Match Preview: v Crewe Alexandra (H) Match Preview: v Crewe Alexandra (H)

Match Preview: v Crewe Alexandra (H)

Here is our usual look ahead to the Saddlers' next outing, which sees them play host to Crewe Alexandra.
Don't forget to 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 play host to the Alex at Poundland Bescot Stadium.

PRE-MATCH VIEWS

After drawing five of their last six League Two games, Michael Flynn and his Saddlers arrive at Tuesday evening's match in need of a return to winning ways.

With their hopes of securing a place in the battle for promotion fading with every dropped point, a victory on Tuesday evening is crucial.

Whilst another draw or even a defeat on Tuesday evening, will by no means end the Saddlers' chances of being in the Play-Offs at the end of the season, a continuation of their recent form will make their task all that more difficult.

As goals continue to be as rare as there not being a queue for the toilets at half-time, it's also time for the frontline to find their feet.

Scoring just three goals in our last seven all-competition outings, it's not too difficult to identify where the current issue lies. And, whilst the defence has conceded goals, the lack of opportunity-taking up at the other end has cost the team several points over the last few weeks.

Hopefully, with the welcome debut of Joe Riley, and the impending return of a few of his injured colleagues, the team's creative juices will begin to flow and we'll be able to get the season back on track.

OPPOSITION NEWS

Crewe Alexandra will reach the match on the back of a two-all draw with Harrogate Town, a result which is their second such scoreline in their last three league outings.

Sitting seventeenth in the table ahead of kick-off, the Railwaymen are five points behind the fourteenth-placed Saddlers and will be keen to take maximum points as they hope to avoid falling further behind the teams currently enjoying mid-table mediocrity.

FORM IN FIVE

Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Crewe Alexandra have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.

WALSALL
CREWE ALEXANDRA
LDDDD
LLDWD

HEAD-TO-HEAD

There have been seventy-four competitive meetings between Walsall and Crewe Alexandra, and it's the Saddlers who hold an overall Head-to-Head lead, having won on thirty-one occasions, compared to Alex's twenty-four, whilst the spoils have been shared on some nineteen occasions.

Their first meeting was a League Division Two match which took place at the Alexandra Recreation Ground on Saturday, 5th November 1892, and saw the sides engage in a goal-fest which Walsall Town Swifts won by six-goals-to-five.

Walsall would remain undefeated for the next six meetings between the two, with Crewe's first win not arriving until Saturday, 22nd April 1922 as they won two-nil at the original Gresty Road.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

The most recent competitive meeting took place at Banks's Stadium on Saturday, 1st February 2020, and saw Crewe win by two-goals-to-one as Caolan Lavery's 15th-minute opener cancelled out by Daniel Powell and Oliver Finney's second-half efforts.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The EFL has confirmed that David Rock, who is based in Hertfordshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Grant Taylor and Adam Ricketts have been named assistant referees. Lewis Dawson will act as Fourth Official.

GAMES
OFFICIATED
20
YELLOW
CARDS
RED
CARDS
70
3
PENALTIES
AWARDED
4

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.
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