The Saddlers face the Shakers...
BURY VS. WALSALL
Gigg Lane
Saturday, 16th January 2016 (Kick-off 3.00pm)
Sky Bet League One
Gigg Lane
Saturday, 16th January 2016 (Kick-off 3.00pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
Walsall are on the road for the third time in eight days. The Saddlers have excelled away from home this season – gaining more points (25) and keeping more clean sheets (six) than any other League One side. David Flitcroft’s Bury ended our unbeaten league start back in September but have struggled of late, losing eight of their last 11 league games – including three in a row. The Saddlers can go top with a win, depending on Burton and Gillingham’s results.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Bury: 14th – P24 W9 D6 L9 F33 A37 PTS33
Walsall: 3rd – P25 W14 D7 L4 F41 A23 PTS49
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Bury: LLLWL
Walsall: DLWWW
LAST TIME OUT:
9th January – Bury 0-0 Bradford – FA Cup third round
The Shakers face a third-round replay after being held by League One rivals Bradford. Bantams forward James Hanson spurned the game’s best chance late on.
Team:Lawlor, Riley (Pugh 64’), Cameron, Brown, Hussey, Jones (Lowe 20’ – Rose 79’), Tutte, Soares, Etuhu, Mayor, L Clarke.
Subs not used: Mellis, Pope, Burgess, Bachmann.
12th January – Coventry 1-1 Walsall – League One
Tom Bradshaw scored his 13th goal of the season as Walsall came from behind to draw with promotion-rivals Coventry. Chris Stokes’ header had given Coventry a first-half lead.
Team:Etheridge, Kinsella (Demetriou 60'), O'Connor, Downing, Henry, Chambers, Evans (Cook 79'), Mantom, Sawyers, Lalkovic (Forde 60'), Bradshaw.
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Taylor, Preston, Morris.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
Bury wins: 23
Walsall wins: 17
Draws: 12
LAST MEETING:
5th September 2015 – Walsall 0-1 Bury - League One
Walsall suffered a first league defeat of the season after losing 1-0 to bogey-team Bury. Craig Jones’ sixth-minute strike gave the Shakers victory – their first of the campaign. Sam Mantom, Romaine Sawyers and Paul Downing each went close for the Saddlers but visiting keeper Rob Laintain was in fine form.
BURY MANAGER:
David Flitcroft – The 42-year-old succeeded Kevin Blackwell as Bury manager in December 2013 and guided the Shakers to promotion from League Two last season. Flitcroft, the younger brother of ex-Blackburn midfielder Gary, played for Bury between 2004 and 2006. He also managed Barnsley for 11 months.
BURY STAR MAN:
Danny Mayor – The 25-year-old winger was named League Two Player of the Year last season after helping the Shakers win promotion. Mayor, who began his career with Preston, transferred to Bury from Southend in May 2014 following a successful loan spell. He has also played for Tranmere and Sheffield Wednesday.
VIEW FROM THE BURY CAMP:
David Flitcroft (on Bury's draw with Bradford) – "It was a good 0-0 draw really, quite a lot of goal line action and goal mouth action between two really committed teams. It was important we got a clean sheet with the recent number of goals we've conceded and I was really pleased with that aspect."
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Right-back Jason Demetriou (knee) will be assessed. Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is injured.
REFEREE:
Mark Haywood.
STAT OF THE DAY:
The Saddlers have scored 15 goals in the final 10 minutes of matches (plus added time) in all competitions.
SATURDAY’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES (3.00pm unless stated)
Blackpool vs. Scunthorpe
Bradford vs. Oldham
Colchester vs. Sheff Utd
Coventry vs. Burton
Doncaster vs. Gillingham
Peterborough vs. Southend
Rochdale vs. Fleetwood
Shrewsbury vs. Barnsley
Swindon vs. Crewe
Wigan vs. Chesterfield