Match Preview: v Crawley Town (A) Match Preview: v Crawley Town (A)

Match Preview: v Crawley Town (A)

Here we take a look ahead to the Saddlers' League Two meeting with Crawley Town.
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 return to action.

PRE-MATCH VIEWS

We've reached the penultimate game of the 2022/23 campaign and, after such a dreadful campaign, we simply can't wait to close the book on what has to be one of the worst four months in terms of spells of form.

Sitting on just two league wins since the year began, the Saddlers have simply failed to build anything resembling a good run of form, with their latest slump seeing them secure just one win in nine League Two games.

Last weekend's narrow defeat to Salford City gave us yet another example of the team shooting itself in the foot as they began the game with the reaction speed of a group of Sloths before conceding yet another early goal.

Going on to lose to the ten-man Ammies, the Saddlers were far too passive for lengthy periods of the game and, although the scoreline was 3-2, they once again allowed an opposition to bully them on their own turf ahead of a predictable climax.

Interim Head Coach Mat Sadler will likely continue to take charge of the team, with the former coach hoping his side can finally enter a well-rounded performance and deny their opponents the three points they so desire.

However, with the lengthy list of recent performances to go on, we're not exactly confident of seeing the team take some points from a game which they have nothing more than pride to play for.

OPPOSITION NEWS

Opponents Crawley Town are unbeaten in their last three games and after defeating fellow relegation battlers Hartlepool United last weekend, need just a point this weekend to secure their place in the fourth-tier.

FORM IN FIVE

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

CRAWLEY TOWN
WALSALL
DLWDW
LDLLL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Walsall and Crawley Town have met on just fourteen previous occasions and it's the Saddlers who hold a small overall lead having won on five previous occasions, compared to the Red Devils' four.

There have also been five draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday, 17th November 2012 as the two sides met in a League One clash which would see four goals scored but would ultimately end all-square.

Febian Brandy had given Walsall the lead with fourteen minutes on the clock, but Billy Clarke levelled the scores some eight minutes later.

The Saddlers re-took the lead via Ashley Hemmings with sixteen minutes of normal time remaining, only for Jonathan Forte to level the scores with eighty-one minutes played.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

Walsall and Crawley Town last met at Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 19 November 2022, with the match ending n an all-too-rare win for the Saddlers as goals from Hayden White and Danny Johnson cancelled out Dom Telford's eleventh minute opener.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The EFL has confirmed that Andy Woolmer, who is based in Northamptonshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Anthony Da Costa and Kevin Howick have been named assistant referees. Stephen Brown will act as Fourth Official.

GAMES
OFFICIATED
32
YELLOW
CARDS
RED
CARDS
110
5
PENALTIES
AWARDED
3

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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