Preview: Walsall vs. Tranmere Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Hosts Walsall go into the game with the joint-worst form in the league, only picking up two points in their last six games, so a positive result for them may prove to be more crucial.

Match preview

Walsall welcome Tranmere to the West Midlands having not picked up a victory in the league since the start of August, when they defeated Newport County 1-0 to make it two wins from two at the start of the campaign.

Since then, the Saddlers are winless in seven League Two outings, picking up only three points from the 21 on offer in that time, while their winless streak across all competitions stretches to 10 games.

It has been a drastic downturn in form after such a bright start to the campaign, although if there are any positives to be drawn from those results it is that they have only conceded nine goals in those seven league games.

Indeed, while Walsall have lost seven of their last 10 in all competitions, none of those defeats have come by more than a single goal, so there are fine margins that are preventing them from picking up more points.

Despite the team's form, striker Danny Johnson has still been in good goalscoring form, and his tally of six goals already this season will provide optimism that they have the firepower required to snap out of their current slump.

Since Walsall's last win Tranmere have picked up three of their own, including an impressive 1-0 victory away at sixth-placed Salford City in their most recent outing.

Tranmere have kept a clean sheet in each of those wins too, although those have been stretched out over a nine-game run and they will be aware of the need to find such defensive stability on a more consistent basis.

Full-backs Ethan Bristow and Josh Cogley have been ever-presents in the starting XI this season and this continuity just adds to the settled nature of the Tranmere backline.

Although there are certainly more things to be positive about for Tranmere, they have lost three of their last five league games, so the result of this game is by no means clear.

Walsall competition form:

L

D

L

L

D

L

Walsall form (all competitions):

L

L

L

D

L

L

Tranmere Rovers competition form:

D

L

W

L

L

W

Tranmere Rovers form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

D

Team News

Walsall have used both three-at-the-back and four-at-the-back formations this season, seemingly not settled on either choice, which is understandable when you are searching for a winning formula.

After picking up a point in their last home fixture, playing in a 3-5-2, it is to be expected that this will be their preferred setup going into this fixture, with Hayden White coming back into the side after missing the last league fixture.

Tranmere Rovers have mostly stuck to a 5-3-2 formation but have recently been experimenting with a 4-4-2 which proved successful for them in their victories against Colchester United and most recently Salford City.

It would be surprising if a change was made to the winning team which started last game, including Josh Hawkes, who scored the winner last time out but has only started four games this season.

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Evans; Monthe, Daniels, White; Allen, Kinsella, Hutchinson, Comley, Bennett; Johnson, Knowles

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Bristow, Turnbull, Simeu, Cogley; Hawkes, McAlear, O'Connor, Hughes; Hemmings, Nevitt

We say: Walsall 1-2 Tranmere Rovers

After a positive result against Salford, Tranmere should be full of confidence. Coming up against an out-of-form Walsall side, it seems like the result may be pretty clear, although Walsall have kept games tight so a one-goal margin should be expected.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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