Walsall Match Preview

3 May 2019

Marcus Braddock previews the final game of the Sky Bet League One season

This weekend brings us our last game of the 2018/19 season and happily we don't need a particular result to ensure safety having drawn with Coventry City on Sunday. The same can't be said for our opponents Walsall who are mired in a swamp of relegation and are in need of a win against us to stay up.

It's been a pretty torrid season for the Saddlers but it started quite well with Walsall only losing once in their first ten games and that was only on penalties. Results began to slide as autumn arrived, wins became sparse through September and October and the slide down the table began. Christmas brought the Saddlers nothing and since New Year they've only managed four wins and two draws which obviously wasn't enough to prevent a full scale slide into the dreaded relegation zone. Looking at individual wins and draws, it's plain to see that Walsall are more than able to get a result when the right conditions coalesce. Sadly for ex-manager Dean Keats, isolated wins weren't enough and in April they parted company with ex-Shrew Martin O'Connor taking the caretaker reins. In the time he has been in charge, O'Connor has managed a draw, two defeats and a very handy 3-0 win at home to Peterborough last Saturday.

Top Scorer (cup goals in brackets)
Andy Cook 13 (5)
Josh Gordon 7(2)
Morgan Ferrier 5(1)

Assists
George Dobson 6
Luke Leahy 5
Andy Cook 3

Clean Sheets
Four at home and four away.

Walsall away stats
The Saddlers have collected an average of 0.9 goals per away game this season and have conceded an average of 1.5. They've won 23% of their away games, lost 55% and on average score every 47 minutes in away games.

The second half is the weaker defensively for Walsall with 59% of their goals conceded spread over the second 45 minutes. They've scored more goals in the second half with ten in the second and nine in the first.

Defensively, their weakest period of the second half is the first fifteen minutes with eight conceded but the final fifteen minutes aren't too different with 7 conceded. Their best period of away games is the last fifteen minutes with five goals scored.

Referee - Sebastian Stockbridge from Tyne and Wear. Games this season: 35. Yellow cards: 106. Red cards: 3.
Assistants: Wayne Grunnill and Hristo Karaivanov.

Squad News
Martin O'Connor has named Corey Blackett-Taylor, Morgan Ferrier and Matt Jarvis as doubtful. The players that beat Peterborough 3-0 last weekend are all available.

Ryan Sears wont be available after an Anterior cruciate ligament rupture left him needing surgery.

Summary
There is quite a bit of baggage that goes with a game like this. A high profile game for both clubs made more so by the desperation of Walsall's situation. Much of the talk has been about sending Walsall down but would that really be the case if we won?

Mathematically, Walsall could win by ten clear goals and still go down because they need a couple of other results to go their way. So with the greatest respect, they've put themselves into a situation that means they have to rely upon serendipity as well as a good performance. So in that respect they'll be architects of their own downfall.

Having said that, the chances are at least reasonable that Walsall could see the two results they need occur. As far as I can ascertain, Walsall need two of the following three results, should they win this weekend:

Bradford to beat Wimbledon at home.
Southend to lose or draw to Sunderland.
Plymouth to draw or lose to Scunthorpe.

Sunderland could do with a win to keep pressure on Portsmouth in third and keep themselves clear of Charlton who are fifth. A draw may be enough in the end for Wimbledon to stay up but I have a feeling they will get the away win they need, their recent away form has been a revelation. If those two results go as I anticipate, the Plymouth vs Scunthorpe result may become immaterial.

So if Sunderland and Wimbledon behave as anticipated, this weekends game at Montgomery Waters Meadow would be decisive, meaning that a win for Town would send Walsall into League Two. Given what I've read on social media, this may please one or two of our supporters.

COYB!!!

Match Previews

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT:Shrewsbury Town 0 Walsall 0

4 May 2019

Shrewsbury Town's final game of the season ends 0-0 against Walsall

Town: Jonathan Mitchell, Ro-Shaun Williams, Omar Beckles, Greg Docherty, Tyrese Campbell, Fejiri Okenabirhie (Josh Laurent, 65), James Bolton, Luke Waterfall (Matt Sadler, 45), Scott Golbourne, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant (Romain Vincelot, 86).

Subs: Reice Charles-Cook, Mat Sadler, Romain Vincelot, Alex Gilliead, Josh Laurent, Ryan Barnett, Stefan Payne.

