Walsall Vs Crewe - Match Preview

By 4two
August 25 2003

The kick off for this one has been moved for the Cheshire Carnival. It would be nice to get an away win on the board. We should expect a typical Dario Gradi Crewe side.

Moor Green Vs Saddlers Preview

Saddlers Vs Crewe
Date: Monday 25th August Location : Gresty Rd, Crewe Kick Off: 7:45pm
Latest
	We are given 2266 tickets in the BMW Stand. We should take a good following for this clash.
	£16:50 Adults, £13:50 OAPS, £4:50 Kids. Coach to the game with official service costs £10:50
	The Brunswick and the Supporters Club are both welcoming to Away Fans.
	Plenty of chippes around the ground. Normal Footy Food inside.
	If you go by train it is a five minute walk from the station, while the K4, K6 and K44 buses from Crewe town center get you to the ground.
	M6 J16 - A5020 Crewe - Head for Railway Station - Gresty Road on the left. Parking sign posted.
	The K4, K6 and K44 buses from Crewe town center get you to the ground.

The Opposition

Manager	Dario Gradi
Assistant	Neil Baker
Physio(s)	Steve Walker
Star Man	David Vaughan
All Time Great	David Platt
In's	Adie Moses , Justin Cochrane and Anthony Tonkin
Out's	Rodney Jack, Dave Walton, Colin Little, Rob Hulse, Efe Sodje.

Last 5 Seasons..

Walsall	Season	Crewe
16 - D1	2002/2003	2 - D2 - P
18 - D1	2001/2002	22 - D1 - R
4 - D2 - P	2000/2001	14 - D1
22 - D1- R	1999/2000	19 - D1
2 - D2 - P	1998/1999	18 - PL

Walsall - Crewe Links

The 1990's have seen a small number of players play for both clubs. Most recently Colin Cramb had a loan spell at the end of the successful 98/99 campaign . Mark Smith had a short spell with the Saddlers in 1996 and had also appeared for Crewe. Another goalkeeper - Mark Gayle joined Crewe in 1993 having spent two years at the Bescot. Other players to have played for both sides include John Manning, Graham Matthews, Bert Llwellyn, Albert Mullard, Syd Higgs and Eric Hague. (Taken from TheSaddlersFC guide to Crewe Alex FC)

Walsall Team News
	News: Jamie Lawrence is certainly out with a foot injury, No injury news after Saturdays game. Matias impressed from the bench - Will lee include him in the starting XI? Will Ritchie make his debut?
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	One to Watch: Zigor Aranalde has been singled out as being our weakest link on numerous occasions. However, his recent performances have been outstanding. His attacking play fantastic.

Crewe Alex Team News
	News: Neil Sorvel and Richard Walker are out injured. Other than that Dario has no serious worries.
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	One to Watch: Dean Ashton is a young forward with an eye for goal. Tipped to go on to bigger and better things, he is a goal scorer, the type of player able to keep a side like Crewe in First Division.

Saddlers Wins

Draws

Crewe

Last meeting

Walsall

2-1

Crewe

26.12.01 - Zigor Aranalde and Freddie Biancalani put the Saddlers in a first half lead. Rodney Jack got a goal on the hour mark but the Saddlers came out on top. Crewe finished on 49 points and were relegated to the Second Division. We finished on 51 and avoided the drop.

Records
1-0 vs Ipswich	Biggest Home Win	4-1 vs West Brom
None as yet	Biggest Away Win	None as yet
None as yet	Heaviest Home Defeat	None as yet
1-3 vs Wimbledon	Heaviest Away Defeat	None as yet
16	Players Used	15
1	Clean Sheets	1
0	Failed To Score	1
0	Best Winning Sequ	0
2	Unbeaten Sequ	3
0	Worst Losing Seq	0
0	Seq With No Win	2

The Verdict

Dario Gradi will be relatively pleased with his teams start to the season. Their opening day defeat to Wimbledon will have been a blow because the Dons, like Crewe are among this years favourites to go down. However, a well deserved victory at home to Ipswich and a draw away to Milwall will have raised spirits at Gresty Road.

When two small first division clubs go head to head their is usually some kind of mutual respect between the fans. Not when these two sides meet. Walsall and Crewe have had some right tussles in the past, the most memorable being in the 1993 play off semi finals where we lost 9-3 on aggregate.

Since then we have taken the same route but in different ways. Crewe have produced a batch of home grown players who have been sold for a profit, while we have combined foreign imports with experianced professionals in our quest for First Division football.

In the eyes of many fans Mondays game is an early season 6 pointer. If as predicted (by "experts") Walsall and Crewe are in the bottom 6 come May, the result of this game could be crucial.

We failed to score at Coventry, and looked a bit timid (at times) against Stoke. Jorge isnt looking sharp in front of goal, but the teams confidence is high.

Predication : Crewe 1-1 Walsall.

For more on Crewe, Match Stats, or Player Info check out...