Walsall will be back in Sky Bet League Two action on Tuesday evening, as they welcome Crawley Town to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.NEWS & VIEWS
After playing out a drab goalless draw with Accrington Stanley on Saturday afternoon, the Saddlers have slipped to fifth in the League two table, and have it all to do if they are to avoid a repeat of last season's slump.
Sitting first in the table at matchday 22, the Saddlers have won just one of their last four games and now eight points off the top, with their dip in form coming as others are finding their feet.
With twenty games remaining, there is more than enough time for the team to reset and climb back up into the prized automatic promotion places, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a fan that currently thinks they're capable of it.
As goals continue to dry up and the once solid defensive wall has developed a crack or two, the belief of the average fan has begun to dwindle. And we can all appreciate why, as this season's struggle has all the hallmarks of last season.
Head Coach Mat Sadler recently revealed that he's not expecting a huge number of incomings and outgoings ahead of next week's Transfer Deadline Day, and that should give us all cause for concern.
There are far too many gaps in the team for anybody, be it Sadler, or anyone on the Board of Directors to be content. We hope that the statement was designed to deflect from at least some of the speculation that will no doubt grow as we near the deadline itself.
Looking towards Tuesday’s fixture, and it's one the team should win, but, given recent games, we're expecting a fifth draw in as many games when it comes to clashes with Crawley.
TEAM NEWS
Jake Hollman remains on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury against Northampton Town. Kemar Roofe and Harry Williams still have no return timeline and on the long-term injury list.
THE OPPOSITION
Opponents Crawley Town sit 20th in the table ahead of kick-off, with their most recent outing seeing them secure three welcome points against Barrow as Taylor Richards' 89th-minute winner saw them secure their first away win since September.
FACTFILE: CRAWLEY TOWN
Nickname: The Red Devils
Founded: 1896
Ground: Broadfield Stadium
Manager: Scott Lindsey
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Crawley Town have met on just eighteen 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 nine draws over the history of the fixture. This history 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
The most recent meeting, also in League Two, took place at the Red Devils' Broadfield Stadium on Saturday, 11th October 2025, and, as with the three previous matches, ended all-square.
The opening goal of the game went the way of the home side, as they bounced back from seeing an early penalty saved when Ryan Loft got on the end of a Harry McKirdy cross to head the ball home.
Walsall levelled the scores some eight minutes into the second half, when Connor Barrett broke in from the wing to unleash a low effort into the bottom corner of the Crawley goal. An away point for the Saddlers.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Scott Oldham who is based in Lancashire, will take charge of the match with Thomas Harty and Jason Roberts being named as assistant referees. Harley McKittrick has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES
|
25
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
97
| 3
|
PENALTIES
|
5
|