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Walsall’s Fa Cup Journey

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Well it can’t be as bad as last game at oss Road ….can it? The FA Cup journey continues against Macclesfield tonight with Hartlepool waiting in the second round. Whilst in recent years the cup has provided light relief from the stress of league football, this season many saddlers fans will not lose any sleep if we crash out tonight. Truely our main priority lies with the league.

Vital Quotes:

Talking about last saturdays league games DD has hailed the result at Hereford as our best away performance of the season whilst things were a bit different at Moss Road. Manager Paul Ince was furious at the first half performane and the defending which lead to a home defeat to relelgation rivals Boston. However this is the cup and the form book goes out of the window.

Walsall Team News:

Despite reports it seems Darren Wrack faces a lenghty lay off, so will be missing alongside Alan Picken and Anthony Gerrard, with Craig Pead serving his second game of a three match ban the defence will be the same as saturday.
As for midfield and up front, DD rang the changes on saturday and might well suffle the pack again.

Player to watch: Mark Kinsella

Man of the match on his return to first team action, and he gave the midfield a better balance and brought the best out of Micheal Dobson. So as long as he isn’t rested for saturdays crunch game against Notts County, he could provide the difference.

Macclesfield Team News:

Rob Scott was forced out of the game on saturday and is struggling to make it. Morley and Murphy also face late fitness tests. Otherwise it seems The Dingle in charge will be picking a very similar side to the one that played in the first game.

Player to watch: John Murphy

If fit he will be looking to provide the cutting edge that has been missing from the Silkmens play so far this season.

Match Facts & Stats

History is with the saddlers but in true there is no real history in this tie so it is anyones guess.

Match Prediction:

The pressure is off the Silkmen,as there is no league points at stake and no one will expect an away win. Walsall on the other hand have there eyes on the league and may well struggle to find top gear which was the case in the first game.
An early goal may win it for either team, but I wouldn’t be suprised to see it go to extra time.

Next Fixtures:

Notts county is next in line in our run of difficult home games in the build up to new year. 3pm kick off at Bescot.

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