ADVER Sport's guide to Swindon Town's next opponents: Walsall.

THE CHALKBOARD

DEAN Smith lines his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but it is not always the most attacking set-up.

The Saddlers have had a problem scoring goals this season, an issue that stems slightly from their patient passing approach. The lone striker can become isolated if they struggle to link play from defence to midfield and get stuck in their own half.

The two holding midfielders, marshalled by skipper Adam Chambers, shield a back four and generally Walsall hold the opposition at bay by keeping the ball. They have the best defensive record outside of the top two, conceding only 43 goals.

However, they can be overrun by a high press, as Town proved on Boxing Day.

LIKELY LINE-UP

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A MAN IN FORM: TOM BRADSHAW

THAT Tom Bradshaw has managed 18 goals this season is quite remarkable.

Walsall’s attacking prowess is so meagre that despite having a goals against record only bettered by the top two, the Saddlers have only just secured safety.

Bradshaw, who arrived from Shrewsbury after they were relegated last season, has scored nearly half his side’s total and three times more than his next best team-mate.

In Town’s 4-1 win at the Bescot on Boxing Day, Bradshaw scored with a typically instinctive finish, reacting to a loose ball and placing past Wes Foderingham. It was a goal that summed up the 22-year-old, who is skilled in finding space in the box and fashioning a finish.

At the tip of the Dean Smith’s formation, Bradshaw holds the ball up well and links with the attacking trio behind him.

If Bradshaw is kept quiet Town will go a long way towards victory.

TREATMENT ROOM

WALSALL’S season has been blighted by injury, with several key players out for extended periods.

Only now does Dean Smith have a full squad to pick from.

Last term’s player of the season, Sam Mantom, has been suffering with a knee injury all season and only returned in March, making an appearance in the Saddlers’ JPT final defeat to Bristol City.

Top scorer Tom Bradshaw might well have broken 20 goals by now had he not missed chunks of the season to a series of hamstring injuries which have seen him miss 20 games and could force him to go under the knife in the summer.

Jordan Cook is another regular who has been a long-term absentee, along with fellow attacking midfielder Antony Forde.

The inconsistencies in selection have played a part in why Walsall have not been higher up the table and it will not doubt irk Smith that only now his side have nothing to play for does he have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

OPPO FORM GUIDE

Fri, Apr 3 Skybet League 1 0-0 Draw v Notts County (H)

Mon, Apr 6 Skybet League 1 0-0 Draw v Peterborough (A)

Sat, Apr 11 Skybet League 1 1-0 Win v Fleetwood (H)

Tue, Apr 14 Skybet League 1 5-0 Win v Crawley (H)

Sat, Apr 18 Skybet league 1 1-1 Draw v Crewe (A)

GOALSCORERS

Tom Bradshaw: 18 Jordy Hiwula: 6 Jordan Cook: 5

DISCIPLINE

Adam Chambers: 8y, 1R Andy Taylor: 5y Paul Downing: 5y

THE STAT

Walsall have a better goal difference (zero) than all the teams in League One barring the top seven.