Walsallvs.Doncaster

While victory could send the visitors into second-place, the Saddlers set out in search of a fifth league win on the bounce as they look to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the standings.

Match preview

High-flying Walsall pulled six points clear at the top of the League Two standings last Saturday when they picked up a 2-0 victory over 10-man Harrogate Town at the Exercise Stadium.

With Josh March receiving his marching orders after two quick-fire bookings, the visitors took advantage of their numerical upper hand as Albert Adomah doubled the advantage after Nathan Lowe put them in front in the 34th minute.

While this marked a fourth straight defeat for Harrogate, Walsall have now won five games on the bounce, picking up four back-to-back victories in the League Two and seeing off Reading on penalties in the second round of the EFL Trophy on December 10.

Matt Sadler's men are also unbeaten in 11 straight league matches, claiming seven wins and four draws, and have lost just one of their most recent 15 matches across all competitions, which came on November 30 whe they suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup second round.

Having guided the club to an 11th-placed finish last season after taking over at the helm of affair in January, it has been an impressive first full season for Sadler as Walsall currently lead the way at the top of the League Two table with 43 points from 20 games, six points above second-placed Port Vale.

The Saddlers' solid first half of the season has been owing to their strength at both ends of the pitch as they have scored a league-high 37 goals so far and currently host the joint-most clean sheets of all 24 teams in the division (9).

Doncaster Rovers, meanwhile, ensured they remain within touching distance of Walsall at the upper echelons of the table as they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium last Saturday.

Joseph Olowu opened the scoring in the 38th minute to hand the hosts a first-half lead and after Patrick Kelly and Kyle Hurst scored after the break to make sure of the result, substitute Sol Solomon netted in the 83rd minute to give Tranmere something to cheer.

Before that, Doncaster saw their nine-game unbeaten run come to an end on December 10, when they were beaten 1-0 by Port Vale EFL Trophy second round, four days before suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of AFC Wimbledon.

Having secured a fifth-placed finish last term before a gruesome penalty-shootout loss to Crewe Alexandra in the playoff semi-finals, Grant McCann's men have picked up 10 wins and six draws from their 21 League League Two games to collect 36 points and sit third in the table, one point off second-placed Port Vale.

While Doncaster will be looking to continue from where they left off Tranmere and leapfrog Port Vale in the table, they have lost five of their last six league visits to the Poundland Bescot Stadium since September 2014.

Walsall League Two form:

W

D

W

W

W

W

Walsall form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

W

Doncaster Rovers League Two form:

D

D

W

D

L

W

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

W

W

D

L

L

W

Team News

Walsall will head into the Boxing Day showdown without the services of experienced forward Joshua Gordon and 18-year-old midfielder Dylan Thomas, who are recuperating from injuries.

Brandon Comley is also set to sit out his sixth straight game while English defender Priestley Farquharson continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines since coming off injured against Tranmere in August.

Jamille Matt missed the game against Harrogate through suspension due to accumulated yellow cards but the 35-year-old forward, who has six league goals, is eligible to return to action here.

As for Doncaster, veteran defender Richard Wood has been ruled out since picking up a severe injury against Newport County on August 17 and the 39-year-old is out of contention for Thursday's clash.

He is joined on the club's injury table by fellow defender Thomas Nixon, who has missed each of the last six games since coming off injured against Carlisle United back in November.

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen; Barrett, Jellis, Stirk, Lakin, Gordon; Adomah, Lowe

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Sharman-Lowe; Emmanuel, Olowu, McGrath, Fleming; Bailey, Kelly; Molyneux, Broadbent, Gibson; Sharp

We say: Walsall 3-1 Doncaster Rovers

Looking at recent meetings between Walsall and Doncaster, we anticipate a thrilling matchup at the Poundland Bescot Stadium with plenty of goalmouth action.

While we expect McCann's men to put up a fight, home advantage gives Walsall an edge here and we are backing them to make it a cheerful Boxing Day for their supporters.

Written by

Joshua Ojele

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