An excellent preview!
Optimistic for this game after Saturday. A few expected the Gills to be up there this season but I’m not so sure. Going for a 1-0 to the Saddlers - Elvis with the goal. COYS!
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Id love to see a Saddlers win on the road, but I can see a score draw for this one. Gills have thrown lots of good money after bad at trying to get out of EFL2.. Eventually it will stick. I hope it’s not Saturday. 1-1 with Albert scoring his 100th.
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Paul Smith, as my mate describes him “like a block of flats turning” when he changed direction
I’d love to see the results down there last 20 years, 0-0/1-1 does feel a very common scoreline!
Certainly plenty of unmemorable games. One that does stick out is Cook scoring a hat trick in a 0-3 win but relegation happened three months later which soured that win.
Got a feeling of a 1-2 win, would be great to get in another attacking option before going there just to keep the positive feeling going.
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Terry Simpson and Chris Palmer are two others who have played for both clubs.
Great preview.
Albeit briefly, Steve Claridge played for both.
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Same line up apart from Warrington in for Comley?
Clarke to start ?
Well done SaddlerSteve- another great preview. You’ve already set the bar at a very high level.
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Some hints and tips below for travelling members of the Saddlers audience to get the absolute most out of your day out.
Away fans are mostly housed on one side of the Brian Moore Stand (on the Medway Stand side) where around 1,500 supporters can be accommodated. This stand is temporary, so be prepared to meet a wall of scaffolding when you walk through the turnstiles.
Although home and away fans have their turnstile entrances, once inside it is surprising that both sets of fans can freely mingle behind the Brian Moore Stand. This end is uncovered, so be prepared to get wet (although the Club does hand out free rain macs if the heavens open) and it is quite difficult to create some atmosphere from this area.
A better bet may be to head for one of the 200 covered seats that are made available to visiting supporters in the Gordon Road Stand. Although there is an odd supporting pillar at the back of the stand that could impede your view, it does have a roof, unlike the Brian Moore Stand. The stand itself is of a good size and height (you can get some stunning views of Gillingham at the very top of it), plus the views of the playing action are fine. Unlike most temporary stands though the facilities are surprisingly good, being of a permanent nature behind the structure. Sometimes supporters in this area try to make some noise by stamping on the metal rows of the stand, although this is strongly discouraged.
One unusual aspect of visiting Priestfield Stadium is that away supporters have to walk down a very narrow terraced street to reach the away entrance, or if coming from adjacent streets down very tight alleyways. However, there are never normally any problems with this although after the game the Police sometimes close off some of the surrounding streets to keep fans apart. Fans who are claustrophobic or of a nervous disposition should be prepared for this and the potential triggering effect it may have.
Visiting spectators are advised to keep colours covered up in the vicinity of the arena as a mark of respect for home supporters.
Food and drink is available inside the stadium including Cheese Pies (£5.30) Beef Pies (£5.90) and Cream Pies (£4.95). For concessions there are a range of snacks and treats including water (£2.75) and ready salted crisps (£2.50).
A popular, and safe, watering hole for away spectators is the Cricketers, a quite superb modern family pub with a range of amenities including a cash bar facility and ladies and gentlemans toilets as well as a generous bar menu.
Walsall spectators are advised that temperatures are forecast to reach a sweltering 77f come kick off time and with the uncovered nature of much of the away allocation they should try to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible before the game, take plenty of lotion and consume a generous amount of water to stay hydrated.