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PRE-MATCH VIEWS
This weekend's match between Walsall and hosts Mansfield Town will be a meeting between two sides enjoying very different spells of form.
Mat's Sadlers have won just two of their last eight league games and, though they have avoided defeat in their last two league outings, are still struggling to put games to bed with points frequently sacrificed late in games,
Meanwhile, Nigel Clough's Mansfield Town are currently sitting in the League Two Play-Off places and recently confirmed their nineteenth game without defeat as they easily sidestepped Harrogate Town 4-1 in midweek.
Walsall will reach this weekend's match on the back of a one-all draw with Crawley Town, and a match that saw Danny Johnson come off the bench to give the Saddlers a welcome lead, though they were unable to hold onto the result as Crawley levelled in second-half stoppage time.
Whilst the draw with Crawley was far from a devastating result, it was yet another match that saw the Saddlers concede late into a game, as the backline appears to lack concentration as the minutes tick by.
This weekend's match will be a tough test for the depleted Reds and we can only hope the gaffer is able to light a fire under the backsides of a few of the underperforming players and secure something for their short trip to the East Midlands.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Walsall's injury crisis shows no sign of coming to an end as, along with Priestley Farquharson, David Okagbue, Oisin McEntee, and Jack Earing, defender Harry WIlliams and forward Freddie Draper limped off during Tuesday's draw with Crawley Town, giving the manager a selection headache heading into Saturday's game.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Mansfield Town have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
MANSFIELD TOWN
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WALSALL |
DDDWW
| DLWDD
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Saddlers and Stags have met on sixty-five previous occasions, and it's Walsall who hold an overall head-to-head lead, having won 30 times compared to Mansfield's 21.
There have also been fourteen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Fellows Park on Saturday, 11th December 1926 as the two sides faced off in a FA Cup - Second Round clash which saw the Saddlers score two goals without reply.
Their second meeting, which took place on Saturday, 26th November 1932, was also in the FA Cup and saw the Saddlers earn a place in the Second Preliminary Round thanks to a 4-1 win at Fellows Park.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the Stags and Saddlers was a League Two clash that took place at Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 1st January 2023.
Played in front of over 6,000 fans, the match was a close-run affair that saw goals from Douglas James-Taylor and Liam Kinsella secure the points for the Saddlers, despite Rhys Oates' late goal for Mansfield.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that David Rock who is based in Hertfordshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Richard Woodward and Alistair Nelson have been named assistant referees. Grant Taylor will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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10
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
34
| 3
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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1
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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.
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