Bitesize Prediction: Walsall vs Shrewsbury – 12/11/24

Competition: EFL Trophy

Market: Walsall win

Odds: 21/20 @ BetUS

Two camps turning their attention back to EFL Trophy action on Tuesday night, Walsall will welcome Shrewsbury to the Midlands.

Starting with the hosts, while Walsall might have eventually fallen short in the race to mount a late play-off charge last season, the Saddlers have come flying out of the traps this time around. Despite being disappointed over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against Crewe, Mat Sadler’s men are in the midst of a real purple patch. Extending on their FA Cup adventure earlier in the month as they clinched an eye-catching 2-1 win against Bolton, the Midlands-based outfit are unbeaten in all of their previous six appearances across all competitions. Making a statement last month as they stormed their way to a 4-1 romp away at Grimsby, Tuesday’s hosts will be smelling the chance to lay down another marker in midweek. It should also be highlighted, along with signing off September with a thumping 4-0 win against Colchester, Sadler’s side have lost just a single showdown in front of their own supporters within 90 minutes so far this season.

As for the visitors, while Shrewsbury might have eventually clung to their League One status last season, they find themselves at the heart of a public third-tier crisis. Last seen over the weekend putting in another worrying performance as they slumped to a routine 2-0 loss at the hands of Burton, the Shrews have rightfully come under a huge amount of scrutiny this year. Crashing out of the FA Cup on November 2nd as they suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Salford, the midweek guests have lost each of their previous five straight appearances across all competitions. Signing off October with another 2-0 defeat against Barnsley, Shrewsbury certainly appear to have another real challenge on their hands here. Sat rock-bottom of the League One standings, the Shropshire-based outfit have also put just eight points on the board. Likewise, yet to appoint a replacement after parting ways with Paul Hurst last week, they have lost all of their previous three straight matchups on the road by an aggregate score of 5-1.

Bet: Walsall 21/20 to beat Shrewsbury in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy matchup @ BetUS