Morecambe v Walsall: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Walsall have seen their lead at the top of League Two cut recently but last weekend's come-from-behind 3-1 win over Chesterfield will have settled nerves.

Now they need to make it two wins from two and are sure to fancy their chances at Morecambe, who are currently sitting in the relegation places.

Morecambe v Walsall betting tips and predictions

Walsall to win & over 2.5 goals - 7/4

Walsall head north to Morecambe full of beans after hitting back from a goal down to beat Chesterfield 3-1 last weekend.

Jamie Grimes' goal had given the Spireites an early lead and by half time Mat Sadler's men were staring at the possibility of a sixth straight match without tasting victory.

But everything changed in the second half as goals from Jamille Matt, Ellis Harrison and Levi Amantchi saw the Saddlers get their promotion challenge firmly back on track.

It was a nerve-settling success for a Walsall side who could do no wrong a month ago, stringing together nine straight league wins to take League Two's title race by the scruff of the neck.

Since that ninth win - 4-2 at home to Milton Keynes Dons - they have played three away games and lost the lot, at Bradford City (3-0), Fleetwood Town (2-0) and Colchester United (2-1), while drawing 2-2 at home to Salford City and 1-1 on their own patch against Gillingham.

Two points out of a possible 15 has seen their lead slashed at the top of a division, which at one stage had stood at 12 points. However, their advantage is still seven, while they are nine clear of fourth place so they remain bang on course for a return to League One.

They are by a distance the division's top scorers while Morecambe boast the joint-worst defence.

Derek Adams' men have picked up modestly - two home wins in their last five - but in all competitions they have lost 12 of their last 16 and have managed just four clean sheets in the league all season.

To that end, Tuesday's 1-0 home loss to Doncaster was not a disaster, although Donny had 10 men for the last 20 minutes or so yet the Shrimpers managed just one shot on target throughout the entire match.

Morecambe are also without new first-choice goalkeeper Ryan Schofield, who pulled his groin against Rovers, meaning a recall for Harry Burgoyne between the sticks.

Adams has made the point in the build-up to this game that anyone can beat anyone in this division, and of course he's right to a degree.

But Morecambe's seven wins have all come against teams currently in the bottom half which suggests they might struggle to see off the runaway leaders.

Morecambe are one of only three sides in the division without a 0-0 draw while Walsall's games produce a division-leading three goals per game. 

With all that in mind, an away win at 8/11 is attractive but Walsall and Over 2.5 Goals at 7/4 may be where the value lies.

Jamie Jellis anytime scorer - 15/4

Walsall reportedly turned down two bids from Wycombe Wanderers for Jamie Jellis in the January window, so important is the attacking midfielder for the League Two pacesetters.

The 24-year-old's first full season in the EFL has been outstanding, with a string of fine performances to help the Saddlers hit the top.

He has had four goals and two assists and his role supporting the frontmen will be even more important over the next couple of months, with Josh Gordon seemingly set to miss most of the run-in.

Jellis is averaging 1.6 shots per game - only Gordon and Nathan Lowe, who has since returned to Stoke City, are ahead of him - and he looks a nice price at 15/4 to score any time against a Morecambe defence that rarely keeps a clean sheet.

Goal before 29:00 - 5/6

There has been a goal inside the first 29 minutes in eight of Walsall's last 10 fixtures, while the same is true in three of Morecambe's previous five.

Each of the last three meetings between these League Two rivals over the past season-and-a-half have produced an early goal and this tie may well be no different.

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Morecambe v Walsall odds

Morecambe - 16/5
Draw - 29/10
Walsall - 8/11

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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.