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NEWS, VIEWS & TEAM NEWS
Following last weekend's dismal defeat to Port Vale, that saw the Saddlers let slip a 2-1 lead on the way to a 3-2 reverse, Walsall have now gone some nine league games without a win.
A long way from the side that enjoyed a twelve point lead at the top of the table, the Saddlers now sit third in the table and are in real danger of falling into the Play-Off places as we near the end of the campaign.
A lack of cutting edge, couple with an increasingly generous backline, the team has lost its identity, and occasionally looks at a loss when it comes to getting back to winning ways.
Many of the ongoing issues can be laid at the feet of Head Coach Mat Sadler, his lack of effective changes, along with an apparent desire to reward poor performance with a place in the starting XI, see the team floundering at the worst time imaginable.
However, it's not all the gaffer's fault as there is more than enough experience amongst the ranks, and several of the most experienced heads have simply failed to take a stand and help their younger colleagues close out the campaign.
With a handful of games remaining between now and the end of the campaign, we can only hope the team will be able to secure enough points to ensure promotion, as we're struggling to see just how a team that has seen a commanding lead evaporate would ever be able to rise to the occasion when it comes to potential Play-Offs.
Onto team news, and there continue to be several absentees, as Priestley Farquharson and Jack Earing are still out. Josh Gordon could feature, whilst Harry Williams appears to be out of contention.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Opponents Barrow will reach this weekend's match on the back of an encouraging 3-0 win over Milton Keynes Dons.
Aaron Pressley scored twice before substitute Tyler Smith added a third in stoppage time as the Bluebirds secured a first win in three games.
Despite seeing their early season promise dwindle into a mid-table finish, manager Andy Whing will have plenty to build upon in 2025/26.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Barrow have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
BARROW
|
WALSALL |
DWLDW
| DDDDL
|
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Saddlers and Bluebirds have met on forty-one previous occasions, and it's Walsall that hold a narrow head-to-head lead with fifteen wins compared to Barrow's fourteen.
There have also been a total of twelve draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Fellows Park on Saturday, 4th February 1922 as the two sides faced-off in a Division Three (North) clash which saw the Saddlers secure the win by three-goals-to-one.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 14th December 2024 and saw the Saddlers win by a goal-to-nil.
Walsall opened the scoring just before the thirty-minute mark, as Taylor Allen received a pass from Ryan Stirk on the edge of the area before firing the ball through a crowd of players and into the back of the net.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Stephen Martin who is based in Staffordshire will take charge of the match with Mark Dwyer and Carl Fitch-Jackson being named as assistant referees, whilst John Mulligan has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES
|
28
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
114
| 1
|
PENALTIES
|
3
|
