We're searching for our first home win of 2016...
WALSALL VS. SCUNTHORPE
Banks’s Stadium
Tuesday, 1st March 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
Banks’s Stadium
Tuesday, 1st March 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
Walsall will be looking to get their promotion bid back on track with victory over mid-table Scunthorpe this evening. The Saddlers, winless in four, are searching for their first home success of 2016 against a Scunthorpe side who have recorded four victories in their last six games. The Iron have won 4-1 on each of their last two visits to the Banks’s, although Walsall prevailed 1-0 in this season’s reverse fixture.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Walsall: 4th – P32 W16 D10 L6 F49 A33 PTS58
Scunthorpe: 14th – P32 W13 D6 L13 F38 A40 PTS45
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Walsall: DLDLW
Scunthorpe: LDWWW
LAST TIME OUT:
27th February – Burton 0-0 Walsall – League One
Walsall stayed fourth in League One after playing out an uninspiring goalless draw against table-topping Burton. The Saddlers created the clearer openings, with Romaine Sawyers, Paul Downing and Jason Demetriou each testing home keeper Jon McLaughlin.
Team:Etheridge, Demetriou, Taylor, O’Connor, Downing, Chambers, Mantom, Bradshaw, Sawyers, Forde (Kieron Morris 77’), Lalkovic.
Subs not used: Roberts, Henry, Preston, Flanagan, Cook, Bryn Morris.
27th February – Scunthorpe 1-1 Oldham – League One
Kyle Wootton’s late equaliser rescued Scunthorpe a draw against improving Oldham. Daniel Lafferty’s low strike put the Latics ahead on 78 minutes, but Wootton steered home an 88th-minute equaliser from a tight angle.
Team:Daniels, Wiseman, Mirfin, Wallace, Townsend, Bishop, Ness, Hopper (Luer 72’), Dawson (McSheffrey 64’), O’Brien (Wootton 85’), Madden.
Subs not used: Laird, Anyon, King, Clarke.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
Walsall wins: 14
Scunthorpe wins: 14
Draws: 15
LAST MEETING:
29th September 2015 – Scunthorpe 0-1 Walsall – League One
Rico Henry’s first-half strike gave Walsall a gritty victory at struggling Scunthorpe in Dean Smith’s 250th match in charge of the Saddlers. The 18-year-old scored the game's only goal on 27 minutes, with a composed left-footed finish. Walsall could have won more convincingly as Tom Bradshaw, Jordan Cook and Henry each went close.
SCUNTHORPE MANAGER:
Nick Daws – The 45-year-old was recently appointed manager until the end of the season after winning four of his five matches in caretaker charge. Daws, who is being assisted by ex-Hull defender Andy Dawson, was handed the reins following Mark Robins’ departure in January. As a player, Daws played for Rotherham, Grimsby and Bury, where he made over 400 appearances in nine years.
SCUNTHORPE STAR MAN:
Paddy Madden – The Irish forward joined Scunthorpe from Yeovil in January 2014 and is the Iron’s 18-goal top scorer this season. The 25-year-old won the League One Golden Boot in 2012/13 after helping the Glovers win promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history. He started his career with Irish side Bohemians before joining Carlisle.
VIEW FROM THE SCUNTHORPE CAMP:
Nick Daws (on playing Walsall) – “I’m expecting a really good game. Credit to Walsall, they have been one of the surprise packages of the season, along with Burton and Gillingham. They aren’t up there by fluke and have some good players, so it should be a good game. They have (suffered a blip), but it is a division that is challenging.”
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Paul Downing will be assessed after picking up a knock against Burton. Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is a long-term absentee.
REFEREE:
Geoff Eltringham (from Tyne & Wear).
STAT OF THE DAY:
The Saddlers are searching for their first home win against Scunthorpe since August 2008.
SATURDAY’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES (7.45pm unless stated)
Barnsley vs. Coventry
Bradford vs. Colchester
Bury vs. Peterborough
Chesterfield vs. Blackpool
Fleetwood vs. Gillingham
Millwall vs. Wigan
Oldham vs. Port Vale
Sheff Utd vs. Burton
Shrewsbury vs. Rochdale
Southend vs. Crewe
Swindon vs. Doncaster