Walsall Cup Final Number 3

In the absence of games against our real rivals, this game against the clayheads was always one to look forward too. However it has been a while since they have visited Bescot. The last game was that eventful opening day 3-2 win last season. Since our goal scoring hero’s have gone even Leroy !! and our Indian sign over our local rivals has been somewhat diluted with two consecutive poor performances at Vale Park seeing two defeats.

If anything the events of the week have put further edge on the game. Port Vale’s season like our own has been a disappointment, for there fan’s the numerous injuries to key players like Walsh, Hector Sam, Lee Mathews has prevented what they wanted to be a promotion push, for Walsall fans we expected them to be in the relegation dog fight.

To add further spice there is the addition of a couple of ex saddlers in the Vale ranks. Most noticeable is Danny Sonner, who plied his trade for us in the Championship where unfortunately things didn’t work out and he became somewhat of an escape goat for the terrace boo boys. Although he always showed a committed approach to his midfield workload. This season Danny’s 24 starts have brought four goals and 5 yellow cards. He may well be joined in midfield by a player who spent time at Walsall as a loanee a certain Mr Tony Dinning, again a player that didn’t really impress but has gone on to show his worth at Vale.

Another Port Vale player to pull on the Walsall shirt is Michael Husbands the ex Aston Villa trainee who fell out with then manager Paul Merson over not following instructions in the Brentford home game, having made an impressive debut at Yeovil. He has spent a lot of time on the bench this season but his pace could cause us problems, and he has so far contributed five goals.

Of course they will have Chris Birchall on the wing who will play against England in this summers world cup.

There recent win at Vale Park over MK Dons saw them past the magic 51points and there future in league one seems assured. We watched them in that game and I am sure they would have watched us on Tuesday so there will be no secrets for either side. Lets hope our record of success against Vale at Bescot continues, in another afternoon of twists and turns.