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League Two | Gameweek 46
May 8, 2023 at 12.30pm UK
The Banks's Stadium
DR
Walsall
2 - 1
Doncaster
Wilkinson (57'), Hutchinson (74')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Faulkner (84')
Biggins (70')

Preview: Walsall vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Walsall vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Monday's League Two clash between Walsall and Doncaster Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Walsall host their final game of the League Two season when they take on Doncaster Rovers at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Monday afternoon.

The Saddlers will commence proceedings 17th in the table, unable to finish any higher than 16th, while the Rovers are one place higher, having acquired three more points than their opponents.


Match preview

As the League Two season reaches its conclusion, Walsall will reflect on what will probably be considered a disappointing campaign, given that they are 23 points off the playoff places.

The Saddlers' form in the second half of the season has been particularly disappointing, acquiring 22 points in their last 25 games, the joint-second fewest of any side in the fourth tier.

Michael Flynn was sacked in mid-April following a very disappointing 3-0 defeat away at Harrogate Town, which was the former manager's seventh game without a win, but there has been little in the way of improvement since his departure.

After taking up the role of interim manager, Mat Sadler lost his first game 3-2 at home against Salford City, with the visitors scoring a 97th-minute winner, and his Walsall side were very disappointing last time out.

In a trip to 22nd-placed Crawley, the Saddlers could only pick up a 0-0 draw in a game devoid of any real quality, with neither side creating any clear-cut opportunities.

Doncaster will also look back on a disappointing campaign, with a bottom-half finish more or less guaranteed, and they could finish as low as 18th if they fail to pick up a victory this weekend.

Although their opponents have been in very poor form, it will be a tall order for Rovers to take anything from Monday's game, given that they have failed to win away from home since early February, losing four and drawing three of their last seven matches on the road.

Not only have they been disappointing on their travels, Danny Schofield's side have picked up just nine points from their last 15 matches, the second-fewest of any side in the division, although they finally managed to bring their poor run to an end in their last match.

At home against Colchester United, Doncaster emerged 1-0 winners courtesy of a first-half goal from Tommy Rowe, the midfielder's second in the league this season, although it was not the best performance, with their opponents having over double the amount of shots.

Walsall League Two form:

Doncaster Rovers League Two form:


Team News

With nothing left to play for on the final day of the season, Sadler could give a chance to some of Walsall's younger players, with Roman Maher potentially being brought in to play in an advanced midfield role, just in behind Matthew Stevens and Conor Wilkinson.

Goalkeeper Owen Evans had to be withdrawn at the break against Crawley last weekend, meaning Jackson Smith could get the nod between the sticks, with the 21-year-old in line to make just his second league appearance for the Saddlers.

As for Doncaster, Schofield may stick with the bulk of the team that finally secured a victory last time out, although it would not be a surprise to see Kyle Hurst come back in for Zain Westbrooke at right-wing

George Miller has been ruled out since the end of March, and the striker is unlikely to feature once again, meaning Todd Miller is likely to lead the line again, with the 20-year-old still in search of his first league goal for the club.

Walsall possible starting lineup:
Evans; Low, McEntee, Monthe; Riley, Knowles, Comley, Gordon, Maher; Stevens, Wilkinson

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Jones; Faulkner, Williams, Seaman; Biggins, Close, Molyneux, Rowe; Westbrooke, Barlow, Miller


We say: Walsall 1-1 Doncaster Rovers

Both sides have been very poor in the second half of the season, and they have their early form to thank for the fact they have not been drawn into the relegation battle.

With both sides devoid of any real quality, we expect them to play out a draw in the final game of the League Two season.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data

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League Two Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeyton Orient462613761342791
4Stockport CountyStockport4622131165372879
5Carlisle UnitedCarlisle4620161066432376
6Bradford CityBradford4620161061431876
7Salford City462291572541875
8Mansfield TownMansfield4621121372551775
9BarrowBarrow46188204753-662
10Swindon TownSwindon461613176155661
11Grimsby Town461613174956-761
12Tranmere RoversTranmere461513184548-358
13Crewe AlexandraCrewe461416164860-1258
14Sutton UnitedSutton461513184658-1258
15Newport CountyNewport461415175356-357
16Walsall461219154649-355
17Gillingham461413193649-1355
18Doncaster RoversDoncaster46167234665-1955
19Harrogate TownHarrogate461216185968-952
20Colchester UnitedColchester461213214451-749
21AFC Wimbledon461115204860-1248
22Crawley TownCrawley461113224871-2346
RHartlepool UnitedHartlepool46916215278-2643
RRochdale46911264670-2438
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