Walsall v

Wrexham

Saturday 28 April 2007

 

Kick Off @ 15:00

The Match
Three wins on the spin has put us in pole position to stay clear of the relegation zone and the three points against Shrewsbury has taken some of the pressure off us for a difficult game at title chasing Walsall. Although a win will not guarantee our safety, it will go a long way to securing it. We have to better Boston's result against Torquay to guarantee league football next season or to win against Walsall and hope there is a winner in the Accrington versus Macclesfield game.

The Saddlers

Walsall's shock defeat at home to Bury, which ended a run of four straight wins, dented the Saddlers' chances of piping league leaders Hartlepool to the League Two Championship.

 

Walsall were promoted two weeks ago following the 2-1 win at Notts County but the surprise defeat at home to the Shakers has left them three points adrift of Hartlepool with a better goal difference.

 

The Saddlers have the best home record in the league with only three defeats in 22 games. The loss to Bury last weekend was their first at the Bescot Stadium since February when Lincoln left with three points and the other defeat was to Swindon back in December. In total they have won fifteen games at home and only conceded 13 goals in the process.

 

Walsall have had a consistent season and have occupied at least a play off place since the second game, and an automatic promotion spot since the tenth game. They also have the best record against teams in the bottom half of the table with fifteen wins from twenty-two games.

 

A familiar face in the Saddlers rank is former Wrexham striker Hector Sam, who scored when the sides met at the Racecourse in December but to his credit, he did not celebrate the goal. Sam has scored seven times this season but has not started a game since the arrival of Trevor Benjamin on loan from Peterborough at the end of March.

 

Top goal scorer for Walsall is experienced striker Martin Butler with thirteen goals so far this season. Butler joined the club in a free transfer move from Rotherham for the start of the season but is without a goal in his last four games.

Past Encounters

Last 5 Meetings
Dec 06: Wrexham 1 Walsall 1
Feb 05: Walsall 2 Wrexham 2
Jan 04: Wrexham 1 Walsall 1
Feb 01: Walsall 2 Wrexham 3
Sep 00: Wrexham 0 Walsall 1

The sides last met at the Racecourse in December with Wrexham picking up a credible draw against the then league leaders. Former Wrexham striker Hector Sam opened the scoring for the Saddlers in front of the Kop but Chris Llewellyn equalised in the second half for a well deserved draw.

 

Prior to this, the teams last met in the 2004/05 season in League One with both games ending in draws. Dennis Lawrence gave Wrexham a first half lead at the Racecourse only for for Walsall to equalise with sixteen minutes left.

 

Wrexham again started brightly in the return game with Darren Ferguson opening the scoring only for Walsall to equalise but Chris Llewellyn restored Wrexham's lead midway through the first half. Walsall again equalised before half time and with no goals coming in the second period, the game ended two apiece.

 

Wrexham lead the head-to-head with twenty eight wins to Walsall's nineteen and there have been fourteen draws in the sixty-one league games played.

 

League Form Guide
Team Last 5 Games League Form Last Win
Wrexham LLWWW 22nd 8th Last game
Walsall WWWWL 2nd 3rd Two games

Team News

Wrexham Team News: Wrexham are set to name an unchanged after midfielder Mark Jones remains out with a groin injury. There are no suspensions of fresh injury worries from the midweek win over Shrewsbury.

Walsall Team News: The Saddlers have Par Cederqvist back from a back injury after the striker made a scoring return for the reserves in midweek. Full back Geordie Lyall is also expected to be back from an ankle injury but Scott Dann (foot) and Ian Roper (knee) are out until next season. Welsh under-21 international Mark Bradley remains out with an ankle injury he picked up a couple of weeks ago.

Other Games

League 2 Fixtures:

Accrington Stanley v Macclesfield
Boston United v Torquay
Bristol Rovers v Swindon
Chester v Peterborough
Grimsby v Lincoln City
Hereford v Shrewsbury
Mansfield v Barnet
Notts County v Darlington
Rochdale v Hartlepool
Stockport v Bury
Walsall v Wrexham
Wycombe v Milton Keynes Dons

The six pointer down the bottom of the table this week sees Accrington entertain Macclesfield. Both teams occupy 21st and 22nd place respectively and are both two points clear of Boston with 47 points, although Macclesfield have an inferior goal difference.

Boston realistically need to win their game to take their survival chances to the final day of the season and will fancy their chances at home to Conference bound Torquay.

Bury face a difficult trip to promotion chasing Stockport who will need a win to secure a play off spot after stuttering in recent weeks.

Venue Guide

Address: Bescot Stadium, Bescot Crescent, Walsall, WS1 4SA.

Telephone Number: 0870 442 0442

Fax Number: 01922 613202

Walsall Websites

How to get there?
By Car: Head south on the A483, A5 past Oswestry and Shrewsbury to join the M54. Continue to the end of the M54 where you merge with the M6 southbound at junction 10a. Leave the M6 at junction 9 and at the roundabout take the first exit turning left onto the A461. After 400 yards the road divides and at the lights you want to take right hand lanes to join the A4148 Wallows Lane and the ground is signposted from here. Take right hand lanes from here and at the traffic lights continue straight on, crossing over a bridge before turning right into Bescot Crescent. The ground is now located on your left after the Retail Park. Distance = Time = 1 hour 15 minutes.

By Train: Bescot Stadium is the nearest station and is located adjacent to the ground with trains operating from Birmingham New Street every fifteen minutes. Click here for the Rail Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950.
When you are there
Car Parking: There is parking at the ground costing £3 and there is also street parking in the vicinity of the ground although this is not available on Bescot Crescent. The retail park and Morisons now operate parking patrols that enforce the 2 hour maximum time limit so this is now a no go area.

Beer and Grub: The Saddlers Club admits away fans at a small charge where drinks and snacks are served before and after the game. The nearest pub is the King George V located next to the Morrisons supermarket, which was the former location of Fellows park, Walsall's previous ground before their move to the Bescot at the start of the 90's. From the ground walk past the McDonalds on the retail park taking a right and then a left into Wallowes Lane. At the end of this road turn left and the pub will be in view on your left. Due to the trouble experienced at the game at the Racecourse a couple of year ago, do not be surprised if they operate an home fans only policy at this pub whilst the Fulbrock pub near the ground is a regularly viewed as a no go for away fans. The nearest food outlet is the McDonalds on the retail park whilst inside the ground you can get the chicken Balti pie at £2 with Walsall the first ground to offer Balti pies.

Cash Machines: There are machines at the ground but these apply charges for withdrawals but there is a free Abbey machine at the Morrisons supermarket.

How much to get in?

Homeserve Stand: Adults £18, Concessions £12

Disabled Facilities
There are 25 parking spaces around the ground for orange/blue badge holders with access to the stadium at level ground. Inside there are 4 adapted toilets and 2 catering outlets on each end of the banks Brewery Stand although these are not dedicated. There are no specific number of spaces for away fans they are allocated at the font of the Banks Brewery Stand but views can be obstructed as fellow supporters pass to their seats. The DSA is Sally Dorsett and she can be contacted on 01922 651410.

Weather Forecast
Sunny with temperatures reaching 19 degrees Celsius and a 17 mph easterly wind.