This coming Saturday Walsall Football Club play host to early season strugglers Crewe Alexandra, in the latest round of Sky Bet League One fixtures. Below is our latest match preview, including team news, head to head statistics and ticket information.
The Saddlers arrive at the game on the back of a disappointing result (2-1) and performance against Oldham Athletic. That result put an end to a mini Saddlers revival - the reds hadn't lost in four games, a run that went back to the 4-0 league defeat to Rochdale on September 16th.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Walsall are likely to be without top-scorer Tom Bradshaw who limped off during the first-half of the Saddlers' draw with Bristol City on 4th October.
Attacking-midfielder Romaine Sawyers should return to the starting line-up after representing St Kitts & Nevis second phase of qualification for the 2014 Caribbean Cup.
Midfielder Sam Mantom (knee) remains sidelined, with a knee injury that has seen him miss the entire campaign so far. However the 22-year old has made a return to training as he continues his road to recovery.
Saddlers manager Dean Smith spoke to saddlers.co.uk ahead of the match and provided a few more injury/return details, he said; "Romaine Sawyers returned from International Duty on Tuesday. He had a good week out there but is looking forward to getting back into action for us. Andy Taylor has also shaken off the sickness bug that laid him low last weekend and will be available again.
"Tom Bradshaw is back in training and will be assessed in the lead-up to the game, but I would rate him at 50/50 at this stage. We have to be careful not to rush him back too soon, and with the matches coming thick and fast, we don't want to lose him for any longer than we have to.
"It was also pleasing to see Sam Mantom back in training this week, so people are playing for their shirts at the moment and know that they have to put in a consistent level of performance."
OUR OPPONENTS
Bottom of the table Crewe arrive at this game following a surprise 2-1 victory over Coventry City. Previously, the Railwaymen had lost four of the last five league games and had only mustered one more win and a draw during the entire campaign.
The Alex, who are five points away from safety are expected to hand a start to former Walsall winger Febian Brandy as he nears the end of his loan spell at Gresty Road.
Crewe boss Steve Davis is keen to extend the deal as Brandy put in a manof the match performance last weekend, and proved to be the idfference between the two sides.
Davis told CreweAlex.net; “I am hoping to speak to Steve (Evans) over the next couple of days and see where we stand over Febian. If Febian would like to stay and Rotherham would like him to get some more games under his belt then hopefully something can be sorted out. I don’t know if Febian is keen to stay, but I am sure he has enjoyed his time here with us so far."
The Alex have no new injury concerns heading into this weekend's fixture, however manager Steve Davis has hinted at possible line-up changes ahead of the game, he told CreweAlex.net; “I have options to change again and I've changed a winning team before and I am prepared to do that again if I think it is right for the team and enhances our chances of getting a result.
“The players have shown that they can adapt to different systems and that gives us scope to change things game-to-game or as we did at Bradford during the game.”
The Alex, who are five points away from safety are expected to hand a start to former Walsall winger Febian Brandy as he nears the end of his loan spell at Gresty Road.
Crewe boss Steve Davis is keen to extend the deal as Brandy put in a manof the match performance last weekend, and proved to be the idfference between the two sides.
Davis told CreweAlex.net; “I am hoping to speak to Steve (Evans) over the next couple of days and see where we stand over Febian. If Febian would like to stay and Rotherham would like him to get some more games under his belt then hopefully something can be sorted out. I don’t know if Febian is keen to stay, but I am sure he has enjoyed his time here with us so far."
The Alex have no new injury concerns heading into this weekend's fixture, however manager Steve Davis has hinted at possible line-up changes ahead of the game, he told CreweAlex.net; “I have options to change again and I've changed a winning team before and I am prepared to do that again if I think it is right for the team and enhances our chances of getting a result.
“The players have shown that they can adapt to different systems and that gives us scope to change things game-to-game or as we did at Bradford during the game.”
HEAD TO HEAD
In terms of head-to-head, of the sixty-eight games played, Walsall hold the lead, with thirty-one wins to their opponents twenty-one. There have also been sixteen draws during the fixtures history.
Their first meeting took place on 5th November 1892, Crewe defeated the then Walsall Town Swifts 6-5 at the Alexandra Recreation Ground.
In more modern times, Walsall have won just one of the last five meetings (D 3, L 1), with the last meeting ending in a 1-1 draw in March 2014, a Mark Ellis 90th minute OG cancelling out Chuks Aneke's earlier goal.
Their first meeting took place on 5th November 1892, Crewe defeated the then Walsall Town Swifts 6-5 at the Alexandra Recreation Ground.
In more modern times, Walsall have won just one of the last five meetings (D 3, L 1), with the last meeting ending in a 1-1 draw in March 2014, a Mark Ellis 90th minute OG cancelling out Chuks Aneke's earlier goal.
THE OFFICIALS
The referee for the upcoming match will be Darren Handley who is based in Lancashire.
At the time of publication referee Handley had officiated over - eight games so far this season, where he had issued twenty-nine yellow and two red cards.
Handley has never officiated over a match involving either Walsall or Crewe, and has spent much of his career at various Conference levels.
Handley has never officiated over a match involving either Walsall or Crewe, and has spent much of his career at various Conference levels.
Ryan Johnson and David Richardson will be referee's assistants, whilst the Fourth Official is scheduled to be Lisa Rashid.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets are on sale at the usual category 'B' advanced prices. Further information can be found HERE.