Walsall vs Blackpool - A Close Run Thing?

By Neil Ravenscroft
December 17 2004

It's the visit of Blackpool tomorrow, as Walsall try to extend their unbeaten run to five games. The Lancastrians are 19th in the table at the moment, but the game might not be as easy as first appears.

The Saddlers will without Ian Roper and Matty Fryatt, who both picked up knee ligament injuries during last weekend's game at Bradford City. Both were expected to be out for around a month, but the official site did say that Matty may be making slightly better progress this week. Neil Emblen, who was unable to play last week due to a neck problem, will be alongside Julian Bennett at the back.
The choices in attack are also limited, with the absence of Fryatt, but new signing Marvin Robinson should make his home debut, after scoring at Valley Parade.

Joe Murphy will be in goal after West Bromwich Albion decided not to recall him from his loan spell on Thursday and Richard McKinney is still out with his knee injury. The official site also says that Mark Paston is "still not fully fit", but there's no explanation of that statement and we can only presume he has some kind of long term injury, as was hinted when we got Murphy on loan originally.
Kris Taylor has joined Burton Albion on loan this morning for a month and Ryan Willetts is still out with his an ankle injury.

Blackpool are without defender Peter Clarke, who is suspended, although new loan signing, Preston striker Simon Lynch, may make his debut.

This at first sight appears to be a home banker, but Blackpool have a strange record. Despite being in a lowly nineteenth place, having played 21, won 5, drawn 7 and lost 9, they have only conceded 10 goals in 10 away games. Manager Colin Hendry seems to believe in a solid defence as being the first priority! Walsall, obviously, with their lack of resources, cannot afford any injuries up front or at the back, and I would expect this to be a close game. I'll go for 1 – 0 to the Saddlers.