WALSALL v BARNSLEY
League One
Saturday 23rd March 2019
Kickoff: 1200hrs
Pick: Barnsley win
Bookmaker: Marathonbet
Odds: 1.75 (odds taken at 23:18 GMT, 20 Mar 2019)
The lower leagues continue this weekend despite the international action, and our next preview features a League One clash between Walsall and high-flying Barnsley as the betting tips continue at the Banks’s Stadium with the hosts in relegation trouble…
League One Betting at Marathonbet
Walsall Prediction
Following recent back-to-back defeats to Portsmouth and Sunderland, losing 3-2 at home and 2-1 away from home respectively, Walsall find themselves in a mess and now in the bottom four of League One with a tough fixture coming up on Saturday lunchtime against in-form Barnsley.
After a dismal run of five defeats on the trot in the third tier having lost to Plymouth Argyle, Rochdale, Blackpool, AFC Wimbledon and Coventry City, The Saddlers did stage something of a recovery recently.
The hosts put together a promising looking run of three matches without defeat as the we st midlands club registered wins against Bradford City and Fleetwood Town, both at home, along with a point at Burton Albion in a 0-0 draw.
However, Walsall were unable to contain play-off candidates Portsmouth and Sunderland recently, and they now entertain automatic promotion candidates, Barnsley, this Saturday.
Walsall’s home form has nosedived recently too as The Saddlers have lost five of their last eight matches at home amidst an average looking home record which now stands at 6-4-9 25/32 and also includes just three clean sheets on home soil as well.
- Walsall have lost 5 of their last 8 matches at home in League One
- Barnsley are unbeaten in their last 18 matches in League One
- Barnsley are unbeaten in their last 8 away matches
Barnsley Prediction
Barnsley extended their unbeaten run in League One to an impressive 18 matches when they secured a point in a 0-0 draw away at Doncaster Rovers last Saturday, and although The Tykes have been up against the likes of Portsmouth, Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers in recent weeks – all of whom currently occupy positions in the top six of the division, Barnsley have remained unbeaten throughout.
The visitors now have a great chance to extend their two-point lead over 3rd placed Sunderland in this Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off when they travel to relegation threatened Walsall, whose confidence must be fragile at this stage.
Barnsley bring a reasonable looking away record of 9-5-5 34/18 into this clash as well as an unbeaten run of eight matches on the trot on the road which includes wins at Blackpool, AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham and Southend United.
This eight match unbeaten run away from home also includes scoring 14 goals and conceding just 4 in reply, which also includes five clean sheets into the bargain as well.
Overall, Barnsley have kept nine clean sheets on their travels to date in the third tier, and with the likes of midfielders Mowatt and Bahre (5 goals apiece) along with forwards Woodrow and Thiam (7 goals each), the visitors look set to add another three points here.
Betting Tips Verdict
Despite Barnsley being without the injured midfielder Dougall and striker Moore, the visitors should bag the points against a poor Walsall outfit.
