- Crewe Alexandra have lost four and drawn one of their last five League Two matches.
- Walsall FC have failed to win their last five League Two matches (D2, L3).
- Walsall FC have failed to win their last two away matches against Crewe Alexandra.
Crewe Alexandra (12th, 62pts from 45 games) are well outside the playoff race in League Two and have lost form going into this late-season clash with play-off hopefuls Walsall FC (4th, 74pts from 45 games). The Railwaymen have lost four and drawn one of their last five League Two matches, and a 0-0 draw at Colchester was followed by defeats without scoring against Milton Keynes Dons and Tranmere Rovers. Lee Bell has developed a team that are technically proficient and like to keep the ball and play short passes from the back, but their 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 systems can be slow to build up and vulnerable to physical teams. Winger Elliot Nevitt and creative playmaker Shilow Tracey provide a bit of spark and penetration, but top scorer Jack Lankester (7 goals in 23 League Two appearances) is their main outlet.
Walsall’s style is simple and effective – get men behind the ball, be compact and tough to break down, press hard and get men forward in numbers, and be physical. Mat Sadler has overseen an improvement in defensive solidity and an increase in flexibility since his appointment in April 2023, and the Saddlers can be deployed in either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 system. Nathan Lowe is their in-form striker and has scored 15 goals in his last 22 League Two appearances to power the Saddlers’ promotion push. Brandon Comley provides grit and vision in midfield, while veteran defender Donervon Daniels anchors their solid back line.
Walsall FC are the favorites for this match at +110, while Crewe Alexandra are +280 outsiders and the draw is +245. We’re going to take Walsall to edge this one, but the recent form of both sides and the tight nature of this fixture historically suggests that it could be a cagey affair. Walsall have won eight, drawn eight and lost six of their 22 away League Two matches, conceding an average of 1.00 goals per game. Crewe have won nine, drawn six and lost seven of their 22 home League Two matches, scoring an average of 1.36 goals per game. The last League Two meeting between these clubs ended in a 1-1 draw, and with four draws in the last six contests between these clubs, this could be another close matchup. With both teams in patchy form and neither particularly free-scoring, the ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ market looks to have solid value for Saturday’s game.