Midlands | Walsall looking to continue impressive form

Crawley Town v Walsall preview

Walsall return to league action and are on the road for the first time since beating Accrington Stanley in September.

Author | Peter Grainger 

Stadium | Broadfield Stadium

A meeting between the two sides in April 2023

The Walsall boss, Mat Sadler, has been looking at the previous month after it was announced on Friday that he won the award for League Two Manager of the Month. He dedicated the award to the squad and used it to show the hard work that goes into the club every day from staff behind the scenes.

Last time in League Two

Aaron Pressley’s second-half brace kept Walsall at the top of League Two as they came from behind to beat Bristol Rovers 2-1. The visitors had taken a deserved first-half lead through Fabrizio Cavegn after dominating the early stages, while Walsall struggled to impose themselves before the break.

Mat Sadler’s half-time changes transformed the contest, with Pressley heading in Vincent Harper’s cross to level the score. The turnaround was complete nine minutes later when the striker tucked home from close range after good work by Connor Barrett, sealing Walsall’s sixth win in seven games and maintaining their impressive start to the campaign.

Walsall team news

Harrison Burke and Daniel Kanu will be assessed ahead of kick-off, whilst defenders Mason Hancock, Harry Williams, and Elicha Ahui, who all remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

A look at the opposition

Crawley began the season aiming to establish themselves among the stronger sides in the division, but their results have fallen short of expectations. They currently sit 21st, just two points above the relegation zone.

The team showed promise early in September with three consecutive wins, but that momentum has stalled as they have since suffered three successive league defeats to Notts County, Barrow, and Cambridge United.

Facts, stats, and analysis

Walsall have made an impressive start to the season, winning eight of their opening 11 League Two matches (D1 L2). It is their best return at this stage since the 2000-01 campaign, when they were promoted from the third tier.

Their away record at Crawley Town is less encouraging, with just one win in their last eight league visits (D5 L2) and none in the past four meetings since a 3-2 victory in September 2019.

Crawley, meanwhile, have beaten Walsall only once in their last 11 league encounters (D5 L5), that solitary success a 1-0 home win in April 2022.

After three consecutive defeats, Crawley will be aiming to avoid a fourth straight loss in League Two for the first time since March 2023.