Fleetwoodvs.Walsall

Last time out, the Saddlers were beaten 3-0 by Bradford City, who ended their impressive 16-game unbeaten streak in the league.

Match preview

Fleetwood have won two, drawn one and lost two of their five games under Pete Wild, a marked improvement given they had won just one of their last 12 with Charlie Adam in the dugout.

However, the Fishermen lost 2-1 at home to relegation-threatened Carlisle United in their most recent game, though Sam Lavelle's winner was mired in controversy and Wild felt that the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.

To make matters worse for Tuesday's hosts, Ronan Coughlan, who had equalised for Fleetwood, picked up an Achilles injury that required him to be stretchered off following a challenge that arrived as he struck home on the 70-minute mark.

That loss left Wild's men 15th in League Two, twelve points above Carlisle in the relegation zone but 11 points behind Bradford in the playoff spots having played 25 matches.

In midweek, the Fishermen will face a side that are undoubtedly the strongest in the division, though despite having tasted defeat at the hands of a relegation contender last time out, they may draw confidence from the fact that they have lost just one of their five most recent home games.

Meanwhile, Mat Sadler's Walsall will be disappointed to have lost 3-0 on the road to Bradford on Saturday, especially considering that they had not lost in the league since October 1.

Notably, that early-season loss came in Tuesday's reverse fixture, when Fleetwood ran out 6-2 winners thanks to braces from Coughlan and Kayden Hughes, as well as late goals from Matty Virtue-Thick and Mark Helm.

Since then, the Saddlers have won 12, drawn four and lost just once, including a commendable nine-game winning streak leading up to their loss last time out.

Regardless, the visitors remain at the top of the fourth tier where they are an unassailable 12 points clear of second-placed Crewe Alexandra, and are assuredly title favourites.

In midweek, Sadler's side will be keen to pick up all three points in a routine fashion in order to deny the chasing pack any slight hope of a remarkable slip-up.

Fleetwood Town League Two form:

W

D

L

W

W

L

Walsall League Two form:

W

W

W

W

W

L

Walsall form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

L

Team News

Fleetwood Town will miss striker Ronan Coughlan, who scored last time out as well as netting a brace against Walsall earlier this season.

In his absence, expect Danny Mayor to start up top, flanked by Mark Helm and Phoenix Patterson.

Walsall handed a debut to 19-year-old Manchester United-loanee striker Ethan Wheatley in Saturday's defeat, and after Jamille Matt picked up an injury in that game, the youngster could be in line for his first start in midweek.

Albert Adomah should be partnered with Wheatley, and the duo will be supported from wide areas by wing-backs Connor Barrett and Liam Gordon.

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:

Lynch; Broom, Bennett, Bolton, Potter; Bonds, Virtue-Thick, Sarpong-Wiredu; Helm, Mayor, Patterson

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen; Barrett, McEntee, Stirk, Lakin, Gordon; Wheatley, Adomah

We say: Fleetwood Town 1-3 Walsall

Though the visitors lost last time out, they are still undoubtedly the strongest side in the division.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

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