Walsall's busy fixture schedule continues on Tuesday evening as they're due to make their way to the Broadfield Stadium to take on fellow strugglers Crawley Town.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
The Saddlers will be looking to return to winning ways in midweek as they take on Scott Lindsey's Crawley Town in a battle of two struggling sides.
Arriving at the match on the back of a dismal three-nil defeat to Newport County - goals from Bryn Morris, Will Evans, and Harry Charsley seeing the Exiles take all three points - Walsall have it all to do if they're to avoid being truly cut off from the top half of the table.
Sitting sixteenth in the table ahead of kick-off, a few poor results elsewhere could see them eight points adrift of the top twelve and with the prospect of yet another season in the fourth tier a very real possibility.
Head Coach Mat Sadler simply has to be willing to drop players who are either out of form or simply don't fit his chosen formation.
After opting not to add to his squad over the final days of the recent Transfer Window, the gaffer has nowhere to hide when it comes to gaps in his side and, although some performances have been encouraging, the overall feeling is one of disappointment.
Looking back at the form guide and, although the Saddlers have lost just once in their last six home league games, their away form is far less promising, with Sadler's side winning just two of their last nine away league trips.
Tuesday's trip to Sussex is very much a three-pointer and we just have to see a team that is not only aware of it but is willing to put in the work to take the win, and more importantly the points.
OPPOSITION NEWS
After picking up encouraging victories over Swindon Town and Bradford City, the Red Devils have since lost three league games on the bounce, form that sees them sit just above the Saddlers ahead of kick-off..
Crawley's most recent defeat came at the hands of promotion-chasing Crewe Alexandra, as Rio Adebisi's single goal proved to be enough to secure the points for the Railwaymen.
They've only won one of their last five home league games, a statistic that should give Walsall plenty of encouragement ahead of the match.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Crawley Town have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
CRAWLEY TOWN
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WALSALL |
WWLLL
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Crawley Town have met on just sixteen previous occasions and it's the Saddlers who hold a small overall lead having won on five previous occasions, compared to the Red Devils' four.
There have also been seven draws over the history of the fixture. This history began at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday, 17th November 2012 as the two sides met in a League One clash which would see four goals scored but would ultimately end all-square.
Febian Brandy had given Walsall the lead with fourteen minutes on the clock, but Billy Clarke levelled the scores some eight minutes later.
The Saddlers re-took the lead via Ashley Hemmings with sixteen minutes of normal time remaining, only for Jonathan Forte to level the scores with eighty-one minutes played.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the Saddlers and Red Devisl was a League Two clash that took place at Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, 24th October 2023, and saw the spoils shared.
The Saddlers had to be patient for the majority of the game with second-half substitute Danny Johnson grabbing what the faithful hoped would be the only goal of the game as he was alert to the rebound following something of a scramble in the area.
However, the Saddlers were unable to hold onto their narrow lead as, with four of five injury time minutes played, Danilo Orsi-Dadomo broke Walsall hearts with a late leveller, the goal ending Crawley's run of defeats.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Ahead of the contest, the EFL has confirmed that John Busby who is based in Oxfordshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Richard Wild and Sam Lewis have been named assistant referees. Sam Purkiss will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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22
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
90
| 1
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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5
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CATCH THE MATCH
If you're not planning on going to the game you can catch the match via the club's in-house service - iFollow Walsall - which takes you through the highs and lows of every Saddlers game.
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