Columnist Sam Wright previews Saturday's trip to npower League One rivals Brentford;
After another good point gained at home last week from our one all draw with Notts County, this week we face a seemly bigger task, as we travel down to seventh placed Brentford.
Our point against the Magpies last week, combined with some midweek results for sides around us means we now sit 8 points behind Tranmere who are in sixth, only now most sides only have one, if any games in hand on us as we enter the final phase of the season. Since that game we have heard a lot of news coming out of the Banks’s stadium, mainly considering our man between the stick. McLaughlin’s loan spell ended after 6 games without a clean sheet after MK Dons refused to extend the loan, which saw Wolves youngster Aaron McCarey return, despite Smith reiterating his plans for Grof. Up top however we have no such problems. Brandy and Grigg continue to impress, the Irishman grabbed his eleventh of the season against County, and Febien had already managed 6 this season since he broke into the team back in November.
Brentford’s form lately has been slightly indifferent. Back in November they went on a fantastic four match winning streak which saw them catapulted up the league, but since then they haven’t quiet kept it up. They currently have just 3 wins in their last twelve games, but still sit in Seventh, just four points off top with a game or two in hand on the sides above and around them. Clayton Donaldson had already fired in 19 goals this season, and if we are to bring anything back up from Griffin Park, stopping him may be the answer.
We have already met with Brentford twice this season, once in our opening game of the season in the Capital One Cup, in which we won 1-0, and then barely a month later we let a 2 goal lead slip late on to share the spoils 2-2 in the previous league game. Some may also like to think back to our trip to Griffin Park last season which was a very special occasion as legend Jimmy Walker made his record breaking appearance for the Saddlers as he kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.
Personally, although a lot will be said about their games in hand on us, I see this lining up as a very close game as seventh take on ninth. If we play at our very best, I see no reason why we will not win. However against a good side like Brentford we cannot afford any mistakes or else we will inevitably be punished for them. I have belief that the ‘big’ players in the side, the likes of Grigg and Patterson, will come of age in such a big game that could define the rest of our season’s objectives, and I’m going for a 2-1 Walsall win. Good luck and safe journey to everybody travelling down.
By: Sam Wright
After another good point gained at home last week from our one all draw with Notts County, this week we face a seemly bigger task, as we travel down to seventh placed Brentford.
Our point against the Magpies last week, combined with some midweek results for sides around us means we now sit 8 points behind Tranmere who are in sixth, only now most sides only have one, if any games in hand on us as we enter the final phase of the season. Since that game we have heard a lot of news coming out of the Banks’s stadium, mainly considering our man between the stick. McLaughlin’s loan spell ended after 6 games without a clean sheet after MK Dons refused to extend the loan, which saw Wolves youngster Aaron McCarey return, despite Smith reiterating his plans for Grof. Up top however we have no such problems. Brandy and Grigg continue to impress, the Irishman grabbed his eleventh of the season against County, and Febien had already managed 6 this season since he broke into the team back in November.
Brentford’s form lately has been slightly indifferent. Back in November they went on a fantastic four match winning streak which saw them catapulted up the league, but since then they haven’t quiet kept it up. They currently have just 3 wins in their last twelve games, but still sit in Seventh, just four points off top with a game or two in hand on the sides above and around them. Clayton Donaldson had already fired in 19 goals this season, and if we are to bring anything back up from Griffin Park, stopping him may be the answer.
We have already met with Brentford twice this season, once in our opening game of the season in the Capital One Cup, in which we won 1-0, and then barely a month later we let a 2 goal lead slip late on to share the spoils 2-2 in the previous league game. Some may also like to think back to our trip to Griffin Park last season which was a very special occasion as legend Jimmy Walker made his record breaking appearance for the Saddlers as he kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.
Personally, although a lot will be said about their games in hand on us, I see this lining up as a very close game as seventh take on ninth. If we play at our very best, I see no reason why we will not win. However against a good side like Brentford we cannot afford any mistakes or else we will inevitably be punished for them. I have belief that the ‘big’ players in the side, the likes of Grigg and Patterson, will come of age in such a big game that could define the rest of our season’s objectives, and I’m going for a 2-1 Walsall win. Good luck and safe journey to everybody travelling down.
By: Sam Wright