Saddlers: Chris Dunn, Joe Edwards (Adamude Oteh, 78), Luke Leahy, George Dobson, Nicky Devlin, Andy Cook, Liam Kinsella (Isaiah Osbourne, 83), Connor Johnson, Josh Gordon, Scott Laird, Dan Scarr.

Subs: Liam Roberts, Jon Guthrie, Zeli Ismail, Jack Fitzwater, Cameron Norman, Isaiah Osbourne, Adamude Oteh.

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge

Assistants: Wayne Grunnill and Hristo Karaivanov

Fourth official: Gary Hilton

Attendance: 9135 (1649)

Shrewsbury Town’s final game of the season ended with a 0-0 draw against Walsall.

Neither team were able to get on the score sheet despite having chances and both took a point back home.

First Half:

A fast-paced and intense opening period would have been expected and was duly delivered. Both teams were battling hard for the ball right from the off and looking to attack the opposition back line.

Despite an open first 20 minutes, neither team did enough to trouble the men in between the sticks. The battle was being carried out in the middle of the park with neither team wanting to lose possession.

Town had an effort well saved by Chris Dunn in the 36^th minute. Tyrese Campbell let off a shot, which was deflected towards Greg Docherty. The midfielder got a good connection on the ball with a half-volley but the Saddlers keeper calmly tucked the ball into his arms.

The game had a stop-start element to it with a number of small fouls being made by both sides. This deterred the game from having free-flowing momentum and didn’t allow either team time to build an attack.

The half came to an end with both sides level on the scoreboard. Neither team were able to convincingly break down the opposition back line in order to create any real dangerous efforts at goal in what was a very stop and start half.

Second Half:

Just a minute after time had resumed Town were given a great chance to take the lead, as George Dobson committed a foul right on the edge of the box. Fejiri Okenabirhie’s free-kick couldn’t beat the wall and the Saddlers cleared their lines.

The visitors were pushing hard to get into Town’s box and were having some success. Mat Sadler had to be alert in order to clear the ball away from Andy Cook’s feet as the forward looked to dive into the box.

Mitchell had to make a good save in the 61^st minute down to the right of the net. Josh Gordon did well to dribble towards the box and to get his shot on target. Fortunately for Town, Mitchell was equal to the shot and parried the ball away.

Tyrese Campbell was the next player on the pitch to have a real shot at goal. The striker received a cute pass inside the box and managed to forge half a yard of space. Despite a powerful left-footed effort, the keeper managed to get two strong hands to the ball.

Both sides did have small chances throughout the half but couldn’t make the most of their opportunities. As time went on the Saddlers were getting more and more forward but Town’s defence were doing well to shut out the ,majority of their advances.

The game came to an end all level on the score sheet. A tense 90 minutes of football came to an end with neither side able to notch a goal.

Ticket News

Walsall Ticket Details

29 April 2019

The ticket details for our Sky Bet League One game with Walsall

Shrewsbury Town v Walsall
Saturday 4th May – 5:30pm Kick-Off
Montgomery Waters Meadow
Sky Bet League One

Tickets are now on sale for our home game with Walsall.

Due to a limited number of tickets available. All registrations have been suspended including at the ticket Office.

This game is valid for Season Ticket holders and they can turn up on the day and scan their card at the turnstiles for stadium entry.

Match tickets are available before the day of the game and on the day of the match.

Supporters are encouraged to buy in advance if they can to help beat the queues on matchday.

Ticket prices for a 2018/19 Sky Bet League One fixture can be found here.

Tickets can be purchased in the following ways:
•    In person at the Montgomery Waters Meadow ticket office
•    By calling 01743 273943
•    Via our online ticketing site - click here

Tickets bought online can be printed at home and scanned for stadium entry.

When buying online the following costs apply-

Print at Home = Free
Collect from STFC = Free
Standard post = £2.60
Special Delivery = £9.00
Add to FanCard = Free

U12s go free to every home SkyBet League One game during the 2018/19 season.

Supporters can get tickets via the popular FlexiTicket or you can use the new FanCard to save money on every home league game.

There are several options for the game if you would like to sample our matchday hospitality, you can see this here - Matchday Hospitality - or contact our Commercial team here - commercial@shrewsburytown.co.uk

If you can't make it to the game you can listen to full match commentary, or watch the game if you are an International fan, on IFollow Shrews or download the app here to listen if you are out and about - IFollow App.

Travel - There are a number of matchday buses from around the county and buses from town centre, details here Matchday Travel Plan. There a number of parking options in and around the stadium, these can be viewed here Matchday Parking Options.

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