This weekend Walsall Football Club will travel to Essex to take on Colchester United in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. Here are the latest head to head statistics, referee information and more.
WALSALL LATEST...
Dean Smith's Saddlers head into the game on the back of a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Scunthorpe United.
Walsall have won just one of their last five league games (L:3, D:1), a statistic that stretches back to just four in ten games. (L:3, D:3).
Walsall have won just one of their last five league games (L:3, D:1), a statistic that stretches back to just four in ten games. (L:3, D:3).
Smith has no major injury concerns heading into the game. However midfielder Sam Mantom (knee) has suffered a setback in his return from injury, and may be ruled out for the foreseeable future.
THE OPPOSITION...
Twenty-second placed Colchester United head into the match on the back of an encouraging 2-0 victory over Peterborough United.
The U's have won two of their previous five league games, they have also lost two and drawn one.
United start life without top scorer Freddie Sears, following his recent move to Ipswich Town.
Manager Tony Humes is boosted by the news that Alex Gilbey and Ben Gordon are both fit and included in the weekend squad, having both been absent with ankle injuries in the last couple of weeks.
United have signed Crystal Palace defender Alex Wynter on an 18-month deal, whilst defender 33-year-old Kaspars Gorkss has extended his U's contract.
The U's have won two of their previous five league games, they have also lost two and drawn one.
United start life without top scorer Freddie Sears, following his recent move to Ipswich Town.
Manager Tony Humes is boosted by the news that Alex Gilbey and Ben Gordon are both fit and included in the weekend squad, having both been absent with ankle injuries in the last couple of weeks.
HEAD TO HEAD...
In terms of head-to-head, of the sixty-three matches played, it's Colchester United that hold the lead with twenty-four wins to the Saddlers' twenty-two. There have also been seventeen draws during the fixtures history.
Their first meeting took place on Saturday 18th November 1950, in Division Three (South), the match ended 1-0 to the U's.
In more modern times, they last met on Saturday 6th September 2014, the match, which was officiated over by Pat Miller and took place at Banks's Stadium, ended in a nil-nil draw.
MATCH OFFICIALS...
The referee for this weekend's match is scheduled to be Mr. Brendan Malone, who is based in Wiltshire, and has been a referee since 1981.
46-year-old Malone has officiated over seventeen games in various competitions this season, and has issued thirty-six yellow and three red cards. He has also awarded just one penalty so far this season.
The most recent Walsall match controlled by Malone was 2013/14's season opener between the Saddlers and Tranmere Rovers, Walsall lead the match 2-0 thanks to goals from Craig Westcarr and Milan Lalkovic, before Andy Robinson's free kick brought Rovers back into the game.
Craig Westcarr extended the Saddler' lead after 71' minutes, slotting the ball past Owain Fon Williams thanks to a Milan Lalkovic cross.
Evan Horwood, Danny Holmes, John-Louis Akpa Akpro, Jason Koumas and Max Power were all booked for Rovers, whilst the Saddlers avoided caution throughout the match.
The most recent Walsall match controlled by Malone was 2013/14's season opener between the Saddlers and Tranmere Rovers, Walsall lead the match 2-0 thanks to goals from Craig Westcarr and Milan Lalkovic, before Andy Robinson's free kick brought Rovers back into the game.
Craig Westcarr extended the Saddler' lead after 71' minutes, slotting the ball past Owain Fon Williams thanks to a Milan Lalkovic cross.
Evan Horwood, Danny Holmes, John-Louis Akpa Akpro, Jason Koumas and Max Power were all booked for Rovers, whilst the Saddlers avoided caution throughout the match.
Mr. John O'Brien and Mr. Sam Purkiss are due to assist the referee, whilst Mr. Christopher Pollar will be Fourth Official.