It’s back on the road for the Saddlers tomorrow, as they travel to meet a team almost as inconsistent as themselves, as well as visiting one of the country’s least attractive towns, in the shape of Barnsley.
Last week’s narrow win did take some of the pressure off Paul Merson, but Walsall are desperate to maintain their away form. At the moment it’s won 2 drawn 2 lost 3 and is helping keep the pressure off the home form, which is mid table only. So, what are the prospects?
Merson said that he wanted to keep the same side this week that performed so creditably in the second half against Doncaster, but his hopes were soon dashed. Mark Wright picked up a knock in that game and, whilst waiting for the substitution to be made, got another which means he’ll be out for some four weeks minimum. With natural replacements Wrack, Daryl Taylor and Gillett all injured, youngster Jay Stzybel has been called up to the squad. The fans’ attempts to chant the right winger’s name should be interesting. On top of that, Dario Larrossa picked up an injury in training and may be unfit. Leitao is the likely replacement, but cover on the bench up front will be a problem. Osborn will, hopefully, have recovered from his stiff hamstring which forced him off last week.
The other long term injury victims missing are, of course, Oakes and Merson himself and Steve Staunton has picked up yet another calf strain.
What of Barnsley? Well, they are just above us in the table, both in terms of position and points, spookily just like Doncaster last week. In another parallel, they have also had a couple of good results recently, with a draw away at Southend and an away win at Rotherham. At home, their last two games have been a disappointing draw with Blackpool and a 4 – 0 spanking of Oldham. Their inconsistency is shown by the game before that, however, when they contrived to lose 3 – 0 at the so far extremely disappointing Bristol City.
Of the players common to the two sides, Matt Carbon is injured at the moment, so Manager Andy Ritchie has brought in the highly promising Chelsea youngster Steven Watt on a month’s loan. Chris Shuker is having an excellent season so far, however, and may well prove a handful.
Men to watch include former Leeds midfielder Stephen McPhail, who ran the show for them in midfield last season and Jacob Burns, third in the most fouls committed in the Division chart! Former Manchester United striker Daniel Nardiello also seems to give us problems, but at least Michael Chopra is back at Newcastle.
Predictions? Roper’s back where he should be, the centre of the defence, and his partnership with Bennett looked promising last week. The main defensive problems in the Doncaster game came from a lack of cover in midfield and, hopefully, that will have been addressed. As Merson’s plans to play the same 4 4 2 have been dashed, we may even see a return to 4 5 1, especially if he plays both inexperienced wingers, Stzybel and Demontagnac. If he does, I would expect a close game and a good chance of a point, or even a narrow win.
