It doesn’t get much harder being a Walsall fan as it is right now. Four consecutive defeats in League 2 leaves the Saddlers currently battling relegation to the National League.
Walsall Boss Darrell Clarke has spent all week saying how weak his players are and will be hoping for a response against his hometown club Mansfield Town.
TEAM NEWS
WALSALL
Walsall will be without defender Mat Sadler following his basketball moment on Tuesday night.
Still unsure how long Caolan Lavery is out for but Clarke will have Gaffney, Gordon and Adebayo to choose from (oh the joys)
MANSFIELD
Jacob Mellis could be back in contention but Danny Rose, Craig Davies and Jordan Graham are doubts.
LIKELY LINE UPS?
Walsall – Roberts, Clarke, Jules, Scarr, Pring, McDonald, Bates, Sinclair, Holden, Adebayo, Gaffney
Mansfield – Logan, Shaughnessy, Pearce, Sweeney, Gordon, McDonald, Bishop, Benning, Khan, Cook, Maynard
ONES TO WATCH
WES MCDONALD (WALSALL)
Wes is our only hope in the attacking third and we will again be looking to his creativity as we try to break down a resolute Mansfield defence.
ANDY COOK (MANSFIELD)
Cook needs no introduction with the Walsall fans having finished last season as the Saddlers top goal scorer.
PAST MEETINGS
The Saddlers have faced Mansfield on fifty-eight occasions – winning twenty-eight and losing eighteen.
The last two games between both clubs has ended in a draw.
The last time both sides met was in 2007 where Mansfield came from 1-0 down to win 2-1. Ian Roper scored for the Saddlers.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee – Andy Haines
Linesmen – Peter Gooch and Gary Hilton
Fourth Official : David Hunt
The EFL must dislike Walsall at the minute. Last weekend we had Darren Drysdale, this week we have someone just as bad in Andy Haines.
VITAL PREDICTION – WALSALL 2-1 Mansfield
We cannot afford to lose this one or pressure will begin to crank up on manager Darrell Clarke. The Saddlers have won just one home game so far this season, it cannot continue.
We need to start pushing up this league.
UP NEXT
Saturday 2nd November
Sky Bet League 2
Swindon v WALSALL
