The Saddlers host the Lions...
WALSALL VS. MILLWALL
Banks’s Stadium
Saturday, 6th February 2016 (Kick-off 3.00pm)
Sky Bet League One
Banks’s Stadium
Saturday, 6th February 2016 (Kick-off 3.00pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
The Saddlers will be hoping to claim their first home win of 2016 when they entertain Neil Harris’ play-off chasing Millwall. Walsall climbed up to second with victory at Doncaster on Tuesday night and will go top this weekend if they better the result of leaders Burton, who are at home to Bradford. Sixth-placed Millwall, meanwhile, possess the division’s third best away record and have taken 10 points from their last four league matches.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Walsall: 2nd – P28 W16 D8 L4 F47 A27 PTS56
Millwall: 6th – P28 W13 D5 L10 F44 A38 PTS44
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Walsall: WDWDL
Millwall: DWWWL
LAST TIME OUT:
2nd February – Doncaster 1-2 Walsall – League One
Walsall moved back into the League One automatic promotion places with a hard-earned win at Doncaster. Sam Mantom and Andy Taylor scored the Saddlers’ goals, while Liam Mandeville netted Rovers’ late consolation.
2nd February – Oxford 0-1 Millwall – JPT Southern Area final second leg
Lee Gregory’s second-half strike wasn’t enough to send Millwall through to the JPT final as they went down 2-1 on aggregate to League Two Oxford. Kemar Roofe’s first-leg brace ultimately put paid to the Lions’ Wembley hopes.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
Walsall wins: 20
Millwall wins: 36
Draws: 19
LAST MEETING:
26th December 2015 – Millwall 0-1 Walsall – League One
Milan Lalkovic scored his seventh goal of the season as Walsall beat Millwall to go top of League One. The Saddlers dominated the first-half and took a deserved 29th-minute lead when Lalkovic coolly slotted past Lions keeper David Forde. Millwall rallied late on with Aiden O’Brien hitting the bar, but the visitors defended manfully to secure a fourth consecutive league win.
MILLWALL MANAGER:
Neil Harris – The 38-year-old was handed the managerial reins in March 2015 following Ian Holloway’s departure. A Millwall legend, Harris is the Lions’ all-time record goalscorer with 138 goals over his two spells at The Den. The former striker also played for Nottingham Forest, Gillingham and Southend.
MILLWALL STAR MAN:
Lee Gregory – The 27-year-old striker has been in blistering goalscoring form of late, scoring five goals in his last four appearances. Gregory, who joined Millwall from Halifax for £250,000 in June 2014, is the Lions’ leading marksman, with 15 goals in all competitions.
VIEW FROM THE MILLWALL CAMP:
Neil Harris (on the Lions’ JPT victory at Oxford) – “I'm proud of the players for the belief, desire and passion they showed tonight. It wasn't enough to overcome the damage which was done in the first leg but to come here and win is a result we can take pride from.”
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Neil Etheridge is a major doubt with a gashed knee. Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is a long-term absentee.
REFEREE:
Trevor Kettle
STAT OF THE DAY:
The Saddlers have lost only once in ten league matches.
SATURDAY’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES (3.00pm unless stated)
Burton vs. Bradford
Chesterfield vs. Peterborough
Crewe vs. Rochdale
Gillingham vs. Swindon
Oldham vs. Blackpool
Scunthorpe vs. Doncaster
Sheff Utd vs. Wigan
Southend vs. Colchester