Anyone over last Saturday yet? Nah nor us. Heartbreaking and probably a costly dropped point however we pick ourselves up and go again as we travel to play-off chasing Doncaster Rovers.
TEAM NEWS
DONCASTER
Two familiar faces in the Doncaster defence as we face Andy Butler and Paul Downing (oh how I wish we had both of them back here)
Doncaster beat Bristol Rovers 4-1 in the week and look set to field an unchanged side.
WALSALL
Walsall boss Dean Keates has a near full fit squad to choose from. We should be able to welcome back Matt Jarvis following his injury, Keates must decide whether to stick with Josh Gordon or recall Andy Cook back into the team.
Only long term absentee is Korey Roberts and Adam Chambers – but have both been absent all season.
LIKELY LINE UPS?
Doncaster – Marosi, Blair, Downing, Butler, Andrew, Coppinger, Crawford, Rowe, Wilks, Marquis, Sadlier
Walsall – Roberts, Devlin, Scarr, Guthrie, Leahy, Ismail, Kinsella, Edwards, Dobson, Blackett-Taylor, Gordon
ONES TO WATCH
JOHN MARQUIS (DONCASTER)
At the minute you could choose a few Doncaster players as the dangermen, with veteran Coppinger grabbing two goals and an assist on Tuesday however for scoring over twenty goals this season Marquis is the man to fear against a free scoring Saddlers backline. Guthrie and Scarr will have problems all afternoon.
JOSH GORDON (WALSALL)
Gordon has scored three goals in his last six games for the Saddlers and is starting to prove his worth since moving from Leicester during the summer.
STATS
- Walsall have won their last five games at Doncaster – our only five visits to the Keepmoat.
- Walsall have lost four of our last five away games
- Doncaster are unbeaten in their last five home games and have conceded just two goals, scoring eight.
- Doncaster have lost just two home games this season, Walsall have lost nine away games.
- Form (last five) – Walsall – LLLWD Doncaster – WLDDL
PAST MEETINGS
The Saddlers and Doncaster have met on sixty-three occasions – Walsall 32, Draw 9, Barnsley 22
The Saddlers have won our last five games at the Keepmoat.
Our last five away games v Doncaster
21.10.17 – Doncaster 0-3 Walsall
02.02.16 – Doncaster 1-2 Walsall
07.02.15 – Doncaster 0-2 Walsall
09.02.13 – Doncaster 1-2 Walsall
02.10.07 – Doncaster 2-3 Walsall
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: GRAHAM SALISBURY
Assistants: Barry Gordon and Declan Ford
Fourth Official: Ian Smedley
Salisbury has officiated thirty games so far this season, dishing out one hundred and seven yellow cards, three red cards (one being Zeli Ismail) and awarding six penalties.
Graham Salisbury officiates his third game involving the Saddlers this season. His most recent game was our 0-0 home draw with Shrewsbury in October. He sent off Zeli Ismail in our 2-1 victory at Rochdale at the end of August.
This will be his twelth game that he has officiated involving the Saddlers. With the Saddlers winning six, drawing three and losing three.
MATCH PREDICTION
We need a result. A defeat will see us lose ground on those above the safety line and with just six games to go after Saturday we need to be as close to the pack as possible.
Doncaster is a happy stomping ground so I am going to predict our first win in our preview for some time! We can do this
VITAL PREDICTION – DONCASTER 1-2 WALSALL
UP NEXT
Saturday 6th April
Sky Bet League 1
WALSALL v Oxford United
