After the postponed Oldham game the Seasiders have chance to play catch up with League One with a visit to the Midlands to face Paul Merson?s Walsall.
Walsall Team News:
For some of the Walsall players this game might be their last for the club after manager Paul Merson declared that the January transfer window would see some the of ?dead wood? being cleared out.
These comments came after the Sadlers 2-0 deafeat on Wednesday night to Bradford City, the former England international went on to say ‘too many of them are happy to drift around in mid-table’.
One player set to leave the club is Jorge Leitao who is to leave the club in January to join Beira Mar in his native Portugal. The 31-year- old striker is
Back for the Saddlers
Matt Fryatt ? Wife was in labour
Missing for the Saddlers
Eric Skora ? knee,
Darren Wrack ?shin.
Player to watch: Matt Fryatt
The 19 year-old front man, who is a product of the Walsall youth setup broke into the Saddlers first team in the 2002/03. The Nuneaton born youngster scored his first goal for Wallsal in a 2-1 away victory at Preston, before that he had a loan spell at Carlisle.
He has since broke into the England Under-19 team and was last years Walsall Player of the Season and won Goal of the season. This season he has bagged 11 goals in 22 appearances.
He missed Walsall?s last match at Bradford due to his partner going into labour.
Blackpool Team News:
Simon Grayson has a full squad to pick from apart from the long term injuries of defender Danny Coid and Gareth Evens. So an unchanged line up should be named.
Missing for the Pool
Gareth Evens ? knee,
Danny Coid ? ankle.
Player to watch: Keigan Parker.
He was the player to watch in Port Vale match and he put in a great performance, providing the assist for first goal and then scoring with a classy lob, so again the Scot is the main man to watch. The goal at Vale was his 5th of the season and first in eight games.
Match Facts & Stats
Both side won their home matches against each other in last years campaign. Pool ran out 2-0 winners at Bloomfield Road thanks to goals from John Murphy and Keith Southern. The exciting match saw now Oldham player Richie Wellens send off for a handball on the line, the resulting penalty from Matt Fyratt was saved by Lee Jones. Then Walsall keeper Joe Murphy was sent off for violent conduct as he demonstrated with Keigan Parker after a penalty had been awarded to the Tangerines.
The match at the Bescot was a little tamer, Walsall ran out 3-2 winners with a goal from Leitao and a brace from Marvin Robinson. The Pool scores that day were Scot Taylor and Keigan Parker.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Steve Dorr (Worcestershire) – Games: 17 Yellow Cards: 74 Red Cards: 5
Assistant Referees: Carl Dunn (Staffordshire) and Jim Hubbard (Leicestershire)
Fourth Official: Andy Hendley (W Midlands)
Match Prediction:
Walsall 2 ? 2 Blackpool
Next Fixtures:
Mon 02 15:00 H Vs Southend Football League 1
