(H)
Ilkeston Town FC
Steve Turner
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
John Holden
League Round 9
Head To Head Results
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON |  | - |  | - |  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 0 | - | 1 | - | 0 |
| 1 | 29 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 0 | - | 2 | - | 0 |
| 3 | 31 | FA CUP SEMIFINALS | | 0 | - (n) | 1 | | | 1 | - | 2 | - | 0 |
| 4 | 16 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 2 | - | 2 | - | 0 |
| 4 | 35 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 0 |
| 6 | 28 | Youth Cup Round 2 | | 0④ | - (n) | 0② | | /
| 3 | - | 3 | - | 0 |
| 7 | 18 | FA Cup Quarterfinals | | 0 | - | 4 | | | 4 | - | 3 | - | 0 |
| 8 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 0 | - (n) | 2 | | | 5 | - | 3 | - | 0 |
| 9 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - | 2 | | | 6 | - | 3 | - | 0 |
| 9 | 28 | Youth Cup Round 2 | | 2 | - (n) | 0 | | | 7 | - | 3 | - | 0 |
| 11 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 0④ | - (n) | 0② | | /
| 7 | - | 4 | - | 0 |
| 15 | 12 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 7 | - | 5 | - | 0 |
| 15 | 18 | FA Cup Quarterfinals | | 1 | - | 3 | | | 8 | - | 5 | - | 0 |
| 15 | 30 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 6 | - | 0 |
| 16 | 17 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 9 | - | 6 | - | 0 |
| 16 | 18 | FA Cup Quarterfinals | | 3 | - | 3 | | | 9 | - | 7 | - | 0 |
| 16 | 22 | FA Cup Quarterfinals Replay | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 10 | - | 7 | - | 0 |
| 16 | 38 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 10 | - | 7 | - | 1 |
| 17 | 16 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 10 | - | 7 | - | 2 |
| 17 | 35 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 10 | - | 8 | - | 2 |
| 21 | 17 | 2nd Division | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 11 | - | 8 | - | 2 |
| 21 | 38 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 11 | - | 9 | - | 2 |
| 22 | 20 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 11 | - | 10 | - | 2 |
| 22 | 39 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 12 | - | 10 | - | 2 |
| 23 | 7 | AP Cup Group (3) | | 0 | - (n) | 3 | | | 13 | - | 10 | - | 2 |
| 28 | 8 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 2 | | | 13 | - | 11 | - | 2 |
| 28 | 26 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 3 | | | 14 | - | 11 | - | 2 |
| 29 | 9 | 2nd Division | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 14 | - | 11 | - | 3 |
| 29 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 2① | - (n) | 2③ | | /
| 14 | - | 12 | - | 3 |
| 29 | 29 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 15 | - | 12 | - | 3 |
| 30 | 9 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 15 | - | 12 | - | 4 |
| 30 | 29 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 15 | - | 13 | - | 4 |
| 31 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 0 | - (n) | 2 | | | 15 | - | 13 | - | 5 |
| 32 | 11 | FA Shield Round 1 | | 2 | - | 5 | | | 16 | - | 13 | - | 5 |
| 33 | 8 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 16 | - | 13 | - | 6 |
| 33 | 26 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 16 | - | 13 | - | 7 |
| 34 | 11 | FA Shield Round 1 | | 0 | - | 2 | | | 17 | - | 13 | - | 7 |
| 35 | 9 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 17 | - | 13 | - | 8 |
| 35 | 29 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 2 | | | 17 | - | 14 | - | 8 |
| 36 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 18 | - | 14 | - | 8 |
| 38 | 18 | FA Cup Quarterfinals | | 3 | - | 3 | | | 18 | - | 15 | - | 8 |
| 38 | 22 | FA Cup Quarterfinals Replay | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 19 | - | 15 | - | 8 |
| 39 | 12 | 2nd Division | | 3 | - | 1 | | | 19 | - | 15 | - | 9 |
| 39 | 30 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 20 | - | 15 | - | 9 |
| 40 | 5 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 20 | - | 16 | - | 9 |
| 40 | 19 | AP Cup Quarterfinals | | 4 | - | 1 | | | 20 | - | 16 | - | 10 |
| 40 | 25 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 21 | - | 16 | - | 10 |
| 42 | 9 | 2nd Division | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 21 | - | 16 | - | 11 |
| 42 | 20 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 22 | - | 16 | - | 11 |
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON | | - | | - | | |||
Olmec Head Preview
League• Ilkeston Town FC were the 3rd division champions last season.
• AFC Rushden & Diamonds placed 5th in the 2nd division in season 41.
Ilkeston Town FC
• Cole Hamilton (III/13 Fw) is questionable (pulled hamstring) but may return today.
• Striker Cole Hamilton (III/13) is suspended from this match after being sent off in match 19 against Burton Albion FC.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
• Axel Lacour (II/13 Df) is sidelined with a head injury suffered in match 19 against Hyde FC.
Head To Head Meetings
• Ilkeston Town FC and AFC Rushden & Diamonds have met 48 times with 29 of those occurring in the League.
• Ilkeston Town FC have won 21, lost 11 and drawn 16 of 48 matches against AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
• AFC Rushden & Diamonds haven't won a league match at New Manor Ground since season 33.
MATCHUP AND PREDICTION
| Ilkeston Town FC | Position | AFC Rushden & Diamonds |
| 18 ✓ | Goalkeeper | 17 |
| — | Sweeper | ✓ 15 |
| 59 ✓ | Defenders | 37 |
| 24 | Midfielders | ✓ 27 |
| 64 ✓ | Forwards | 51 |
| 28 ✓ | Est. Attacks | 2 |
| 🅾 PREDICTION: ILK 2 – 0 RUS (ILK to win) | ||
🏠 Home: Ilkeston Town FC (+9 🏭 Groundsman) — DF:1 MF:2 FW:6
⚔️ KEY BATTLE: The forward line is the decisive battleground — Ilkeston's attack (FW:64) vastly outguns Rushden's defence (DF:37), giving the hosts a commanding edge in the final third.
⭐ ONES TO WATCH: Tobias Ødegård (GK, TL:18) — ILK | Kevin Hawkins (GK, TL:17) — RUS
🎯 VERDICT: Ilkeston Town FC should win this comfortably, backed by a dominant forward line, strong home advantage worth +9, and a Groundsman boost that amplifies their attack. AFC Rushden & Diamonds look dangerously thin at the back, and with 28 estimated attacks compared to just 2 for the visitors, the outcome feels inevitable. Marcos Nuñez, operating at the heart of Ilkeston's attack with a threat level of 17, is the player most likely to punish Rushden's defensive frailties and seal the result.
Match Notes
Olmec Steve prepares his Ilkeston side. Rushden arrive. Two clubs, one ball, the inevitable passage of time. I have run the calculations. They all end the same way.
Olmec Head Marvin (Goole AFC) 06/10 - 7:30 PM