GUISELEY go into 2018 looking for a home victory that could kick-start their push for National League survival.

Yet the Lions will be licking their wounds after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Tranmere in front of a crowd in excess of 5,000 at Prenton Park.

Paul Cox's men host fellow strugglers Chester in a New Year's Day fixture at Nethermoor with both clubs having taken 21 points from 25 games this season.

They are both eight points below the safety mark in England's fifth division but Guiseley and Chester have two games in hand over targets Barrow, Leyton Orient and Eastleigh.

Chester go into it straight from a home defeat to the Lions on Boxing Day after their Saturday game, at home to Hartlepool United, was called off following a Friday pitch inspection.

Cox's men were in good spirits after that 2-0 win at Chester but they were humbled in the latter stages on the Wirrell, with sixth-placed Tranmere plundering four goals inside the final 25 minutes after the Lions boss made substitutions.

James Norwood netted his ninth goal of the season to break the deadlock and Connor Jennings bagged an eight-minute brace, Andy Cook wrapped up the scoring just before time with a low shot.

Guiseley manager Cox said: "The game changed around the 60-minute mark. I had to make changes because two games in three days is absolutely scandalous.

"We can't do anything about that, so we swapped personnel around the 60 minutes. That was the plan, win lose or draw, just to make sure we were good for the two games.

"Even though we had to do that, I thought it was very close in that first hour and against a side that, in my time here, has been the best we've played in terms of overall ability.

"Now we've got to put that on the back-burner and get ourselves right for a big New Year's Day game. We made the changes with the bigger picture in mind, especially with Chester's game being called off.

"They will be fresh but we've rested one or two, so we've given ourselves the best the best possible chance. The proof of the pudding will be on the day but we've done what we can to try to win the game."