Our penultimate match before the Christmas period sees us travel a fairly short distance to Northampton as we face a struggling Cobblers side hoping to make it four league wins on the bounce.
Vital Quotes:
Whitney ‘When you look at the players he has got available. John-Joe O`Toole has got a slight knock but I expect him to play because he is a big player for them.
“Matt Grimes is an important player. They have got some energy up top.
“They have got players who when they click – they will give anyone a game.
“I think the start of the game will be important. The first goal is always important in these games. We have to make sure we stay nice and solid and focused. And if we do that we have the players to really hurt them.”
Northampton Team News:
Northampton goalkeeper Matt Ingram could recover in time for the home clash with Walsall.
Ingram suffered a shoulder injury against Bury two weeks ago, but Cobblers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has reported that the QPR loanee is on the mend.
John-Joe O’Toole is expected to feature after overcoming an ankle injury, although Sam Hoskins is set to be absent with a similar problem..
Midfielder Daniel Powell (hamstring) is closing in on full fitness, but teenage winger Shaun McWilliams (groin) and defender Aaron Phillips (thigh) are definitely out.
Player to watch: Matt Crooks
Crooks has scored three goals in a struggling side so far this season and will be seen as the main threat tomorrow.
Walsall Team News:
Saddlers look set to miss Tyler Roberts and Liam Roberts this weekend as they are both nursing hamstring injuries.
Joe Edwards will be fit and ready.
Player to watch: Erhun Oztumer
Oztumer has been in fine form recently scoring three goals in as many games and taking his tally to ten for the season – we are really buggered without him next season arent we?
Match Facts & Stats
The Saddlers have won six out the last ten between both sides.
Saddlers have won their last three league games.
Northampton have lost four out their last five games, including a 5-1 hammering against Oldham last weekend.
Ref Watch:
REFEREE – CHARLES BREAKSPEAR
Linesmen – Oliver Bickle and Matthew Lee
Fourth Official: Robert Whitton
Match Prediction:
For the first time in a while, I am fairly confident of winning this match and taking it to four league wins on the bounce.
Northampton 0-2 Walsall – goals from Oztumer and Bakayoko.
Next Fixtures:
23.12.17 – Rochdale v WALSALL
