(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
| 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.
