Cup Final Number Two

If it was going to be a nervous affair before it is even more so from our point of view now. We are on our quest for that magical 50 to 53 point mark, whilst Bournemouth are safer but not that much safer. They will be considering this game as a must win game, beat us and they will consider themselves safe of the drop. Whilst we are in more desperate straits although the fat lady isn’t singing yet.

Bournemouth, consider the fixture at the Bescot one of those games where things never seem to go right for them. Whilst it would be nice for that to continue we cannot rely on such sentiment. However what is clear we is performances like Yeovil and Blackpool will result in Bournemouth returning home with the points dropping us in to the mire even further. Whilst if we can show the determination we displayed in the game at the fitness first stadium earlier in the season we might just be okay. That day Julian Bennett was sent off for a rash tackle and the back to the wall display came away if a desired point that felt more like three. Tuesday it is not about the performance it is about the points.

KB has said in the press what a massive week this is for the club and nothing has really changed it is still massive and despite the events of saturday no matter what the emotions feel like. The truth is nothing has been settled yet and nothing will be settled after tuesdays game.

As for players to watch, Bournemouth’s James Hayter and Steve Fletcher will be a hand full, as for Walsall we need players not to go missing and to play with 100% passion desire and a belief that the escape can happen. The defence must be solid no silly goals, midfield solid and creative and the forwards deadly….sounds simple really…..pity we know different.

Bournemouth come into the game off the back of the trip to Scunthorpe, and we will have to see if the minor knocks picked up cause any changes.AFC Bournemouth have a few players returning to training this week. Steven Foley went off injured at half time during the Southend game, but he returned to training today alongside Adam Griffiths, Dani Rodrigues and James Rowe.

Josh Gowling and Shaun Maher both started running outside this morning. But it will be a game too soon for these two.

So as Richard O’Kelly returns to Walsall it is hoped that the return of Grant Smith to the squad will add that something which will open up the Bournemouth defence. Yet the only thing that is certain is that the nerves are going to be raw again.