The Saddlers are at home tomorrow as we face Gillingham.
Form
Walsall : LLWDL
Gillingham : WLDLW
Last Meeting
Walsall 2-0 Gillingham
Our last meeting was back in March this year where the Saddlers got our first win in 76 games over the Gills. Second half goals from Isaac Hutchinson and Conor Wilkinson secured the three points.
Fans insight (GillsInTheBlood & Ben Andrews)
Are you happy with your start to the season?
(Ben) Definitely, if you offered me 3rd place after 12 games before the season started I would’ve taken it for sure. This is one of the most competitive League Two seasons I’ve seen, so as long as we’re up there, I’m happy.
(GillsInTheBlood) In terms of wins and points, absolutely. To be sat in third place after around 25% of the season is fairly encouraging, especially given how plenty think we do have more gears to go through.
With you recently sacking Neil Harris, do you think this was the right decision?
(Ben) It was a decision that I didn’t see coming so early into the season. The football wasn’t always great, but it was a very harsh decision as we were only a point off second place. I was a fan of Harris, but our lack of goals was becoming a real issue. I suppose time will tell if it’s the correct decision; it does seem like there’s more to it than just results on the pitch.
(GillsInTheBlood) I found the timing of it very odd given we were just four points off top, but ultimately we won’t know if it’s the right call until the end of the season.
Who would you like as a replacement for Harris?
(Ben) From the managers that are available, I’d like to see Karl Robinson. He would bring the attacking football the fans want, and he did very well at MK Dons and Oxford United. However, I reckon it’s going to be a surprise appointment, as Brad Galinson tweeted on Wednesday that the club is “vetting candidates from all over the world” and that there’s not really been any rumours at all about who the next man could be.
(GillsInTheBlood) I’m genuinely not sure because we’ve been told of a ‘change of direction’ but don’t actually know what that is yet. Could it be a stylistic change, could it be a tweak of the football structure? Both questions that need answering.
You are joint 2nd in clean sheets in the league. Has this been a great platform to build on and get some good results?
(Ben) It definitely has been. The back four pretty much picks itself now, although both starting fullbacks will be unavailable for Saturday. At the start of the season, we had a run of four 1-0 wins in a row with some very solid defensive displays. We always looked quite solid defensively under Harris, even when we were struggling in the first half of last season.
(GillsInTheBlood) I think so yes, and although they’ve somewhat dried up in recent weeks you can’t argue with a ratio of around 42% after a dozen games.
Which player should we look out for?
(Ben) Macauley Bonne is starting to find some form. He had a tough start to the season, but I thought he did well considering he was up top on his own; he just needed a bit of luck. He has two goals in his last three games and I really feel like he’s going to kick on now.
(GillsInTheBlood) The key for us moving forward now is getting more consistency from our attacking players; Macauley Bonne and Tom Nichols are showing signs of getting back to their best but the key man for me is currently Connor Mahoney who offers us something different from wide areas.
What formation and style of football do you play?
(Ben) Our preferred formation under Neil Harris was 4-2-3-1, but interim manager Keith Millen went for a flat 4-4-2 in last weekend’s game against MK Dons, and it was a brilliant attacking performance for most of the game, which we hadn’t really seen in the league this season under Harris. I expect us to line up with a diamond in midfield on Saturday, with Jonny Williams at the tip. Fullbacks Scott Malone and Cheye Alexander are unavailable, as I alluded to in a previous question, so Max Clark and Robbie McKenzie will likely get the start.
(GillsInTheBlood) I imagine we will line up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, meaning one of the front two will drop in to supplement the midfield. Style wise you’ll likely see us mix it up between being fairly direct at times but also trying to play through the lines if the opportunity arises.
Which Walsall player do you see as a threat?
(Ben) I see Danny Johnson as a threat to the Gills defence on Saturday. Although he hasn’t had the greatest campaign so far, we all saw how good he was for Walsall last season. He’s a top striker at this level. Also, I thought that Isaac Hutchinson had a good game against us last season, so I’ll say him too.
(GillsInTheBlood) Young Freddie Draper is the one who immediately jumps off the page at the moment.
Score prediction?
(Ben) Walsall is a very tough place to go, so I’m not expecting an easy game at all. Our away form hasn’t been great as of late, but after encouraging performances last week against MK Dons and the first half against Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy, I’m going to go for 1-1.
(GillsInTheBlood) It’s a cliché but I think the first goal could be pivotal, my heart says we nick it but my head (plus our rotten record at your place) says 1-1.
Potential lineup
Sadler says he’s confident Freddie Draper will be available after missing the last two games due to an hamstring injury
The Saddlers are hopeful Donervon Daniels will be available as well after being took off early in our 4-0 defeat against Sutton.
Priestly Farquharson and Aramide Oteh will be assessed ahead of the game.
(4-2-3-1) Evans, Foulkes, Daniels, Williams, Allen, Stirk, McEntee, Knowles, Tierney, Hutchinson, Draper
Score prediction
It’s going to be a tough games against a strong Gillingham side who have got off to a good start to the season.
Walsall will need to put an exciting display at home tomorrow. And more importantly, we need to get a win at home. Gillingham are a good defensive unit so when we create the chances, we need to have that clinical edge in front of goal.
I can see a draw in this one. I think there won’t be too much between the two sides. If we can be better defensively and do the basics then we give ourself a chance in the game. If we see the same errors as last weekend then it could be a long afternoon ahead
Score prediction: Walsall 1-1 Gillingham
UTS!
