Columnist Sam Wright previews Saturday's npower League One fixture with early season strugglers Crewe Alexandra;
Well... There is no introduction needed to how we will be
feeling going into this one. Dejected, disappointed, and gutted are just some
of the words I could use to sum up how we all felt after the Shrewsbury game on Sunday. However, we have to forget about that and move on, as I’m sure Dean
Smith will be telling the players this week as we build up to what is now a
vital game in our season after losing 4 games in 2 weeks.
This game is our real chance to prove our worth after a very
tough period for us, through which we are still trying to be easy on the eye
and we can only applaud the manager and team for that. We will have Grigg back
from his international duties for the match as Saturday (Unless he was to get
injured against Portugal tonight) And with the return of Chambers Sunday we are
more or less back to full strength. It is just the mental hurdle that the
players now have to overcome after failing to grab their big televised chance,
but I’m sure you’re all with me in saying we have faith in them to bounce back
Saturday after the promising signs we showed in our derby.
Crewe Alexandra, themselves are also experiencing tough times as they
still adjust to life in the third tier and currently sit 19th in the
table, just the 2 points off the drop. They only took 2 wins from their opening
10 league games, but draws have kept them just above that dread relegation zone
and 2 big wins against the Shrews and Hartlepool in the last couple of weeks
have given them some confidence, even after a 2-0 loss to Pompey on Saturday.
Their problem seems to be conceding, and they have already shipped 17 league
goals this season, at an average of just under 1.5 per game.
In the past, we have had a lot of success when Crewe have
travelled to our place. Of the 32 times we have hosted this fixture, we have
scored 68, averaging over 2.1 a game, and have taken 18 wins and 9 draws. We
have limited Crewe to just 5 wins in Walsall, only managing to score 38 goals
at just over 1 goal a game.
Overall I feel that even after our stutter in recent weeks,
we have to ability and the passion to bounce back and beat a team like Crewe.
We would love to see a goal or 2 from Bowerman to get his confidence back up
and get the teams confidence back again. Keep the faith, Come on Walsall!
Prediction: Walsall 2 Crewe Alexandra 0
By: Sam Wright