Walsall welcome managerless Doncaster Rovers to the Banks’s Stadium hoping to inflict more pain on a side who have underachieved so far this season.
Vital Quotes:
Smith ‘”The important thing for us is to concentrate on ourselves. We have had a good start so it`s important we continue what we have been doing.
Confidence in their camp will be low – we have to make sure it stays low.”
Jones ‘It`s always disappointing as a player when a manager departs but football goes on,” he said.
“I have the utmost respect for him [Paul Dickov], I still do. He was a lovely guy and he did everything he possibly could to get things right on the pitch.
“But what`s happened has happened and we now need to draw a line under it.”
Walsall Team News:
Walsall welcome back Jason Demetriou and Neil Etheridge who have both been away on international duty.
New signing Isiah Osbourne will be looking to earn a place on the bench.
Player to watch: Jason Demetriou
By god have we missed him! – since his departure for international duty the Saddlers have lost both games and conceded three in the process. Demetriou has three assists to his name this season and with him back in the team I feel more confident.
Doncaster Team News:
Former Saddlers captain Andy Butler is set to lead his hometown club out tomorrow.
Veteran Donny defender Rob Jones will be the caretaker boss and has no fresh injury worries.
Player to watch: Andy Butler
Its no surprise to see Butts continuing to score whilst at Doncaster. His aerial presence in and around the box is second to none. Most of these lads know what to expect from Butts and hope he is man marked tomorrow.
Match Facts & Stats
Doncaster are yet to score on their travels this season whilst Walsall have conceded one goal in every home game.
Both Walsall and Doncaster have lost their last two games.
The Saddlers have a good record against Doncaster at Banks’s with only one defeat since 1994.
The Saddlers have won the last three games against our visitors, scoring seven and conceding just one.
Ref Watch:
Match officials for Saturday’s League 1 match with Doncaster Rovers at the Banks’s Stadium (3pm) are as follows
Referee – KEVIN WRIGHT
Linemen – Declan Bourne and Danny Gratton
Fourth Official – Steven Plane
Mr Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire) has officiated four games so far this season, issuing eleven yellow cards, one red card and awarding one penalty.
Wright has previously officiated six Walsall matches with the Saddlers winning three and losing three.
His most recent Walsall match was our 1-0 home win over Chesterfield last season.
Match Prediction:
Given the Saddlers record against Doncaster recently and Doncaster’s record to date you cant see anything past a Walsall win – however with a caretaker manager in charge anything can happen.
I’m still confident – Walsall 2-0 Doncaster (Bradshaw x2)
Next Fixtures:
Peterborough v WALSALL – 19.09.15
