Walsall Football Club

League One's top two clash this weekend...

OVERVIEW:
Second hosts first in an intriguing top-of-the-table clash. Walsall have the best defensive record in English football’s top four divisions (just six goals conceded) and – along with Burton – are unbeaten in their last five league fixtures. The newly-promoted Brewers, who lifted the League Two title last term, have won more matches (eight) than any other club in the Football League. Walsall can go top on goal difference with a win, while Burton will stay at the summit if they avoid defeat.

LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Walsall: 2nd – W6 D4 L1 F16 A6 PTS22
Burton: 1st – W8 D1 L2 F13 A7 PTS25

LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Walsall: DWDDW
Burton: WDWWW

LAST TIME OUT:
Saturday, 3rd October – Wigan 0-0 Walsall
Walsall maintained their unbeaten away league record after playing out an entertaining goalless draw at ten-man Wigan. Latics captain Craig Morgan was sent off on 69 minutes.
Team: Etheridge, Demetriou, O’Connor, Downing, Taylor, Chambers, Morris (Cook 80’), Mantom, Sawyers, Lalkovic (Forde 66’), Bradshaw.

Saturday, 3rd October – Burton 1-0 Southend
An own goal from Luke Prosser gave Burton a narrow victory over Southend. The decisive moment came on 52 minutes, when the Southend defender deflected Tom Naylor’s shot into his own net.
Team: McLaughlin, Edwards, O’Connor, Mousinho, McCrory, Weir, Naylor, Akins, Duffy (Butcher 85’), El Khayati (Palmer 31’), Beavon (Thiele 76’).

BURTON MANAGER:
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – Twelfth on the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers, the Dutchman guided Burton to the League Two title last season. The 43-year-old, who succeeded Gary Rowett at the Pirelli Stadium in November 2014, played for Leeds, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Charlton in English football’s top-flight – scoring 127 goals. A powerful striker, Hasselbaink was capped 23 times by the Netherlands and also played for Cardiff, Atletico Madrid, Boavista and AZ. He was named League One Manager of the Month for September.

BURTON STAR MAN:
Stuart Beavon – An experienced forward, the 31-year-old is the Brewers’ five-goal leading marksman this season. The diminutive frontman, who has scored three goals in his last five appearances, joined Burton from Preston in September 2014. Before then, Beavon spent three years at Wycombe, where he won promotion from League Two in 2010/11. He started his career in non-league, playing for Ardley, Wallingford, Didcot and Weymouth.

VIEW FROM THE BURTON CAMP:
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (on being named Manager of the Month) – “I’m honoured but it’s more about the achievement with the boys and I don’t want to be singled out. So far the boys have been exceptional and I think that when the manager gets that kind of recognition then they should give the group some recognition as well.” Via burtonalbionfc.co.uk

TEAM NEWS:
Walsall: Neil Etheridge and Jason Demetriou are on international duty. Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is out.
Burton: Darius Charles (broken leg), Zeli Ismail (knee), Callum Reilly (groin) are injured. Nasser El Khayati should be passed fit.

REFEREE:
Tim Robinson (from West Sussex)

STAT OF THE DAY:
This will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.

TOMORROW AFTERNOON’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES: (3.00pm unless stated)
Barnsley vs. Crewe
Bury vs. Wigan
Chesterfield vs. Gillingham
Fleetwood vs. Coventry
Oldham vs. Scunthorpe
Sheff Utd vs. Rochdale
Shrewsbury vs. Colchester
Southend vs. Port Vale
Swindon vs. Peterborough