Grimsby vs Walsall preview: Must-win for under pressure Saddlers boss Mat Sadler
Mat Sadler is fighting for his job at Walsall - even if the board have not said as much.
The fans are beginning to turn the screw - even his previous biggest advocates - and anything less than a win at Grimsby Town on Wednesday will spell panic stations.
Walsall have dropped out of the play-off places for the first time since they lost 1-0 to Grimsby in the reverse fixture at Bescot on August 19.
The Saddlers occupied the League Two summit as recently as Boxing Day, but have sunk to ninth following a dismal run of just one win in eight games.
Since beating Crewe Alexandra 1-0 on December 26, Walsall have accumulated just six points from the last 24 available.
That has included back-to-back defeats against Bristol Rovers and Barnet - with the latter performance prompting calls from the crowd for Sadler to be sacked.
Sadler has never lost three league games in a row during his reign. In fact, Walsall have not slumped to such depths since February 2022 under Matt Taylor.
In response, co-chairman Ben Boycott has jetted over from the US to draw up a plan on how the club overcome this difficult situation.
But the players have the perfect opportunity to show that they can fight for this manager.
To his credit, Sadler has never thrown them under the bus, even after performances which have warranted him doing so.
The very least they can do is show the type of energy and desire which propelled them to the top of League Two in the first place.
Confidence and momentum is the holy grail for any team, Walsall currently have neither.
But mentality to overcome issues come from within and this team needs to show as Aden Flint described it; that they're "men".
There has been an 11-day gap between games which has provided Sadler and his group with a chance to reset and reconnect.
Challenges do not come much harder than opponents Grimsby, who are in a rich vein of form.
Grimsby are unbeaten in nine league games - winning six and registering eight clean sheets in the process.
The Mariners lost 1-0 against Wolves in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday on a Blundell Park pitch that resembled a mud bath.
For a team that have drawn blank in four of their last seven games in League Two, Walsall will need to rediscover their shooting boots - and fast.
Club captain Jamille Matt is "fighting to be fit" after nursing a separate knee issue. The 36-year-old had missed the previous two games with a hip problem.
Meanwhile, defender Kacper Lopata will be available after recovering from a thigh injury.
The Barnsley loanee made his debut as a late substitute during the Saddlers' 3-1 win at Tranmere Rovers on January 17, but has not featured since.
Harry Williams (Achilles) and Jake Hollman (hamstring) are both set to miss the rest of the season.
