Wimbledon vs Walsall Bet Builder Tips, Best Bets, Stats, Predictions

I’m focusing heavily on fouls and cards here. These two are the two most physical, combative sides in League Two, meeting in such a high pressure environment. This won’t be a game for football purists.

Stirk averaged 0.70 fouls/90 through the season. Not bad, but not amazing. However he’s been getting stuck right in of late, especially through the play-off campaign.

Stirk has committed 1+ foul in eight of his last 10 starts and committed three across the two legs against Chesterfield, with this selection landing in both.

He also fouled in both games against Wimbledon this season, making three across the two matches.

He’ll likely see some of Myles Hippolyte (1.64 fouls drawn/90) and Marcus Browne (1.83 drawn/90), if he starts.

Walsall committed 22 and 15 fouls in their two semi-final legs, and I backed Jellis to commit fouls in both legs, both were winners.

Jellis averaged 1,57 fouls/90 during the league campaign. He committed two fouls in the first leg of the semi-final, and one in the second.

Jellis has made a foul in each of his last eight, and has fouled in 32 of his 42 starts this season.

He’s a bundle of energy. He wants to press high and hard, he’ll get stuck right in to the Wimbledon midfield, and he’ll be key to stopping Alistair Smith from gaining too much control in the engine room.

Harbottle is an absolute fiend for a foul. He’s all action at the back, and also buys plenty of fouls from the opposition. He can rub others up the wrong way, and get himself into some heated duels.

Harbottle has averaged 1.91 fouls/90 this season, and he’s landed this bet in nine of his last 12 appearances.

He’s committed two or more fouls in 17 of 27 starts this season and has only escaped without a foul in three of his starts.

In the semi-final, he made three fouls across the two legs. Wimbledon carry a big threat from ste plays, and you can often see Harbottle bustling in the box from them, often overexerting in the opposition box and being penalised for doing so.

He’ll also face the very annoying presence of Jamile Matt. Matt is a classic target man, he’s an absolute pain to play against. He’s drawn an average of 1.92 fouls/90 this season, and drew five across the two league meetings with Wimbledon.

Wimbledon have averaged 2.25 cards per game this season. As mentioned, they’re very physical and combative, and they’ll need to be against a Walsall side who are no pushovers either.

Wimbledon have received two or more cards in 11 of their last 12 matches, and racked up six against Notts County in the two legs of the semi-final, with this selection landing in both.

Walsall have drawn an average of 2.0 cards per game this season, and have drawn two or more from their opponent in 67% of matches.

They’ve drawn two or more cards in eight of their last 10.

This selection landed in both league meetings this season, with The Dons receiving three and two cards, respectively.

The likes of Joe Lewis (12), Omar Bugiel (9) and Alistair Smith (8) have all ranked highly for cards this season and all are expected to start.