Home is where the heart is. Well it certainly is after the last two weeks which has seen many supporters fall back in love with the club that had disintegrated somewhat over the past few years.
This Saturday we start our home campaign against Forest Green, it will be the first time both sides have met, first home game under Darrell Clarke and first game under the new ownership of Leigh Pomlett.
TEAM NEWS
WALSALL
The Saddlers will give home debuts to at least six new signings. Caolan Lavery who joined this week may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Kory Roberts is still on recovery following his tibia/fibula injury last summer and should be back within the next two months.
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Forest Green will be without George Williams after he suffered a broken fibula during last Saturday’s away game at Oldham.
New signing Matt Stevens will come in for him.
LIKELY LINE UPS?
Walsall – Roberts, Norman, Clarke, Scarr, Sadler, Pring, Kinsella, Guthrie, Sinclair, Gordon, Adebayo
Forest Green Rovers– Thomas, Rawson, Mills, McGinley, Bernard, Dawson, Morton, Mills, Mondal, Collins, McCoulsky
ONES TO WATCH
JOSH GORDON (WALSALL)
With the signing of Caolan Lavery this week the pressure will be starting to rise on Flash to start producing the goods. He is yet to find the back of the net in pre-season. No one can fault his work rate and I am sure the goals will start flowing.
AARON COLLINS (FOREST GREEN)
Collins joined Forest Green this summer from Morecambe. In January Collins joined Morecambe and scored eight goals in fifteen games before being snapped up by Forest Green.
PAST MEETINGS
None. This will be the first time both sides have met each other.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The match officials have been announced for the weekend are as follows
REFEREE – ROBERT LEWIS (SHROPSHIRE)
Assistants – Danny Gratton and Andrew Dallison
Fourth Official – Anthony Da Costa
Lewis has officiated nine games involving the Saddlers with the Saddlers losing FIVE of those nine. Winning two and drawing two.
His last two games involving Walsall have both been at the Banks’s Stadium with the Saddlers losing 3-1 v Bristol Rovers and 3-0 v Rochdale.
He officiated twenty-one games last season, dishing out seventy-five yellow cards and four reds.
VITAL PREDICTION – WALSALL 2-0 Forest Green Rovers
In Darrell Clarke’s mentality “there is no point getting out of bed to be second best”
The feel good factor is unbelievable in and around the club at the moment and with a very strong experienced defence clubs will struggle to get goals against us this season.
Goals from Pring and Adebayo.
UP NEXT
Tuesday 13th August – 19:45
CARABAO CUP FIRST ROUND
WALSALL v Crawley
