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PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
After a record-breaking run of nine league wins in a row, the Saddlers' unbeaten spell came to an end on Saturday afternoon as Bradford City scored three goals without reply at the University of Bradford Stadium.
Failing to score for the first time in eleven all-competition outings, Mat Sadler's side simply weren't at the races against the Bantams, and will have to be back to their best if they are to avoid a second defeat in as many games when they return to action on Tuesday evening.
Despite enjoying a fourteen place and twenty-five point advantage over opponents Fleetwood Town, Walsall will be taking on the last team to defeat them before Bradford's weekend win.
Last meeting on Tuesday, 1st October, Fleetwood scored six goals to Walsall's two, with the result seemingly causing enough of a shockwave that the Saddlers went on to have an incredible spell that saw them build a twelve-point advantage at the top of the table.
Though Saturday's result was a disappointing one, it's important to keep things in perspective as, with second-placed Crewe Alexandra also losing, there was no real damage done.
Looking at Fleetwood, and their form has been rather mixed since their thumping 6-2 triumph over the Saddlers back in early October. Winning two of their last three, the Cod Army have won four only of their last seventeen league games, including a defeat to then-bottom-of-the-table Carlisle United.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Priestley Farquharson (thigh) Donervon Daniels (calf) Jack Earing (ankle), George Hall (hamstring), and Ronan Maher (ankle) are all ruled out.
Jamille Matt is a doubt after limping off during the defeat to Bradford City.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Fleetwood Town have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
FLEETWOOD
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WALSALL |
DLWWL
| WWWWL
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been fourteen competitive meetings between the two sides, and it's Walsall that hold an overall head-to-head advantage as they've won eight times compared to Fleetwood's four.
The first meeting was an FA Cup - First Round clash that took place at the Highbury Stadium on Saturday, 6th November 2010. The teams went to a replay as Matt Richards' 4th-minute opener was cancelled out by Jamie Mullan in the second half.
Walsall went on to win the replay, played at the Banks's Stadium ten days later, as Reuben Reid bagged an unanswered brace to book his team's place in the Second Round.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, 1st October and saw Fkeetwood ease to victory by six-goals to-two.
Walsall opened the scoring early in the first half, as, following a foul throw, defender Harry Williams controlled Jamille Matt's pass inside the area before stabbing an effort home via a rather sizeable deflection.
The visitors levelled the scores just over ten minutes later when Ronan Coughlan caped off a sweeping Cod Army counter-attack to put the ball beyond Tommy Simkin.
Walsall got themselves back into the lead late in the opening forty-five as Jamille Matt, assisted by a Nathan Lowe back heel, prodded the ball into the back of the net.
The visitors were gifted an opportunity to level the scores early in the second half as David Okagbue needlessly fouled his man inside the area leading to Coughlan to slot home from the spot.
Fleetwood took the lead with fifty-seven minutes on the clock as Kayden Hughes scored following a goalmouth scramble. A truly shocking start to the half for Mat Sadler's men.
The visitors' fourth goal of the contest came via a free-kick which ultimately saw Hughes credited with his second goal of the game as Walsall crumbled.
Walsall's humiliation was concluded late in the half as Matt Virtue-Thick finished off a counter-attack with the fifth goal for his side, before Mark Helm added a sixth in stoppage time.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Martin Woods who is based in Lancashire will take charge of the match with Danny Guest and Jacob Graham being named as assistant referees, whilst Curtis Wood has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES
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20
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
66
| 1
|
PENALTIES
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3
|
