Walsall Vs Preston North End Match Preview
npower League One Saturday 22nd September 2012
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Bescot Stadium
Referee: Lee Collins (click here for referee stats)
Betting Odds: Walsall 7/4 Draw 23/10 Preston 6/4
Form:
Walsall: WLDWWL
Preston North End: WWDWLW
Bouncing back from the defeat to Crawley was paramount and, under the Deepdale lights, it could be argued that it was to be expected but few would have anticipated a 5-0 mauling.
North Ends doggedness and industry forced two first half goals whilst a superlative-ridden second half display left the Deepdale faithful purring.
Said win has placed the Lilywhites 5th in the table with a superior goal difference separating North End from the four other sides on 11 points.
One of those teams is Saturday's opponents Walsall.
The Saddlers have enjoyed a very positive start to the new campaign, finding themselves surpassing their fans expectations.
A win for North End would mean back-to-back league wins for the second time in the space of a month whilst subsequently putting daylight between fellow promotion hopefuls.
Previous Meetings (click here for head-to-head stats)
Last season's trip to the Banks's Stadium was as unceremonious as they come for North End.
A 1-0 defeat was worsened by the loss of Neil Mellor who was forced off through injury as the result of a late, reckless challenge.
Couple that with the 0-0 draw at Deepdale in February meant that North End haven't beaten Walsall since March 2003.
Goals from Graham Alexander, Dickson Etuhu, Richard Cresswell and a brace from George Koumantarakis sealed a 5-0 rout and, as a result, an unbeaten record against the Saddlers that season.
On 19th October 2002 a 3-3 draw was played out at the Bescot Stadium during which North End came from two goals down to rescue a point.
Jorge Leitao and Jose Junior had Walsall ahead two goals to nil inside half an hour before David Healy pulled one back on 38.
Zigor Aranalde restored Walsall's two goal advantage on the stroke of half time before a late fight back from North End salvaged a point thanks to goals from Chris Lucketti on 75 and Graham Alexander on 88.
Team News
Graham Westley faces a selection headache following the 5-0 win over Hartlepool in midweek.
Jack King's confident substitute appearance was capped off with a goal whilst skipper John Mousinho made his return from injury in the second half.
Stopper Steve Simonsen will be hoping for his second league start since signing on a free transfer in August.
However, Chris Beardsley is a major doubt after limping out of Tuesday's win over Hartlepool.
The former Stevenage man looked to have picked up a hamstring strain
Meanwhile defenders Paul Huntington and Keith Keane are set to face late fitness tests.
Played For Both (click here)