Join us across our social media channels where we'll bring you all the matchday build-up, in-game updates, and post-match reaction as the Saddlers take on Carlisle United.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall's brief return to form was curtailed at the weekend as Joel Cotterill's second-half goal saw Swindon Town secure their sixth win in eight games and see the Saddlers' lead at the top cut to just four points.
Falling to their first home league defeat since their 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Fleetwood Town five months ago, Mat Sadler's men were barely ale to lay a glove upon the visiting Robins, with the gaffer surely considering changes ahead of Tuesday's trip to Brunton Park.
Winning just one of their last five away league games, the Saddlers' form continues to concern, especially as several of their title rivals have been picking up more points as Sadler's side begins to flounder.
Whatever the reasons behind Danny Johnson's continued absence from the starting XI, there as to become a point when he deserves a start, especially if the players ahead of him continue to fail to hit the back of the net.
Winning just twice in nine league games, the season seems to be falling apart and, after seeing their side go from being fifteen points in the lead to just four, it's not a surprise that many fans beginning to air their concerns.
Obviously, there are more than enough games left for the players to find their feet, but a repeat of Saturday's performance and our position at the top will soon be a thing of the past.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Donervon Daniels, Priestley Farquharson, Jack Earing and George Hall are still missing for the Saddlers, though Daniels and Farquharson are said to be closer to a return.
Josh Gordon will likely miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Opponents Carlisle United secured their first win in seven league games last week as they defeated rivals Barrow at the SO Legal Stadium, as Matthew Dennis grabbed the only goal of the game.
Sitting at the foot of the table, the Cumbrians have won just six of their 33 league games, with their last four home games resulting in to draws and two defeats.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Carlisle United have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
CARLISLE
|
WALSALL |
LLDDW
| DWWDL
|
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Carlisle United have met on sixty-seven previous occasions, and it's the Saddlers who hold an overall win/ loss advantage, having secured victory on twenty-six occasions compared to the Cumbrians' twenty.
There have also been twenty-one draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Brunton Park on Saturday, 7th November 1931 as the two sides met in a Division Three (North) clash which Carlisle won by four-goals-to-nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting, a League Two clash, took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, 22nd October 2024, and saw the Saddlers take all three points.
Walsall opened the scoring with just two minutes on the clock when Jamille Matt and Nathan Lowe were alert to some sloppy defending as Lowe grabbed his eighth goal of the campaign.
The Saddlers started the second half in similar fashion to the first as Jamille Matt flicked the ball on for an onrushing Jamie Jellis who broke past his man before slotting the ball past the 'keeper.
Jamile Matt's strong showing continued ten minutes into the half as he slammed the ball home after the visiting defence simply couldn't deal with a ball into the area from a free-kick.
Frustratingly, Walsall let another clean sheet slip away late in the half as Jon Mellish put his side on the board following a corner that the Saddlers simply failed to deal with.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Paul Marsden who is based in Lancashire will take charge of the match with Thomas Cooke and Jonathan Wyatt being named as assistant referees, whilst David Holmes has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES
|
15
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
72
| 2
|
PENALTIES
|
5
|
