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Preview: Salford City vs. Walsall - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League Two clash between Salford City and Walsall, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Since this article was published, this game has been postponed.

Salford City face Walsall at the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday, with both sides narrowly outside the playoff positions.

Walsall are unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions, dating back to the middle of October, while Salford have been victorious in three of the last four head-to-head encounters.


Match preview

Michael Flynn in charge of Newport County on December 1, 2018© Reuters

Spending their fourth season in League Two, Salford City's Project 92 owners have seen the Ammies disappointingly struggle in recent weeks.

Sitting in eighth position only two points behind Mansfield Town, who occupy the final playoff position, Neil Wood's side will be leapfrogged by Walsall if they suffer defeat at the Peninsula Stadium.

Before successive victories, Salford's majority shareholders, which include Manchester United legends David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville, witnessed the Ammies without a victory in six matches.

A comfortable 3-0 victory against Gillingham, courtesy of goals from Theo Vassell, Ryan Watson and Callum Hendry, saw the Ammies register their first victory in four league matches.

A 1-0 success over Bradford City in the Football League Trophy, thanks to Lorent Tolaj's first-half strike, registered a much-needed confidence boost ahead of a potentially tricky encounter against one of the league's most in-form sides.

Languishing in League Two for as long as Salford have resided in League Two, Walsall have registered an impressive 20 points from their last nine matches.

Sitting only one point behind Saturday's hosts, Walsall have been flying high in recent weeks, most recently beating Doncaster Rovers 2-0.

Before victory at the Eco-Power Stadium, the Saddlers progressed to the third round of the FA Cup, coming from behind to defeat Carlisle United 2-1 after late goals in the second half from Andy Williams and Douglas James-Taylor.

Since being relegated from League One in the 2018-19 season, it might be a surprise that Walsall has never graced the presence of the playoffs in the fourth tier of English football.

If results were to go their way, Walsall could end the weekend in the top seven of the League Two standings.

Salford City League Two form:


Salford City form (all competitions):


Walsall League Two form:


Walsall form (all competitions):



Team News

Salford City manager Neil Wood could field the same starting lineup as against Gillingham with no new injury worries ahead of the clash with Walsall.

Struggling in the goalscoring department since the departure of Brandon Thomas-Asante to West Bromwich Albion at the end of August, Ryan Watson and Callum Hendry are the Ammies' joint-top scorers with only four goals in all competitions.

Expected to again lead the line for Walsall, Danny Johnson has already scored 13 times this campaign, with only Sam Hoskins and Andy Cook finding the back of the net on more occasions in the league than the on-loan Mansfield Town striker this season.

Similarly to Salford, not many changes will be expected from Wood's managerial counterpart, Michael Flynn, as Walsall look to continue in their determined pursuit of an overdue return to League One.

Salford City possible starting lineup:
King; Bolton, Vassell, Nartley, Touray; Watson, Watt, Tolaj; Hendry, Bailey, Smith

Walsall possible starting lineup:
Evans; White, Daniels, Monthe; Bennett, Kinsella, Earing, Gordon; Hutchinson, Johnson, Knowles


SM words green background

We say: Salford City 1-2 Walsall

Hoping to avenge their 2-1 defeat against Salford City last season, Walsall should have enough firepower in the final third to register another victory.

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


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data

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Written by
Chris Heath

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Game History

How you voted: Salford City vs Walsall

Salford City
42.3%
Draw
30.8%
Walsall
26.9%
26
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Jordan Turnbull of Swindon Town is tackled by John Fleck of Coventry City during the Sky Bet League One match between Swindon Town and Coventry City at The County Ground on October 24, 2015
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall23164343202352
2Crewe AlexandraCrewe24119433221142
3Salford City24126629191042
4Port Vale2511862925441
5AFC Wimbledon23124735191640
6Notts County24117638261240
7Doncaster RoversDoncaster2511773530540
8Bradford CityBradford2410863327638
9Grimsby Town25121123640-437
10Chesterfield249783829934
11MK Dons2310493631534
12Bromley2481063530534
13Cheltenham TownCheltenham248793436-231
14Gillingham2393112224-230
15BarrowBarrow2477102326-328
16Fleetwood TownFleetwood226972828027
17Colchester UnitedColchester2451272828027
18Newport CountyNewport2375113040-1026
19Accrington StanleyAccrington2367103240-825
20Tranmere RoversTranmere2367101732-1525
21Harrogate TownHarrogate2574142137-1625
22Swindon TownSwindon2559113141-1024
23Morecambe2455142239-1720
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle2446141938-1918


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