On Saturday afternoon Walsall Football Club will travel to Oakwell to take on Barnsley, in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. Our latest match preview is below.
WALSALL LATEST
Dean Smith's Walsall side will be hoping to build on their midweek victory over Yeovil Town, and rediscover some of their early season form which saw them win eight out of fifteen games going into February.
The Saddlers have won four of their last six league matches on the road, scoring nine and conceding just two.
The Saddlers have won four of their last six league matches on the road, scoring nine and conceding just two.
Wingers Anthony Forde and Jordan Cook are doubtful with groin problems and will be assessed in the build-up to the game, James Baxendale and Jordy Hiwula are set to continue in the wide positions, with Baxo improving on his recent outings with a good showing against the Glovers on Tuesday.
Midfielder Sam Mantom is making a good recovery from the knee injury that has seen him miss the vast majority of the season, and is expected to play a part in the Saddlers' Reserves clash with Morecambe next week.
THE OPPOSITION
New Barnsley Head Coach Lee Johnson has overseen two of the Club’s recent victories; with Tuesday’s evening's 1-0 victory against Coventry City earning Barnsley a sixth win in their last seven Oakwell outings.
Tuesday night’s triumph was both the Club’s fourth win, and fourth clean sheet in a row, which has seen them climb up to 10th place in Sky Bet League 1, and are now just two points outside the play-off places.
The Saddlers will come up against former loanee Milan Lalkovic, who joined the Tykes from Czech side FK Mladá Boleslav over the winter.
Along with Colchester United's Jabo Ibehre who, along with Cardiff City's Declan John, was signed on loan on Friday afternoon.
Johnson has no new injury worries as he takes charge of his third game. Striker Sam Winnall is expected to start on the bench again as on-loan Stoke forward George Waring has scored in each of the last two games.
Winger Dale Jennings returned to the bench following illness for the midweek win against Coventry and is hoping to feature.
The Saddlers will come up against former loanee Milan Lalkovic, who joined the Tykes from Czech side FK Mladá Boleslav over the winter.
Along with Colchester United's Jabo Ibehre who, along with Cardiff City's Declan John, was signed on loan on Friday afternoon.
Johnson has no new injury worries as he takes charge of his third game. Striker Sam Winnall is expected to start on the bench again as on-loan Stoke forward George Waring has scored in each of the last two games.
Winger Dale Jennings returned to the bench following illness for the midweek win against Coventry and is hoping to feature.
THE FORM GUIDE
BARNSLEY'S LAST FIVE AT HOME;
W 2-1 v Port Vale
W 1-0 v Oldham Athletic
L 1-2 v Fleetwood Town
W 1-0 v Crewe Alexandra
W 1-0 v Coventry City
WALSALL'S LAST FIVE AWAY;
W 0-2 v Colchester United
W 0-2 v Doncaster Rovers
D 1-1 v Bradford City
L 1-0 v Preston North End
W 0-1 v Yeovil Town
W 2-1 v Port Vale
W 1-0 v Oldham Athletic
L 1-2 v Fleetwood Town
W 1-0 v Crewe Alexandra
W 1-0 v Coventry City
WALSALL'S LAST FIVE AWAY;
W 0-2 v Colchester United
W 0-2 v Doncaster Rovers
D 1-1 v Bradford City
L 1-0 v Preston North End
W 0-1 v Yeovil Town
LATEST MATCH ODDS
Football League sponsor Sky Bet are currently offering odds of; Barnsley 7/4; Draw 23/10; and Walsall 6/4.
HEAD TO HEAD
In terms of head-to-head, of the forty-two previous meetings, it's Walsall that hold the slight overall lead with fifteen wins to the Tykes' fourteen. There have also been thirteen draws between the two.
Their first official meeting took place at Oakwell, on 3rd December 1898, and ended all-square, with one goal each.
In more recent times, they last met at Banks's Stadium, on Saturday, 13th December 2014, the match, which was played in front of 4,433 supporters, ended 3-1 to Walsall, a Jordan Cook brace and Tom Bradshaw strike proving enough to cancel out Lewin Nyatanga's 29th minute opener, and secure a vital win for the Saddlers.
Referee Trevor Kettle handed out yellow cards to Saddlers striker Tom Bradshaw, and Barnsley's Brad Abbott, Martin Cranie and Luke Berry.
The teams are level over the last five meetings with two wins and losses each, with the other clash ending in a draw.
Walsall have won two, drawn two, and lost six of the last ten league meetings.
THE MATCH OFFICIALS
The referee for the match is scheduled to be 32-year-old Mr. Stuart Attwell, who is based in Warwickshire.
Nuneaton born Attwell worked his way up from local games to non-League football, then to the West Midlands League and then the Football League.
His promotion to Football League refereeing came ahead of the 2007/08 season, officiating his first match on 11th August 2007 in a League 2 fixture between Hereford United and Rotherham United.
He has officiated over twenty-nine games, in various competitions this season, where he has issued seventy-two yellow, and three red cards. He has also awarded two penalties.
The most recent Saddlers game taken charge of by Attwell is last season's Sky Bet League 1 clash between the Saddlers and Rotherham United.
The match, which took place at Banks's Stadium on Saturday, 21st September 2013, ended all square with Sam Mantom and Daniel Nardiello grabbing a goal for each side.
Paul Downing and Romaine Sawyers were booked for the Saddlers, whilst Kari Arnason, Kieran Agard and Alex Revell were booked for the Millers.
Mr. Paul Cook and Mr. Akil Howson are due to be assisting the referee, whilst Mr. Ken Haycock is scheduled to be Fourth Official.