Walsall are back on the road this evening...
FLEETWOOD VS. WALSALL
Highbury Stadium
Tuesday, 26th January 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
Highbury Stadium
Tuesday, 26th January 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
We travel to the Fylde Coast this evening for our rearranged match against Fleetwood. The initial game, scheduled for 12th December, was postponed due a waterlogged pitch. Walsall will once again be eyeing the League One summit, having been denied top spot by Blackpool’s last-minute equaliser on Saturday. The Saddlers have never lost to the Cod Army, who are currently languishing in the relegation zone, a point from safety. Despite their league position, Steven Pressley’s side are just one game away from the JPT final.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Fleetwood: 21st – P26 W7 D7 L12 F33 A35 PTS28
Walsall: 3rd – P27 W15 D8 L4 F45 A26 PTS53
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Fleetwood: DDWLD
Walsall: DWDLW
LAST TIME OUT:
23rd January – Fleetwood 0-0 Doncaster – League One
Fleetwood slipped into the League One relegation zone after playing out a goalless draw against Doncaster. Jimmy Ryan when closest for Fleetwood when his 25-yard drive crashed against the bar.
Team: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Pond, Davis, Bell, Ryan, Jonsson, Sarcevic, Grant, Henen (Kiwomya 61’), Haughton (Cole 59’).
Subs not used: Jordan, Hornby-Forbes, Nirennold, Hunter, Gogic.
23rd January – Walsall 1-1 Blackpool – League One
Walsall missed the chance to go top of League One after being held by relegation-threatened Blackpool. Jason Demetriou’s tap-in put the Saddlers ahead, but Danny Philliskirk scored a dramatic 94th-minute leveller to rescue Blackpool a point.
Team: Etheridge, Downing, O’Connor, Taylor, Demetriou, Mantom, Chambers, Forde, Henry (Preston 90’), Sawyers (Morris 89’), Bradshaw (Lalkovic 86’) Subs not used: MacGillivray, Flanagan, Cook, Kinsella.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
Fleetwood wins: 0
Walsall wins: 4
Draws: 1
LAST MEETING:
7th November 2015 – Walsall 2-0 Fleetwood – FA Cup First Round
George Evans scored his third goal in four matches as Walsall reached the FA Cup second round. The Manchester City loanee fired the Saddlers ahead on 20 minutes with a crisp low strike. Jamille Matt, Nathan Pond and Declan McManus each went close for Fleetwood but Anthony Forde sealed the win in added time.
FLEETWOOD MANAGER:
Steven Pressley – The 42-year-old has won six of his 19 league and cup matches since succeeding Graham Alexander as Fleetwood manager in October 2015. He spent two years in charge of Coventry and won the Scottish Challenge Cup with Falkirk in his first managerial position. The former Scotland international played for Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Dundee United.
FLEETWOOD STAR MAN:
Bobby Grant – The 25-year-old striker is Fleetwood’s leading scorer this season with eight goals in all competitions. He started his career with Accrington before moving to Scunthorpe for £260,000, and later joined Rochdale and Blackpool prior to signing for Fleetwood last summer.
VIEW FROM THE FLEETWOOD CAMP:
Steven Pressley (on Walsall under Sean O’Driscoll) – “Walsall play in very much the same way under Sean and I think that may have been the chairman’s thinking when they appointed him. Results have still been positive for them and from watching their footage there’s only been a minor couple of tweaks in the way they play."
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is a long-term absentee.
REFEREE:
Scott Duncan.
STAT OF THE DAY:
Walsall have lost only one away league game this season - the joint-fewest in English football's top-four divisions (along with Leicester, Tottenham, Everton and Brighton).
TUESDAY’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES: (7.45pm unless stated)
Blackpool vs. Sheff Utd
Bradford vs. Barnsley
Bury vs. Crewe
Doncaster vs. Port Vale
Peterborough vs. Burton
Shrewsbury vs. Oldham