Bescot Banter columnist Sam Wright previews Walsall's upcoming home tie with npower League One rivals AFC Bournemouth;
Bournemouth are still unbeaten in the league this season
since the return of Eddie Howe a good 15 games ago, and have now reached 7th
in the league, so you can see we have a daunting task ahead. However they did
lose last night (Tuesday) in their cup replay against Wigan by 1 goal to nil.
Maybe this could be the start of their collapse, and we will make it 2 straight
defeats? We’ll have to wait and see.
Even though on paper many would back Bournemouth to beat us
with their recent league record, we do not fear anybody at the moment after 5
wins in 6, and a great run of form for our strikers. Will Grigg grabbed 2
assists against Preston to add to the 3 goals he’d had bagged in the MK Dons
and Portsmouth games not too long before. Fabien Brandy has also hit some great
form, and has now bagged himself 5 goals this season; he is proving to be a
real threat.
In the past, the two sides have been somewhat evenly matched
in our meetings. In the 107 time we have met, Walsall have taken 37 wins, and
The Cherries 34. Some may remember our last exciting meeting with Bournemouth,
the 2-1 victory we took against them this season with a last minute goal, which
was actually the last game before our terrible run.
Overall history is saying this is going to a close
encounter, and recent form doesn’t help us predict a winner in this either. I
am predicting that both sides will get a goal, but our recent brilliant
attacking form will help us end their unbeaten run. Grigg and Baxendale to get
a goal each and the Saddlers to win it 2-1! Come on Walsall!
By: Sam Wright
By: Sam Wright