Walsall make the trip to Morecambe tonight, in the hope of getting back to winning ways. It is the type of game that Darrell Clarke will want to win, to avoid losing touch with those sides making up the play-off’s. A win against Morecambe would see Walsall overtake them, as they are currently two places, and three points ahead. Both sides have a similar goals for and against, scoring one more than them, and conceding one fewer, however they have played two games fewer than us, showing they both score, and concede more than the Saddlers.
Morecambe
Morecambe have been on a good spell of form of late, despite the loss against Leyton Orient midweek, winning four of their last five games in the league. They did lose in the FA Cup, however this was against very strong Chelsea side. After starting the season brightly, Morecambe started to slide down the table, finding wins difficult to come by in October and November. However since December 1st, they have won, five from seven, and see themselves on the edge of the play-off’s.
Morecambe have had a quiet transfer window so far, with only the one addition, midfielder Brad Lyons, who joined on loan from Blackburn. Lyons has only featured off the bench for the Shrimps, but could feature tonight. Keeping a steady side is something manager Derek Adams will be happy with, as he had a big rehaul over the summer. He has got the side playing better football than last season, and they are slowly becoming his side, after years of Jim Bentley.
Goals and creativity are coming from Midfield, with winger Mendes-Gomes, and centre midfielders Adam Phillips and Aaron Wildig the top scorers. Phillips is a player to watch. With six goals, and four assists to his name, Morecambe will know that keeping him on the ball is key to getting a result.
Walsall
Walsall will be looking to improve on the Oldham result and bag the win, to avoid going five games winless. It was an improved performance from the previous three before it, but the lack of cutting edge in front of goal is becoming a concern. Jack Nolan impressed, and fans would like to see him starting again, or see Wright make his first appearance if not.
New signing Jayden Reid won’t be available until the weekend, which is a shame as it would boost the attacking options having him and Wright there. The 4-2-3-1 system seemed to improve the creativity in the side. With any system, consistency is key, and keeping players in the formation means they can understand the roles they are being asked to do, and improve at them.
Gordon, McDonald and possibly Nolan could all be set to start as an attacking three, and with Morecambe good at shutting sides out, especially if they take the lead, the onus will be on them to break the side down, and give Adebayo some good service, so he can find his goal-scoring form again. Defensively, the decision will be whether Mat Sadler is fit enough to play. If so, then we could see Jules play on the left. If Sadler doesn’t play, the Callum Cockerill-Mollett start, with Jules in the middle.
Out of all the decisions Clarke has to make, the biggest could possibly be at right-back. Fans were less than impressed with Hayden White’s performance at the weekend, and many will want to see Cameron Norman starting in his place.
Team News
Clarke has confirmed that Jack Rose will not be fit, and despite the good new that Holden will be back sooner than expected, he will still be out until around the end of February. Guthrie, Clarke and Nurse are also set to miss out again tonight.
Vital Line-up – Roberts, Norman, Scarr, Sadler, Jules, Kinsella, Bates, Nolan, Gordon, McDonald, Adebayo.
