Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea star Cole Palmer will be bidding to add to an incredible Premier League record when he lines up against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League is back and that can only mean one thing. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City are confident of agreeing a lucrative new contract with Erling Haaland after Pep Guardiola agreed to stay, talkSPORT understands. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to build on their impressive win over Osasuna before the international break when they resume their domestic campaign with a clash against Leganes on Sunday evening. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a mixed injury update ahead of the Reds' imminent showdowns with Southampton in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The January transfer window is an opportunity for teams to fix their summer spending on the cheap, or in these cases, for free. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Kai Havertz may have transformed himself at Arsenal - but he's not on the level of his Premier League rivals. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Reece James has suggested that he is remaining upbeat over his latest hamstring injury. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Mohamed Salah is one of the world's best players and he has become one of the top five Liverpool goalscorers ever. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Phil Foden is a superstar for Manchester City, but he still opts to wear an unconventional number at his boyhood club. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest instalment of the Basque derby will take place at San Mames on Sunday night, with Athletic Bilbao welcoming rivals Real Sociedad for what should be a highly-charged affair. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa will be looking to extend a Premier League feat when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having entered the international break with a run of three straight defeats, both Torino and Monza will try to stop the rot on Sunday, when they lock horns in Turin. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Third kits in the Premier League have caught the eye this season and you will certainly notice a unique difference from typical strips… 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Premier League home clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon is their "biggest game of the season" so far, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will attempt to bounce back from successive defeats in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a fixture against Rayo Vallecano at Estadio Ramon on Sunday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will endeavour to maintain or increase their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table when they pit their wits against Southampton on Sunday at St Mary's. 22 November 2024 talksport.com There can't be many things better for a football fan than to see your side score within the first minute of a game. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fifth will welcome fourth in an intriguing La Liga contest on Sunday afternoon, with Villarreal making the trip to El Sadar Stadium to tackle Osasuna. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Jose Mourinho once confirmed he received an offer from the FA to become England manager after leaving his first spell as Chelsea boss. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle have the chance to close in on the Premier League's top four on Monday when they host West Ham, live on talkSPORT. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by 19 places and 24 points in the Premier League table, Southampton and Liverpool cross paths in Sunday's Premier League showdown at St Mary's Stadium. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is expecting to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for Sunday's Premier League bout with Southampton at St Mary's. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive victories in La Liga when they resume their campaign with a clash against Leganes on Sunday evening. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League has been treated to the talents of some of the best African footballers of all time over the years. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton head coach Russell Martin will be forced into at least two changes for Sunday's Premier League clash with leaders Liverpool at St Mary's. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City face another legal dispute with the Premier League after amendments to top-flight sponsorship rules were voted through. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to continue their sensational unbeaten streak, Lille will welcome a struggling Rennes outfit to Decathlon Arena on Sunday afternoon for a Ligue 1 clash. 22 November 2024 talksport.com If Micah Richards had a glimmer of hope he would replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host, he is sorely mistaken. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pedro Porro's agent is reportedly 'convinced' that Ruben Amorim will attempt to bring the Tottenham Hotspur defender to Manchester United following his arrival at Old Trafford.