Colchester vs Walsall Predictions

Colchester will be hoping to go four games unbeaten in League Two when they welcome Walsall to the Colchester Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The visitors are still searching for a second win since dropping down from League One, despite winning on the opening day.

After winning none of their first four of the campaign, two of which they lost, Colchester have now won two on the bounce, beating both Northampton and Oldham by a goal to nil. Back-to-back clean sheets should leave John McGreal’s men feeling confident ahead of a game against a visiting side that has lost two on the bounce away from home.

Saturday’s hosts had started to struggle at the back; they’d conceded six in four and were without a clean sheet, though they managed to tighten up against both Oldham and Northampton, so keeping things tight against low-scoring opposition shouldn’t be beyond Colchester. After all, they’ve done a more than reasonable job of creating more than their opponents in each of their last two at this venue.

Averages of a goal per game and 1.27 expected goals for aren’t overly impressive at first glance, but when put up against Walsall’s travelling numbers, they start to look good. Saturday’s visitors have found it very tough to get going offensively on their travels. They did win by a goal to nil at Sixfields on match-day one, though they didn’t create the best impression, registering just two shots on target and creating only 0.48 expected goals for. Things have only got worse since.

The Saddlers failed to score away against Crewe, as they once again registered only two shots on target, while they failed to threaten seriously when drawing a blank against Plymouth in their most recent away game.

Frankly, against a low-scoring Walsall side, this a good opportunity for Colchester to make it three wins on the bounce. Punter can profit by backing the hosts to do just that. While the hosts have offered a respectable amount going forward at home, the visitors, who’re averaging 0.33 goals for and 0.39 expected goals for on the road, simply haven’t been at the races on their travels and are thus backed to struggle at Colchester Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Those looking for the ‘Correct Score’ should try a 2-0 win for the hosts. Colchester have offered a good amount at home of late, posting expected goals for figures of 1.63 and 1.5 in their last two on home soil. Against a visiting side that offered little resistance – as well as little forward threat – in their last few on the road, backing the hosts to secure a comfortable victory makes plenty of appeal.