Tranmere Rovers host unbeaten promotion-chasing Walsall in a massive Sky Bet League Two clash.
Victory could put Tranmere as high as second if results elsewhere somehow all align in their favour.
Walsall can go top of the table with a win.
Team News
Tranmere have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-0 win over Shrewsbury in midweek EFL Trophy action.
Luke McGee remains their only absentee as he continues to recover from a hip injury.
Walsall will be without Antony Evans for several months after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 2-0 league win over Port Vale last weekend.
Roman Dixon is a doubt after he was substituted during Walsall’s 6-1 home loss to Stevenage in the EFL Trophy in midweek.
Rico Browne, Courtney Clarke and Charlie Crew are away on international duty, whilst Alex Pattison (hamstring) and Harry Williams (Achilles) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Tranmere host Walsall at Prenton Park on Saturday 26 September at 3pm BST, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Tranmere have won just one of their last seven league meetings against Walsall (W1, D1, L5).
- Walsall have lost two of their last six league visits to Tranmere (W3, D1, L2).
- Seven of Tranmere’s 10 points in their opening seven league matches were earned at home (W2, D1).
- Walsall have kept five clean sheets in their opening seven league games this season (W3, D4), except for a 3-2 home win over Accrington Stanley and 2-2 draw at Crewe Alexandra.
Prediction
Despite registering just two wins in their first seven league matches this season, Tranmere have proven a difficult team to play against with four draws which shows how resilient this team is this season when not winning.
Darrell Clarke’s Rovers however must be more clinical than they were in their goalless league draw at Exeter last weekend, because they converted just one of 10 shots onto target, which can’t happen here if they want to win this tricky test of their credentials for a promotion challenge.
Walsall meanwhile have began the league campaign as well as they should given their quality but their defensive record has been in particularly impressive, especially with three 0-0 draws amongst their first seven games yet we know that their promotion challenge can implode from the last two seasons alone.
I however do think that the Saddlers are now in a strong position under Lee Grant so it is really about battling their inner demons of the last two seasons, but in terms of this match – I expect this to be a tough test that might just end in a point apiece if not a Walsall win.
Prediction: Tranmere 1-1 Walsall
Result: Tranmere 1-1 Walsall