The Big Match - Blades Vs Saddlers preview.
By 4two
April 22 2004
The Blades are aiming for the Play Offs. The Saddlers are aiming for survival. Both need the points. It should be an enthralling afternoon of Football.
TEAM NEWS
Walsall are concerned about the fitness of Keeper Jim Walker. Paul Merson seems confident he will figure. Merson also says that he will play himself. Wrack is still out injured. Ian Roper could make a return. Samways still has his feet up in Spain while we sweat about First Division survival.
United don't have that many injury worries. Steve Kabba is being nursed back in to fitness, but is unlikely to figure. Defender Simon Francis is rated as doubtful. He picked up a knock on Easter weekend.
CURRENT FORM
| LAST 5 GAMES | |||||
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Walsall |
Sheffield United |
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| Millwall (h) | D | 1-1 |
Cardiff City (a) |
L | 2-1 |
| Derby (a) | W | 1-0 |
Notts Forest (h) |
L | 3-0 |
| Burnley (h) | L | 0-1 | Sunderland (a) | L | 3-0 |
| Gillingham (a) | L | 3-0 | Wimbledon (h) | W | 2-1 |
| Norwich City (a) | L | 5-0 | Stoke (h) | L | 0-1 |
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DIVISION 1 FORM TABLE |
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| Pos | Team | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Form |
| 1 | WBA | 7 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 22 | WWWWWWDW |
| 2 | Norwich City | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 18 | LWLWWWWW |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 18 | LWWWLWWW |
| 4 | C Palace | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 16 | LWLWWWDW |
| 5 | Sunderland | 5 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 15 | WWWWWLLL |
| 6 | Watford | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 14 | LWLDWWDW |
| 7 | Notts Forest | 3 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 13 | WDLWWDDD |
| 8 | Cardiff City | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 13 | LWWWDLLW |
| 9 | Derby C'nty | 3 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 11 | LWDLLDWW |
| 10 | Wigan Ath | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 11 | LWDLWLWD |
| 11 | Reading | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 11 | DWLWWLLD |
| 12 | Millwall | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 10 | WWDDLDDL |
| 13 | West Ham | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 10 | LWLWLDLW |
| 14 | Burnley | 3 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 10 | LDWLWLLW |
| 15 | Walsall | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 10 | WLWDWLLL |
| 16 | Cov City | 3 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 9 | WWLLLWLL |
| 17 | R'ham Utd | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 9 | DLWDLLWD |
| 18 | Stoke City | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | DDLLWDLW |
| 19 | Crewe | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 8 | LLWLDLWD |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 8 | DWDLLLWL |
| 21 | Bradford City | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 7 | WDLLLWLL |
| 22 | Wimbledon | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 7 | LLWLDLWL |
| 23 | Gillingham | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 6 | WLLLLLWL |
| 24 | PNE | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 6 | DLLLWDDL |
SQUADS
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KEY MEN
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Paddy Kenny is a name we known to Walsall fans. Porky Paddy is one of the best time wasters in the business, and isn't a bad goalkeeper either. Kenny has featured 30 times for the Blades this season. He recently broke in to the Irish national squad. |
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Paul Merson is the man carrying the hopes and expectations of Walsall fans on his shoulders. He has said he will be playing this weekend. It's time for Merse to hit top form and lead the Saddlers to First Division safety. He is overdue a first team goal. |
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Robert Page has just made his 100th league start for the Blades. The commanding center half has been a central figure in Neil Warnock's plans since his arrival in September 2001. The Walsall forwards will have to tough task on Saturday. |
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Jimmy Walker is carrying a groin injury. Whenever we need a result or top performance from the team we can always look to Whakka to set an example. He hasn't trained all week. Fans will be preying his fit for Saturdays game. |
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Jack Lester is Sheffield born and bred. He made his name with Grimsby and Forest and joined the Blades in July 2003. Lester has failed to score in his last 6 game. He is a man in need of a goal. His dip in form has coincided with United's. |
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Jermaine McSporran was handed his first start at Norwich last weekend. The versatile front man seems keen to impress. If he uses his attributes in the right way he has the potential to become a big hit with the Walsall fans. |
HEAD-2-HEAD
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| LAST 5 MEETINGS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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