Walsall
Walsall, like Posh, have been fairly inconsistent this season. However, they do sit just four points behind us, as we lock horns with them on Saturday afternoon. Last time out, they went to high flyers Scunthorpe and held them to a 0-0 draw. Like Posh, they're largely an unknown quantity from week to week.
They do have a new talisman in the shape of former Posh midfielder, Erhun Oztumer. The general consensus among Posh fans is that Oztumer was a very talented player on his day, but those days just didn't come regularly enough. But he seems to hit a run of form this season, and has been an important aspect of the Saddlers team.
Walsall will be missing another former Posh player: Florent Cuvellier will miss the game with a calf strain, as Walsall are yet to find out the severity of the problem. He limped off against Scunthorpe on Tuesday night and is expected to miss a few weeks.
Walsall teams in recent years have been really difficult opposition, mainly due to a number of players they'd acquired. But the likes of Tom Bradshaw, Romaine Sawyers have both moved on to Championship clubs. Rico Henry also left the club in the summer to team up with former Saddlers boss Dean Smith, at Brentford.
Posh
Posh finally scored their first goals at the ABAX Stadium in 2017 on Tuesday, and will be looking to pick up where they left off in the second half of Tuesdays win over Shrewsbury. It may have been the centre backs that scored the goals, but at least we scored then. But Saturday does need to see the attacking players pick up their form and start finding the goal themselves.
I dont think there will be too many changes from the team that started on Tuesday. However Paul Taylor must be in with a shout of starting after his performance against the Shrews. Marcus Maddison was withdrawn at half time, and there's a chance he may have to settle for a place on the bench on Saturday,
Gwion Edwards has reportedly been struggling with an injury, but if he's fit I fully expect him to keep his place in the starting XI. If he doesn't make it, Maddison, Leo Da Silva Lopes, Brad Inman and Martin Samuelsen will all be vying for his place in the line up.
Craig Mackail-Smith may also come back into the reckoning after being left on the bench on Tuesday, but I'm going to predict that Junior Morias and Lee Angol will keep their places in the starting XI.
My predicted line up (click image to enlarge):
Subs: Tyler, Baldwin, Maddison, Da Silva Lopes, Samuelsen, CMS, Nichols
Prediction: Walsall 1-2 Posh - I think Posh will return to goalscoring form on Saturday with another two goals. I think Walsall will get one, maybe through Oztumer, who has said he will celebrate if he scores against us on Saturday. Ultimately, I'm predicting a Posh win, and a chance to move into the playoffs, with Milwall being involved in the FA Cup this weekend.
Follow me on Twitter: @TomLea_
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