

Scored

30

Conceded

28

Difference

+2

Morecambe's overall sample reads eight wins, four draws and eight losses from 20 games, and it includes some rough results last season such as a 5-0 and a 5-1 defeat. Like their hosts, they've looked better in the FA Cup itself, beating Darlington 1883 3-0 and Southport 2-0 in their last two rounds, while their National League North form in between has been a genuine mixed bag.

Both teams have turned up for the cup even when their league form has wobbled, which makes it tricky to read too much into either side's day-to-day results.

Comparative Team Statistics: AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs Morecambe

A tie across two levels

Rushden are playing their league football in Non League Div One - Northern Midlands, while Morecambe have been competing in National League North, a notably higher tier. On paper that's a big gap to bridge over one FA Cup match.

Cup ties like this one don't always follow the level gap, though. Both clubs have shown they can raise their game in this competition specifically, and neither has been especially consistent domestically, so there's no guarantee the bigger name finds it straightforward.