Aug 29, 20183 min read

Walsall (A) Match Preview

Updated: Aug 30, 2018

3.00 Saturday 29/08/18

What is happening at the moment? Blackpool sit in the third round of the League Cup for the first time since 2009, they are 12th in the League displaying the form that shows that they could go higher and this whilst being led by a man who is simply Bowyer's assistant. Blackpool looked destined for a struggling season this year as they were hit hard, losing countless star players and indeed the departure of Gary Bowyer was seemingly the final nail in the coffin. But McPhillips continues to impress, having lost just once since taking charge and now having expressed interest of his own in the vacancy.

This Saturday Blackpool travel down to the West-Midlands to face a revitalised Walsall side who currently sit 4th in League One despite being knocked out of the League Cup by underdogs Macclesfield on penalties this Tuesday. Blackpool will likely be more than happy with draw at Walsall with the Saddlers yet to lose in the League this year around.

Walsall FC

Walsall are a team that have been transformed from the side that finished 19th in the League last season as Dean Keates has bolstered the squad and made them into an efficient, tough to beat, side that have already readily displayed their capabilities this year. Founded in 1888, the Saddlers moved into their current stadium in 1990, with the Bescot having a capacity of 11,300. Their biggest achievement of their recent history has to be in reaching the final of the Football League Trophy in 2015; even if Bristol City's 2-0 triumph may have somewhat spoiled the party.

Having lost the 'Turkish Messi', Erhun Oztumer to Championship Bolton and striker Bakayoko to Coventry, you couldn't be blamed if you had written Walsall off this year, but for all they have lost they have refreshed their squad with a healthy mix of youth and experience as Keates has done an outstanding job with his summer dealings. With the average age of their arrivals being just 23.2 years, they have taken a chance with a number of names. But these have indeed payed off with Gordon and Fitzwater both impressing this season, however the real masterstroke is the duo he snapped up from League Two. Andy Cook and Isalah Osbourne, respectively from Tranmere and Forest Green, have been thorns in a Walsall side that are proving to be the surprise package of the early season.

See the full squad here - https://us.soccerway.com/teams/england/walsall-fc/704/

Visit the club website here - https://www.saddlers.co.uk/

The Stats:

Walsall are seemingly a team that likes a game to be open as they have conceded, on average, 1 goal per match which is mediocre for this division. It is clear that Blackpool like to keep things a lot tighter than Walsall and prefer to play a less expansive style of football having conceded just 0.6 goals per game on average. This is also reflected in the goals per game ratio as Walsall have scored 2 goals per match and Blackpool have scored just 0.8. This gape in form is shown through the points difference as Blackpool are 7 points behind an unbeaten Walsall.

The majority of Blackpool's goals have come in the second half, at 86% and this reflects their resilience and ability to come from behind. Walsall however have had a reasonably even spread of goals across the 90 minutes, displaying how they are able to maintain their quality throughout the course of a football match.

The two sides play dramatically different styles of football but, if Curtis Tilt is to start for Blackpool on Saturday, I feel as if this could be the difference in an attempt to numb the free scoring Saddlers.

Last Meeting: