Walsall Vs Carlisle - Preview

By 4two
August 11 2003

It was Man Utd - Liverpool in last years final, and the League Cup is again becoming a competition clubs take seriously.

Moor Green Vs Saddlers Preview

Saddlers Vs Carlisle Preview

Date: Tuesday 12th August

Location : Bescot, Walsall

Kick Off: 7:45pm

Saddlers Latest

Match day essentials...
	Saturday will have added a few thousand to the gate, maybe 6000 or so.
	Adults £10 Kids £5 for all areas.
	Up in the Purple Stand. Carlisle fans in the Supporters Club.
	Your standard Bescot grub. Depending on your approach to the ground, the Bescot Fish Bar, Broadway Chippy or Kings are all good chippies.
	Bescot Stadium Station is on the grounds door step. Just cross the road !
	The 405 service runs from Bescot Stadium to Bradford Place Bus station( Vice Versa)
	The ground is signposted from J7, J9 0r J10. J9 is the closest, as fans can just head for the Morrisons supermarket and turn right at the second set of traffic lights near the retail park.

Saddlers Wins

Draws

Albion

Last meeting

Carlisle	1-1	Walsall
On February 2nd 1998, John Hodge put the Saddlers just after the break, only for Carlisle to equalise with a minute left to play. A. Carlisle fielded a strong team that day, including current Albion stars Scott Dobie and Ronnie Wallwork, while the Saddlers line up included Jeff Peron and Roger Boli.

Team News
	New signing Steve Livingstone (Ex Grimsby) will lead the line, as he awaits news of his suspension. Former Dons defender Des Byrne is out injured, while McGill is expected overcome his rib problems and face the Saddlers.
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	Jamie Lawrence is certainly out. It is unlikely that Ian Roper will feature following his back injury on Saturday. Lee should field a full strength side.

One's to Watch.
	Neil Emblen had a stormer against the Baggies. He will need to be on top of his game against the Cumbrians, who will be no walk over. Emblen will want to find some consistency and stay fit this season.
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	Steve Livingstone scored against us for Grimsby last eason and is a real threat as far as crosses are concerned. He is a threat in the Penalty box, and will be a danger during set plays.

The Verdict

Can it get any better after thrashing the Baggies? Maybe not, but jobs like these have to be done. We will find out what this team is made of when they have to handle a side like Carlisle who will see us as a scalp. It is a role the fans are not used to, and one the players at the Bescot will not experiance all that often.

2 or 3 seasons ago our own squad would have been packed full of players who have played some football in the lower divisions, but now only Wrack and Walker can claim to have any kind of experiance when it comes to dealing with clubs from the basement. Emblen, Samways, Merson and Corica have all played their football in the upper tiers of English Football, and you have to question whether if we get in to a scrap, we would come out on top.

If we get bogged down by Carlisle things could get tricky. We dont have the tools for a scrap, we dont have the players who have been there. However, with the Bescot playing surface looking good, we should be able to out maneuver the Cumbrians, and play our kind of game, rather than theirs.

Predication : Saddlers 2-0 Carlisle