Walsall Head Coach Mat Sadler is expecting to meet a well-coached and confident Tranmere Rovers team at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Saddlers will be looking to round off what’s been a positive week so far after victories over Notts County and Alfreton Town in the FA Cup.
Sadler has called on his team to bring energy to the game in what he anticipates will be a real battle against a side managed by an experienced chief.
“Nigel’s record speaks for itself so it doesn’t need me to highlight it,” Sadler said.
“He’s had a fantastic career in every single level of English football and he’s a fantastic coach of players so it’s no surprise that they’re in good form at the moment.
“They’ve got a good squad, they’re unbeaten in the last six games and he’s got them playing in the way that he wants them to play, really effective football, really well organised and it will be a really tough challenge like every game is and you don’t expect me to say anything less because that’s the truth.
“No one rolls over and lets you tickle their bellies in football so it will be a tough game but we’re looking forward to a home league game in front of our supporters.
“I urge everyone to come up and get right behind us on Saturday because, as every League Two game is, it will be a battle, it will be tough and it will be a scrap at times. We are going to have to be high energy, front foot and giving absolutely everything to win the game and we’ll need everyone to come with us on that.”
The Saddlers progressed to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup on Tuesday night and set up a trip to Championship side Southampton.
Sadler is pleased that his players came through that tie unscathed.
“Everyone came through the game well,” he confirmed.
“It was a tough game, there were some battered and bruised bodies after the end of it but everyone came through OK and they’ve had an extra day to rest, recover and get back to full fettle ready for Saturday. Treatment room wise, it’s Ross, Rem and Joe Riley at the moment but everyone else is on the comeback trail.”
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