URGENT : Away win needed - Preview

By 4two_TSFC
April 11 2003

The Saddlers face Gillingham knowing that they must win if they are to stay ahead of their rivals in the relegation battle. Jamie Lawrence is inline to make his debut.

Big Points

Saddlers Vs Pompey Preview

Date : 12/04 Time: 3.00pm Venue: Priestfield, Kent Saddlers News

Its an open terrace at The Priestfield, tickets are priced at £16 Adults, £12 OAP's, £9 Juniors

Leave the M2 at Junction 4 and take the A278 towards Gillingham, going straight across two roundabouts. At the 3rd roundabout turn left onto the A2 towards Gillingham town centre. At the junction with the A231, turn right (into Nelson Road) and after the bus station take a right turn into Gillingham Road, the ground is down on your right (Guide)

Hessenthaler, Saunders and Wallace are out, but Simon Osborne's is rated as having a 50-50 chance of making the game. Center  half Barry Ashby is certain starter after shaking off a knock he picked up last weekend.

Lawrence to make his debut, Walker and Robinson suspended, Ward continues in goal, Simpson and Hay both now fully fit. Matias will only be worth a place on the bench despite a good reserve outing on Wednesday.

Match Focus

Gills Vs Saddlers - Head2Head 3-0 vs Watford, Grimsby, Brighton Biggest Home Win 4-2 vs Stoke 4-2 vs Brighton Biggest Away Win 3-0 vs Millwall 0-4 vs Wolves Heaviest Home Defeat 1-4 vs Leicester 0-6 vs Wolves Heaviest Away Defeat 0-5 vs Preston 26 Players Used 28 11 Clean Sheets 10 10 Failed To Score 13 3 Best Winning Sequence 2 7 Best Unbeaten Sequence 3 2 Worst Losing Sequence 4 6 Worst SeqWith No Win 6

1-0 Last Meeting 23/11/2002

The Last 10 games.... Gillingham       Walsall Ven Versus Pos A 0 - 0 Stoke D 21 H 1 - 3 Ipswich L 7 A 2 - 2 Sheff United D 3 A 0 - 6 Wolves L 5 A 1 - 0 Watford W 16 H 1 - 1 Rotherham D 9 H 3 - 3 Wimbledon D 17 H 1 - 4 Nottm Forest L 5 H 3 - 0 Brighton W 21 H 1 - 0 Norwich W 7 Ven Versus Pos H 1 - 2 Portsmouth L 1 A 0 - 2 Crystal Palace L 14 A 0 - 5 Preston L 14 H 3 - 2 Burnley W 11 H 1 - 2 Millwall L 16 A 0 - 0 Rotherham D 8 A 2 - 1 Bradford W 19 A 0 - 1 Stoke L 24 H 2 - 0 Watford W 8 H 1 - 4 Leicester L 2

Forward Focus Paul Shaw 12 Junior 25 11 Goals 11 39 Games Played 30 0.28 Goals Per Game Av 0.37 9 Total Games Scored In 10 7 Games Scored 1 Goals 9 2 Games Scored 2 Goals 1 0 Games Scored 3 Goals 0 1 Scoring Run (games) 2 9 Dry Spell (games) 7

One2Watch: Jamie Lawrence will be making his Saddlers debut. Seeming as Lee has been chasing the player all season he has to produce to the goods to prove to the fans why he was worth all the hassle... . One2Watch: Scottish forward Tommy Johnstone has been around for years and has a proven track record in the nationwide league for scoring goals. The red haired forward will lead the Gills attack with Wallace out and Ipoua out of sorts.

Verdict

The heat is on. We can not afford to crumble away from home to a mid table side with nothing to play fall. Lee has to get them motivated and make sure they know the mess we are in at the moment. Lawerance will be looking to impress on his debut.

Prediction: Gills 0-1 Saddlers