Walsall v Cheltenham Town: High-flying Robins there to be shot at

The reverse fixture at the Robins, on November 21, is widely regarded as one of the worst performances of the season so far as the Saddlers fell to a 3-0 defeat.

It followed a poor 1-0 loss to struggling Southend but came just before a positive winning run for Darrell Clarke’s team.

Now, Walsall are unbeaten in four and are keen to add a win against high-flying Cheltenham.

Clarke has regularly referred back to the earlier game against Michael’s Duff’s men as an example of what he does not want to see from his team.

After a steady first half the Saddlers capitulated in the second following a Dan Scarr own goal.

That poor result and performance can now be avenged in tomorrow’s clash.

What could be key is Cheltenham’s overlapping wing-backs.

They tend to play a 3-5-2 formation and find space on the flanks by overloading those areas.

Walsall have, in the past, matched teams with their formation despite Clarke abandoning a five-at-the-back formation some time ago.

Saddlers have performed better, and have a more potent attack, in the 4-2-3-1 formation and as the home side, in need of a win, Clarke will likely stick with that system.

If that is the case, the wingers and central midfielders will need to track back and support the full-backs, blocking off any space for the Robins to exploit.

Cameron Norman may come in for his first start since January 2, while Jack Nolan may also return to the starting XI after Tyreik Wright came off with a groin injury on Tuesday night.

New signings Frank Vincent, Derick Osei Yaw and Jayden Reid are all looking for their first starts – and the latter his first game – while Max Melbourne is expected to keep his place at left-back after a goalscoring debut in midweek.

Fellow left-back Callum Cockerill-Mollett has only featured seven times this season, last starting in the reverse fixture against Cheltenham in November.

Jack Rose returned to the bench on Tuesday after a spell on the sidelines, but Liam Roberts has so far kept his place in goal and did his chances no harm with some fine saves against Mansfield.

Rory Holden is currently expected to return from a knee injury at the end of the month, while captain James Clarke has been sidelined for several weeks with an unspecified injury.

Manager Clarke, who is often coy with injury details, is yet to give any information on his captain’s condition.

Meanwhile, loanee Reid is hoping his instincts will serve him well when he makes his first Walsall appearance.

The 19-year-old, on-loan from Birmingham, is yet to feature and was not in the squad on Tuesday.

He spent the first half of the season with Barrow and is now keen to make his mark in a Saddlers shirt.

“I always try to play off my instincts when I am out there on the pitch,” Reid said.

“Once you start doubting yourself you don’t play as well so I just make sure I go off my natural instincts and express myself as much as possible.

“I try to have as much confidence as possible in myself when I am out there on the pitch.

“I’m quite direct, I like to beat people and get at them and hopefully I can add a couple of goals to my name now. I also like to add a bit of flair where I can as well.

“From my first league game with Barrow, I noticed the hunger to win games.

“The level of desire and commitment that you have got to have for the team to win games was very high. The importance of winning games was there to see so you have got to be prepared to fight for each other.”