Walsall Head Coach Mat Sadler is keen to rewarded the travelling away supporters who have backed the team so well this season but is expecting to face a strong Tranmere Rovers side who will be guided by the experienced Nigel Adkins in the dugout.
The Saddlers will be looking for back-to-back victories following Monday’s triumph over Salford City to keep in touch with the play-off positions.
Sadler has applauded the outstanding support, with another large away following expected at Prenton Park and he is desperate to give the fans a good result but is under no illusions of the difficulty of the task ahead against a Tranmere side who have continued to make good strides under Adkins.
“They’re a good team and he’s a fantastic manager,” Sadler said.
“When Nigel came in they were struggling in the league and he’s turned it completely around and done what he’s done multiple times in his career with different clubs.
“He’s managed across the leagues in the Football League and they have some very good players.
“It’s one we’re looking forward to and we go into it looking to give absolutely everything and another game where I noticed there’s over 500 supporters, at least, coming to the ground.
“The support away from home and at home has been incredible, it’s been absolutely unbelievable so we go there wanting and desperate to do well for the supporters.
“We’ve seen in the home games where that support has really galvanised the group and having that group together – players, supporters, staff and everyone together, can only be a powerful thing moving us into the back end of the season.
“We’re desperate to give those away supporters some of the same feelings we’ve given the home supporters fairly consistently throughout the season so thanks to everyone who comes, we’re desperate to move things forward again.
“We’re at that business end of the season now where every single game, every single point and every single moment matters and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves at this end having put ourselves in a position to do so.”
Striker Jamille Matt was forced off at half-time during Monday’s match against the Ammies and Sadler provided an update on his condition.
“Jamma is kind of nursing his way through a little bit of a knock, a niggle,” he confirmed.
“He started to feel it half way through the first half against Salford which didn’t overly help in terms of that press and that ability to play the way we normally like to play so we’re trying to nurse Jamma through, whether the weekend comes too soon we’ll have to see but he’s another one who will be doing absolutely everything he can to make sure he’s in the best shape to try and get himself out there.
“We’ve got another person there who lives and dies to do well for the football club, for us and the group and there is a load of them who will do the same.”
Jack Earing and Tom Knowles remain on the sidelines but Sadler is hopeful they will both feature between now and the end of the season and he’s also quietly confident Oisin McEntee may be able to return before the regular season concludes.
“In terms of Tom and Jack, they’re working hard to be back before the end of the season so fingers crossed, we can get a bit of good news on them,” Sadler commented.
“Oisin, I’ve seen some of his running data and he’s doing everything he can. He’s got to get the all-clear next week, fingers crossed he does and hopefully we get to see him again before the end of the season.
“Harry (Wiliams) maybe not but then in terms of the ones who have come back, we were able to get a game into them at the training ground, which was good.
"The likes of Donervon (Daniels), Priestley (Farquahrson), Jamie (Jellis), Rem (Oteh) and guys like that who needed games and needed minutes, we got that so that’s been really useful. Everyone will be needed between now and the end of the season.”
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