The Saddlers are due to be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Colchester United at the JobServe Community Stadium.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
After seeing their winning run halted by relegation-threatened Forest Green Rovers last weekend the Saddlers were handed an opportunity to right a few wrongs in midweek as they welcomed Barrow to the Bescot.
With injuries continuing to bite, Head Coach Mat Sadler opted to hand a recall to defender Rollin Menayese - the centre-back returning from a loan spell with Aldershot Town - and the decision paid immediate dividends as it was Rollin who opened the scoring against the Bluebirds.
Heading home from a well-placed corner, Rollin made the most of his rare opportunity in the starting XI to give his side a welcome lead.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Rollin, however, as he went on to gift Barrow their leveller with an ill-timed challenge inside the area allowing Dean Campbell to put his side back on level terms, with the spoils ultimately shared.
Whilst the faithful would have preferred to have taken all three points, the point is more than welcome, especially as it keeps the team within reach of the Play-Off places and, as we enter the final nine games of the season, within a chance of finally getting back to the third tier.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Walsall's injury crisis continues, with the likes of Donervon Daniels (ankle), Oisin McEntee (hamstring), Priestley Farquharson (high), Harry Williams (hip), Jamie Jellis (hamstring), Tom Knowles (ankle), Aramide Oteh (hamstring), and Danny Johnson (toe), and Jamille Matt continuing to work their way towards fitness.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Opponents Colchester United were also due to be in action on Tuesday evening as they were scheduled to take on Doncaster Rovers at the JobServe, however, following major downpours in the South East, they saw their match called off.
The U's most recent outing took place last weekend and saw them defeated 2-0 by Barrow, the result ultimately resulting in a drop into the relegation zone as Rovers followed their win over the Saddlers with a midweek triumph over Bradford City.
There is no doubt Colchester will be up for the game this weekend as they look to get themselves out of trouble, with the games continuing to whittle away.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Colchester United have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
COLCHESTER
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WALSALL |
LDDDL
| WWWLD
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been seventy-five competitive meetings between Walsall and U's, and it's the Saddlers who hold a very small head-to-head advantage, having won on twenty-seven occasions, compared to Colchester's twenty-five.
There have also been twenty-three draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Layer Road on Saturday, 18th November 1950 as the two sides met in a Division Three (South) clash which took place in front of 9,584 and saw Harry Hibbs' Saddlers win by one-goal-to-nil as Phil Chapman netted the only goal of the game twelve minutes into the second-half.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 2nd September 2023, and saw the Saddlers secure three welcome points.
The match was something of a low-key affair until the sixty-fifth minute as Isaac Hutchinson grabbed his second goal of the season with a well-taken effort from distance.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that David Rock who is based in Hertfordshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Stephen Finch and Andrew Aylott have been named assistant referees. Scott Williams will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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31
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
116
| 8
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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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