League 1 Top Shooters Meet At The Banks’s Stadium This Weekend

The Saddlers face Gillingham this Saturday in a battle of the top shooters in League 1.

Surprisingly Walsall and Gillingham have had a staggering ninety-two shots at goal in their opening three games.

Both sides were expected to struggle this term but both occupy places in the top seven of League 1. We know we are only two league games in but both sides have proved they can be at the right end this season!

TEAM NEWS

Walsall

Will be interesting to see whether manager Dean Keates keeps with Liam Kinsella for Saturday’s game with Gillingham or will newest recruit Isaiah Osbourne return. Osbourne was rested against Tranmere in our 3-1 win on Tuesday night and Liam Kinsella impressed greatly in the centre of the park.

Keates will give another start to the dangerous pairing of Morgan Ferrier and Andy Cook as we look to extend our unbeaten run.

Long term absentees Joe Edwards (ACL) and Kory Roberts (broken leg) are missing until 2019.

Gillingham

Gillingham have no injury worries ahead of Saturdays game.

LIKELY LINE UPS?

Walsall – L.Roberts, Devlin, Guthrie, Fitzwater, Leahy, Ismail, Dobson, Osbourne, Ginnelly, Cook, Ferrier

Gillingham – Holy, O’Neill, Ehmer, Zakuani, Garmston, Charles-Cook, Bingham, Byrne, Parrett, Hanlan, Parker

DANGERMEN

MORGAN FERRIER (WALSALL)

Well what can we say about Morgan Ferrier? The man that cost us a measly £35,000 is already looking like money well spent. His power and pace has caused problems for Plymouth, Scunthorpe and Tranmere this season but his partnership with Andy Cook is outstanding considering they have only played three times together. Cook takes two defenders out the game allowing Ferrier to barge his way past the rest of the defence. He will be a danger to any defence this season!

REGAN CHARLES-COOK (GILLINGHAM)

Charles-Cook joined the Gills from Charlton this summer and has already impressed the Gillingham fans with his pace and trickery.

Cook is yet to find the back of the net for the Gills but his game has allowed the likes of Hanlan and Parker to do what they need to do. Very much like Morgan Ferrier.

PAST MEETINGS

The Saddlers have faced Gillingham one hundred and fourteen times during our history – Gillingham 47, Draw 24, Walsall 43

The Saddlers have won just two of the last twelve meetings between both sides. Surprisingly eight of those twelve meetings have ended in a draw. Last season saw a low scoring affair with both sides drawing 0-0 at the Priestfield and a solo strike by Connor Wilkinson at the Banks’s was enough to separate both sides.

Our last five home games v Gillingham

18th November 2017 – Walsall 0-1 Gillingham

19th November 2016 – Walsall 1-2 Gillingham

31st October 2015 – Walsall 3-2 Gillingham

1st February 2015 – Walsall 1-1 Gillingham

21st April 2014 – Walsall 1-1 Gillingham

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee – TREVOR KETTLE
Linesmen – Stephen Wade and Alix Pashley
Fourth Official : Rob Smith

Kettle is no stranger to Walsall fans following his inept displays especially during our 1-0 home win against Bolton in 2016 when he sent Joe Edwards after just sixteen minutes.

Kettle has officiated eleven games involving the Saddlers with us winning three, drawing four and losing three.

Surprisingly Kettle has sent off just three players in those eleven games with two reds given to the opposition. He has however given the opposition two penalties in those eleven games.

Last season Kettle officiated thirty-seven games issuing one hundred and twenty-four yellow cards, three red cards and nine penalties.

MATCH PREDICTION

Every game at the minute feels winnable (what a feeling to have compared to last season. The Saddlers and Gillingham both boast the best shots on goal ratio than any other League 1 club so far so it should be a cracker! Gillingham like to attack at pace just like we do so it will be a case of which defence is better on the day.

Games between the Saddlers and Gillingham are always close and I expect nothing less tomorrow.