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Preview: Walsall vs. Morecambe - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 February 2024, 21:45
Morecambe will be bidding to continue their strong run of form in the fourth tier of English football when they travel to Walsall on Tuesday night.

The visitors have picked up 10 points from their last four matches to rise into 10th position in the League Two table, while Walsall sit 16th, five points behind their opponents in this match.

Match preview

Walsall will enter this match off the back of an impressive result, having recorded a 2-1 victory over second-placed Mansfield Town on Saturday afternoon.

The victory proved to be their first in the fourth tier since New Year's Day, and it moved them onto 42 points from 31 league matches this season, which has left them in 16th position in the table.

Mat Sadler's side have only lost one of their last five in League Two, and the success on Saturday was a real step forward, so the team should be looking up the table rather than down.

The Saddlers are only five points behind their opponents on Tuesday and just six points from the playoff positions, so a couple more wins in quick succession really could catapult them up the division.

Walsall's home form this season has been relatively strong, picking up 26 points from their 15 matches in front of their own fans, suffering only three defeats in the process.

Morecambe, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon, which stretched their unbeaten run in League Two to four matches.

A strong run of form has seen Ged Brannan's side pick up 10 points from the last 12 available, which has moved them into 10th position in the table, just one point off the playoffs.

The Shrimps were relegated from League One last season, and it has been a testing campaign to date, but there is certainly enough quality in the squad to claim a playoff spot and then challenge for an immediate return to the third tier.

Morecambe have actually lost seven times on their travels in League Two this season, but they have also managed to record seven wins and have the sixth-best away record in the division.

The Shrimps have also won their last two League Two fixtures against Walsall, including a 2-1 success in the reverse fixture between the two sides earlier this term.

Walsall League Two form:

L

D

D

L

D

W

Morecambe League Two form:

W

L

W

W

W

D

Team News

Walsall are likely to be without the services of Priestley Farquharson, who was substituted at the interval of the narrow home success over Mansfield on Saturday.

The defender's replacement on the afternoon was Emmanuel Adegboyega, and he came up with the game's winning goal, so it seems likely that will now be the change ahead of kickoff.

Head coach Sadler could otherwise name the same XI, with Isaac Hutchinson, who has 10 goals from a midfield position this season, operating in the middle.

Morecambe, meanwhile, are set to be without the services of forward Ged Garner, who was forced off in the first half of the team's 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon.

Jordan Slew is therefore on standby to play through the middle for the in-form outfit on Tuesday.

Head coach Brannan could also decide to make a further change in the final third of the field, with Gwion Edwards potentially freshening up a central area.

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Smith; Okagbue, Abegboyega, Allen; Knowles, Hutchinson, Cowley, Earring, L Gordon; Matt, J Gordon

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Mair; Senior, Stokes, Bedeau, Tutonda; Taylor, Songo'o; Brown, Edwards, Larsson; Slew

We say: Walsall 0-1 Morecambe

Morecambe have been inconsistent on their travels this season, winning seven but also losing seven, while Walsall have only been beaten three times in front of their own fans. The visitors are flying at the moment, though, and we are expecting them to navigate their way to an important three points.

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