Fleetwood Town vs Walsall preview - Saddlers seek revenge after Bradford City setback

Bradford City became the first side to crack the Walsall code since Fleetwood when they condemned them to a 3-0 defeat at Valley Parade on Saturday. 

That put paid to a 16-match unbeaten run and ended a famous club record nine-match winning streak. 

Defeats have been few and far between for the Saddlers this term but they will head to Highbury keen on righting the wrongs of their 6-2 drubbing at Bescot in October. 

That dismal night proved to be a wakeup call rather than the beginning of their downfall and they will need to dig up any seeds of doubt before they can grow once again after their latest setback on the weekend. 

Walsall did still maintain their 12-point cushion at the League Two summit after second-place Crewe Alexandra slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Accrington Stanley at Gresty Road. 

But Walsall cannot breath easy just yet and the warning signs were there for all to see at Valley Parade. They looked a shadow of the team which has eased to the top of the league and conceded more goals (three) than they had in their previous six on their travels in League Two. 

They felt the absence of Jamie Jellis, who missed out due to illness, while Jamille Matt was forced off with a knock just before the half-hour mark. 

Sadler does not expect Matt's injury to be serious but both the 35-year-old and Jellis remain doubts ahead of their midweek trip to Lancashire.

That leaves Sadler with a selection headache in attack with Walsall potentially deprived of the front-two which has led the line so supremely for much of the campaign. 

It will be interesting to see how much Nathan Lowe's recall will affect the Saddlers' title charge in the long-term but Danny Johnson was unable to seize his rare chance in the side. 

Not only did Johnson fail to convert from the spot but the 31-year-old largely cut an isolated figure alongside 37-year-old Albert Adomah. A lack of service from those behind him perhaps goes someway to explaining his ineffectual performance as well as his lack of minutes since returning to Walsall. 

But if Walsall needed an example of why Sadler has been reluctant to start him then the defeat at Bradford was a damning indictment. 

Josh Gordon will at least provide legs in the press, which Walsall severely lacked on Saturday, although Ethan Wheatley will also be eager to make his mark following his arrival on loan from Manchester United.

It's always difficult to predict whether a loan signing will be a success but the signing of Wheatley does feel like a real coup. He has big shoes to fill but landing a striker with his reputation underlines the strong track record which Walsall have built on the loan market. 

Meanwhile, Walsall will be without Donervon Daniels (calf), Priestley Farquharson (thigh), Jack Earing (ankle) and George Hall (hamstring).