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PRE-MATCH VIEWS
It's the penultimate weekend of the 2021/22 Sky Bet League Two campaign and the Saddlers make the trip to the Colchester Community Stadium where they will, unsurprisingly, take on Colchester United in a match that is effectively a dead rubber as neither side is facing the drop or will be able to mount a challenge on the top-half of the table.
Fresh off a welcome win over title-chasing Port Vale, where goals from Sam Perry and Emmanuel Osadebe put a dent in the visitor's hopes of securing automatic promotion, many members of the squad continue to sing for their supper as they look to earn an extended stay at the newly named Poundland Bescot Stadium.
With injuries to the likes of Rory Holden, Conor Wilkinson, and the recently felled Joss Labadie taking their toll, there is plenty of room for one or more of the fringe players to throw their hat into the ring and give the gaffer a decision to make when he begins to compile the released and retained list in a few short weeks.
Despite enjoying a strong spell of form in WS1, the Reds winning six of their last seven in front of the home faithful, the same can't be said for awaydays with the Saddlers winning just one of their last thirteen on the road, dismal form to say the least.
Opponents Colchester United will arrive at the match on the back of a 2-1 victory over Newport County, a win which ended the Exiles' faint hopes of making a late break for the Play-Offs for at least another year.
The U's have won just three of their last thirteen home games meaning this weekend's match is a meeting of two teams who are statistically likely to cancel each other out. And on that note, enjoy the game!
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been seventy-one competitive meetings between the Saddlers and U's, and it's Walsall who hold a small head-to-head advantage, having won on twenty-six occasions, compared to Colchester's twenty-five.
There have also been twenty 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.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The EFL has confirmed that Dean Whitestone, who is based in Northamptonshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Adam Crysell and Lee Venamore have been named assistant referees. Daniel Lamport will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
|
33
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
101
| 1
|
PENALTIES AWARDED
|
10
|
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.
Not an iFollow Walsall subscriber? There are a range of options available, including monthly, annual, and gift subscriptions. For further information on the service, or to set up your subscription, click HERE.