Bromley v Walsall: Free Tips, Prediction and Odds

Walsall remain top of the League Two table ahead of Thursday night’s trip to Hayes Lane, but Mat Sadler’s men can ill afford to drop any further points against playoff-chasing Bromley.

The Saddlers soared 12 points clear at the turn of the year but that advantage has been frittered away amid a run of three wins, four draws and six defeats in their last 13 games.

Sadler insisted they won’t press the panic button after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Grimsby brought them back to within touching distance of clubs outside the automatic promotion places.

Walsall will soon be boosted by the return of key players with captain Donervan Daniels closing in on a return after almost two months out and fellow defender Priestley Farquharson also returning to full training this week.

But this game comes too soon for forward Josh Gordon and midfielders George Hall and Jack Earing.

As for Bromley, manager Andy Woodman was at a loss to explain the flat display from his side after last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

The Ravens will welcome this return to Hayes Lane, where they have won three of their last four matches.

That sequence includes last week’s superb 1-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers, who were second in the table at the time.

However, Woodman could be without top scorer Michael Cheek after he exited the Tranmere defeat with an injury while a couple of other regular starters are carrying knocks.

Bromley v Walsall free betting tips and predictions

Draw and both teams to score - 7/2

Bromley have been hard to beat at home of late, losing only four of their last 15 matches at Hayes Lane.

And they should revel in the special atmosphere created by the visit of the leaders on a midweek night under the floodlights.

The Ravens have only won five of those 15 games, however, with their inability to convert dominant draws into victories impeding their playoff push.

Walsall have drawn four of their last nine league games, including both of their last two away trips to lowly Cheltenham and relegation-threatened Carlisle.

Sadler’s team appear to lack the firepower to brush teams aside - which they were doing regularly during a nine-match winning sequence in December and January.

Both teams have scored in each of their last four drawn games while the same is true of five of the six stalemates on Bromley’s home record.

Ellis Harrison anytime goalscorer - 2/1

Walsall signed three new strikers in the January transfer window after top scorer Nathan Lowe was recalled from his loan by Stoke City.

Experienced lower league hitman Ellis Harrison has had the biggest impact of the trio, scoring three goals in six starts and one substitute appearance for the Saddlers.

A run of three goals in his last five games should earn him another opportunity at Hayes Lane on Thursday night and the way he calmly took his goal against Grimsby last weekend suggests he has the confidence to bury any chances that come his way.

No Card before 30:00 - 5/6

Some fixtures in League Two can look potentially explosive before a ball has been kicked, but this one does not.

Walsall are near the top of the division’s fair play table after collecting 68 yellow cards and one red in 36 games this season.

Bromley do have a reputation for being a bit fiery, as their record of six red cards this season indicates.

But the Ravens have also received the fewest bookings in League Two.

Referee Ruebyn Ricardo takes charge of this game and he has not been particularly card-happy on his most recent appointments.

But what has been noticeable in his last few games is that he tends to lay the law down early at Championship level while the majority of his bookings are awarded after half-time in League Two contests.

Unless a flashpoint sets this game alight in the early stages, there is every likelihood that the first card will not come until half an hour has been played.

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Bromley v Walsall odds

Bromley - 13/5
Draw - 12/5
Walsall - Evs

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.