This Saturday sees Crewe Alexandra host Walsall at Gresty Road for their fourth game of the League Two season. It has been an underwhelming start for both sides, with both looking for three points to propel themselves up the league table.
After a win and two draws, Crewe sit sixth in League Two on five points from the nine points on offer.
Crewe’s first game of the season saw them face Mansfield in a game that saw four goals and a red card. Mansfield raced to the lead through an early brace from KD Davis before Mickey Demetriou pulled it back to 2 - 1 just before half time. Rip Adebisi levelled the score in the second half just two minutes after Calum MacDonald was shown a red card. For their second game of the season Crewe came home from Swindon with another 2 - 2 draw where goals from Zac Williams and Adebisi wrestled their team back into the game and earned them a point on the road. Between these fixtures Crewe played Championship side Sunderland in the First Round of the League Cup. Luke Offord put Crewe in the lead but The Red Devils were penned back by a Chris Rigg goal sending the tie to penalties. Crewe’s penalty takers scored all five, with Pierre Ekwah’s miss giving them the 5 - 3 win.
Crewe’s midweek fixture against Newport saw them run riot at Gresty Road. A brace from Demetriou, a Chris Long penalty and a goal from Elliott Nevitt gave Crewe the 4 - 2 win over Newport.
Walsall sit in a disappointing 19th with one win, two losses and just three points and an inferior goal difference.
Walsall opened their season with a trip away to Morecambe. Adam Mayor opened the scoring for Morecambe early with Danny Johnson answering within the first half. However it was opening weekend heartbreak for Walsall when Farrend Rawson won it for Morecambe in the 92nd minute. Though in the next league game Walsall was on the right side of a 2 - 1 loss when they beat Stockport. In their first home game Johnson and Aramide Oteh gave Walsall the 2 - 0 lead and even with less possession and a late goal from Ryan Rydel The Saddlers held on. The clash in the First Round of the League Cup was a seven goal thriller against Blackburn. Goals from Oisin McEntee, Ross Tierney and Ronan Maher weren’t enough to stop Blackburn winning 4 - 3 and sealing the spot in the Second Round.
Walsall were on the other side of a 4 - 2 score line in their midweek game. Wrexham stormed into the lead, already 2 - 0 up before Walsall could score through Chris Hussey. Anthony Forde’s own goal in added time only ended as a consolation goal for Walsall.
Crewe and Walsall have met 76 times in their histories with The Saddlers having a marginal advantage in the fixture. Walsall have won 31 times but haven’t won since 2013. Crewe have won on 25 occasions with three of those coming in the last five games. The two sides have shared points 20 times which based on their showings so far this season could be a likely outcome this weekend.