Swindon Town travel to the Midlands this weekend to face Walsall at the Bescott Stadium. Town are unbeaten in the league since the opening day while Walsall enjoyed a 3-2 win away at Tranmere last weekend.
Vital Quotes:
Walsall Team News:
Walsall side that beat Tranmere
Walsall: Rene Gilmartin, Jamie Vincent, Richard Taundry (Josh O’Keefe ’72), Clayton McDonald, Darryl Westlake, Matt Richards, Emanuel Smith, Dwayne Mattis, Darren Byfield, Alex Nicholls, Troy Deeney.
SNU: Steve Jones, Mark Hughes, Mark Bradley, Netan Sansara, Rhys Weston, Clayton Ince.
Former Town defender Jamie Vincent should feature at the back but Sam Parkin could miss out.
Player to watch: Darryl Westlake
If you’ve read the two Q & A’s then you would have noticed that the young Westlake has impressed the Saddlers fans.
He’s an 18 year old defender who made his first team debut in the 2-2 draw with Southend United and has featured ever since. This includes helping Walsall to clean sheets against Gillingham and Norwich City.
Swindon Town Team News:
Gordon Greer is expected to be in the squad despite injuring himself during last weeks draw with Colchester.
Danny Wilson must choose between Phil Smith and David Lucas. First choice goalkeeper Lucas was injured in training last week but is still in contention. However, Wilson may choose to not risk Lucas and instead opt to keep faith in Smith who performed well.
Lee Peacock is back in training but is lacking match fitness so is still some way from making the first team.
Alan O’Brien is still a couple of weeks away from returning from his hamstring injury.
Hasney Aljofree and Kurt Hammonds are long term absentees.
Player to watch: Ben Hutchinson
Bare with me on this one…
Swindon are due a good performance from this clearly promising striker, currently on loan from Celtic.
Hutchinson shows glimpses but Town fans will be wanting a bit more now he has had a few matches in the first team.
Match Facts & Stats
Good luck trying to predict this one because history shows that there isn’t much between the two.
In the league Swindon have beaten Walsall 30 times, drawn with them 22 times and lost to them 30 times! 50% so a draw it is then!
Previous Encounters
27/01/09: Swindon Town 3-2 Walsall
S: Amankwaah (8′), Cox (29′), Paynter (49′)
W: Ibehre (75′), Deeney (79′)
Swindon: Peter Brezovan, Kevin Amankwaah, Jerel Ifil, Gordon Greer, Jamie Vincent (Michael Timlin ’70), Jon-Paul McGovern, (Anthony McNamee ’83), Lilian Nalis, Chris Allen, Hal Robson-Kanu, Billy Paynter (Blair Sturrock ’87), Simon Cox.
SNU: Phil Smith, Hamdi Razak.
Walsall: Clayton Ince, Chris Palmer, Anthony Gerrard, Emanuel Smith, Richard Taundry, Alex Nicholls, Dwayne Mattis, Mark Bradley (Richard Davies ’64), Sofi Zaaboub, Troy Deeney, Jabo Ibehre
SNU: Rene Gilmartin, Paul Boertien, Marco Reich, Netan Sansara,
29/11/08: Walsall 2-1 Swindon Town
W: Ricketts, Nicholls
S: Paynter
23/02/08: Swindon Town 0-3 Walsall
W: Holmes (2), Nicholls
12/01/08: Wasall 2-2 Swindon Town
W: Sonko (2)
S: Nicholas, Easton
05/05/07: Swindon Town 1-1 Walsall
S: Ifil
W: Keates
09/12/06: Walsall 0-2 Swindon Town
S: Jutkiewicz, Roberts (pen)
Played for Both Clubs
Swindon born Adi Viveash started his career with his hometown club playing 54 times before joining the Saddlers where he became a firm favourite during his five years and 202 appearances.
Others include Fitzroy Simpson, Willie Penman, Sam Parkin, Tommy Mooney, Paul Smith, Dave Bamber, Lee Holmes and Sofi Zaaboub.
Ref Watch:
D. Webb
Last officated on 12-09-2009 in the 0-0 draw between Huddersfield Town and Brentford.
This is his first Town fixture.
Match Prediction:
1-1
Next Fixtures:
Swindon welcome Wycombe Wanderers to the County Ground.
