Nerves will be on edge this saturday as Walsall start the four games in nine days which will not only shape our season but could also shape the immediate future of the club it’s self. The importance of the game can not be under estimated.
Following the dismal performances against Yeovil, which was repeated against Blackpool expectations are at an all time low, with relegation a real posibility. However hope remains. It is the time to turn all the positive talk that is coming out of Bescot into actions. It is that crunch time where performances don’t matter but points do.
Vital Quotes:
The main statement out of Ashton gate is a big No, especially when we asked if we could play Grant Smith against his home club.
KB has been more forth comming ‘This is a huge week. I would think it’s the biggest week this club has had in many a year and there can be NO EXCUSES’
Walsall Team News:
KB reported in the Express and star that with the exception of hamstring victim Kevin James and loanee ‘Robin’ Grant Smith he has a fully fit squad to chose from. So Micheal Standing finally comes into consideration but I wouldn’t expect him to walk back into the team. Despite the wealth of average players the team doesn’t pick itself with any selection causing a weakness or lack of balance. KB has favoured the 4-4-2 formation since his arrival, I would expect the same although if things go a little ‘pete tonge’ we have the option of switching to 3-5-2.
The big question mark is how to provide the goal threat without becomming vunerable at the back. The luxuary player Mads Timm can create and break down defences but also loses the ball too often, so can we find a place for him in a 4-4-2 formation!
Player to watch: Chris Westwood
Rated by many fans of other clubs, Chris has not shown the form that we have been led to believe he is capable of. Playing out of position at right back he needs to be one of the leaders on the pitch. A good performance and getting the fans with him rather than against him will be benificial to himself the team and the club.
However this is a game where we can not afford anyone to go missing, we cannot afford any rashness as previously shown by Devlin and Demontagnac, Plain simple 100% effort, desire and passion.
Bristol City Team News:
City manager Gary Johnson has a selection problem up front. Scott Murray continues to suffer from the knee injury picked up at Millmoor a fortnight ago. The Robins second top scorer this term is likely to be unavailable for at least a further two weeks. It is highly unlikely that the clubs leading scorer and captain, Steve Brooker will have recovered from the knee injury that resulted in his early exit from the Glovers game. With Marcus Stewart on loan at Preston and Calvin Andrew’s loan termination due to injury City have just three strikers with first team experience to choose from.I would expect Bas Savage and Mark Macammon to be the front two.
Otherwise a similar line up to saturdays win over Yeovil.
Basso
Orr
Carey
Fontaine
Woodman
Brown 84
Noble 64
Skuse
Wilkshire
McCammon
Brooker 61
Substitutes
Cotterill 61
Russell 64
Savage 84
Phillips
Keogh
Player to watch: Louis Carey
Height 5.10
Weight 11.10
Date of birth 22-01-1977
Place of birth Bristol
Position Defender
Nationality England
Voted the player of the month for March in League one, he is on a rich vain of form. He scored two goals in Bristols 6-0 destruction of Gillingham.Whilst his combative style has earnt him 6 yellow cards and one yellow this season.
Match Facts & Stats
Bristols last six games
Latest Results
Bristol City 2 – 1 Yeovil
Rotherham 3 – 1 Bristol City
Bristol City 6 – 0 Gillingham
MK Dons 0 – 1 Bristol City
Bristol City 1 – 1 Forest
Bristol City 3 – 1 Bournemouth
Ref Watch:
CH Webster
Games: 34 Yellow Cards: 107 Red Cards 11, this season.
Last season he was incharge of our 5-3 defeat at oldham and our 3-1 win away at Hartlepool.
Match Prediction:
Bristol on a rich vien of form, we cannot buy a win and have just turned in one of the worst performances of the season. So the form book says away win for sure. Lets home the form book goes out of the window.
Next Fixtures:
Bournemouth Home Tuesday
Port Vale Home saturday
Doncaster away easter monday.
