Saddlers showdown crucial for Latics

STEVE Jones scores Walsall’s second goal against Athletic in November. The former Chadderton forward is a doubt for this weekend’s clash at Boundary Park.

PARK LIFE:

HOW do you solve a problem like Walsall?

The Saddlers have bobbed along in mid-table for most of the season, never really deciding whether they want to be play-off candidates or if they would instead prefer to flirt with relegation.

Unbeaten in their last four games ahead of Saturday’s visit to Boundary Park, Chris Hutchings’ side have won only once in that sequence, beating Bristol Rovers by virtue of Richard Taundry scoring the only goal of the game at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday night.

At the same time, that was the Saddlers’ first victory in League One since the opening day of December — a sequence containing 10 matches.

The Midlands club are still relatively comfortable in mid-table despite such a run. Currently 10th, they are eight points clear of Athletic having played a game more.

The corresponding fixture between the two sides last November saw a limp Athletic put in one of their poorest displays of the season, losing 3-0 at the Bescot Stadium in a game in which loan left-back Lee Hills was sent off for a wild challenge before half-time.

Top scorer Troy Deeney, who has racked up 10 goals so far in this campaign, scored twice on that night and is back in contention for a place in the side after serving a one-match suspension following a red card picked up against Charlton.

The other scorer against Athletic was former Chadderton FC star Steve Jones, but he has been troubled in recent weeks by a groin injury and may not be fit enough to take his place in Walsall’s side.

It is a game Athletic are desperate to gain points from, particularly given the run of matches coming up.

After Walsall, the team are away at Colchester and Leeds within the space of four days, with Norwich City next up at Boundary Park.

With all those big-spending sides going all-out for promotion to the Championship, three points this weekend would give Athletic a much-needed confidence boost for the difficult period ahead.

However, for any win to arrive at home Dave Penney’s boys will need to arrest a worrying trend. Only four wins have come at Boundary Park in the entirety of the last calendar year.