Walsall Preview

With only one league win in 16 games and a manager with virtually no resources and falling attendances, the game at Walsall tomorrow is a must win match.

The Story So Far

Recent Form

Overall League Record

Leading Goalscorers (League + Cup)

Town Team News

Injury-hit Grimsby face a struggle to put eleven first-team players on the pitch. Pouton and Livingstone look set to miss a large part of the season, McDermott is still recovering from his calf injury, Campbell and Rowan will be missing over the Christmas and New Year period and Gallimore is struggling to be fit. Broomes departed for Sheff Wed, which means Raven will come in at the back to partner Paul Groves. It looks likely that Neilson will play at right back and Butterfield will move into midfield. Boulding will continue down the left with Jevons and Jeffrey leading the attack.

Walsall Team News

Ian Brightwell and Don Goodman remain out of the side through injury but Ian Roper returns for the Midlanders after serving a one-match ban. Frederic Biancalani could be ready for a start and so too could ex-Mariner Andy Tillson, although the latter is more unlikely of the two.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met it was back in the 99/00 season when Walsall eventually got relegated back into Division Two. However, the Saddlers won on the day 1-0 at the Bescot Stadium in the days when Mark Nicholls was at the club on loan from Chelsea.

Walsall: Walker, Brightwell, Barras, Viveash, Padula, Wrack, Bukran (Keates, 84), Vlachos, Matias, Ricketts (Larusson, 84), Robins

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott (Butterfield, 81), Lever, Livingstone, Gallimore, Donovan, Coldicott, Groves, Black (Buckley, 81), Clare, Nicholls (Pouton, 63)  Report

Walsall Head-to-Head (63rd on The Opposition Ladder).

Fishy Prediction

With just one win between the two sides in the last 12 games, something has to give. Walsall have conceded 12 goals in their last five games whereas the Mariners have been improving on that front but have only scored one goal in four games. Sorry, but this looks like either a 0-0 or a 4-3 - but which way it goes I wouldn't like to guess!

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