Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Hungary
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
United Arab Emirates

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.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among three Premier League teams to have taken an interest in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a significant boost in their efforts to sign Rayan Cherki, whom Lyon have decided to sell in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly made a final decision on whether he plans to re-integrate Marcus Rashford into his squad this summer. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have been told to seek wisdom from darts sensation Luke Littler over how to handle high-pressure situations. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Peter Crouch has scored his first goals for Liverpool in nearly 17 years and he made sure to celebrate accordingly. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's reported capacity to purchase a new striker in the summer transfer window is in excess of £100m due to their good financial health. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will have a special Carabao Cup trophy parade next weekend after ending 70 years of hurt. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will finally get their trophy-winning party in front the Toon Army. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are set to be active during this summer's transfer window, as the recently-appointed Ruben Amorim looks to bring in players capable of thriving in his 3-4-3 system. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate reportedly has no release clause in his current contract amidst interest from Real Madrid in his signature. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are facing a centre-back crisis for their La Liga match against Osasuna next week, with Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen potentially all missing the rescheduled fixture. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Another consolation silver medal is waiting for Arsenal at the 2024-25 Premier League finish line, as Mikel Arteta and co bemoan injuries, suspensions and fatal - yet avoidable - transfer mistakes. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly begun initial talks with Napoli over the possible transfer of Rasmus Hojlund to the Serie A club in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are expected to move for at least one central midfielder during this summer's transfer window. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Twelve years may have passed, but Franck Ribery is still not over his 2013 Ballon d'Or snub. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea are not familiar with quiet summer transfer windows and as it stands, there's no sign of bucking the trend in 2025. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Walsall boss Mat Sadler claimed the decision not to request a postponement this afternoon was 'out of' the club's hands. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona would reportedly be willing to let Raphinha leave during this summer's transfer window if an offer of €120m (£101m) were to arrive, with Manchester United said to be keen to sign the attacker. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Suggestions that Liverpool's season would be disappointing if they only win the Premier League title are ludicrous, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has apparently emerged as a potential transfer target for AC Milan, who took Joao Felix off of the Blues' hands in the January transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have joined the ever-growing list of clubs interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes, according to a report. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has delivered an update on his head injury after the 32-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Brazil squad earlier this week. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Albania and Andorra, both aiming to bounce back from defeats on matchday one of the UEFA FIFA World Cup qualifiers, will face off on Monday in a matchday two clash in Group K. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Andrey Santos has revealed that he is yet to receive any direct contact from Chelsea regarding his plans for 2025-26. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal defender Ben White will likely be a shoo-in for the next England squad and should be considered for a start against Real Madrid in the Champions League, Gunners expert Charles Watts has claimed. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Thomas Tuchel could make an abundance of alterations for his second game in charge of the Three Lions, which comes against Latvia on Monday evening at Wembley. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In what is already a top-of-the-table clash in Group K of UEFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying, England and Latvia lock horns at Wembley Stadium on Monday evening. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have reportedly retained an interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Matheus Cunha. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Nottingham Forest are plotting a club record move for Matheus Cunha if they qualify for the Champions League, talkSPORT understands. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After scraping through their first World Cup qualifier with a late goal from their inspirational skipper, Poland host Group G minnows Malta on Monday.