The Greatest Show On Earth - Bescot Buzzes

By 4two
November 21 2002

If the last few home games are anything to go by, Saturday could see one of the greatest shows the Bescot has ever seen. The new stand opens, the fans are filled with optimism and we just never know what to expect from the Saddlers.

Walsall (19)  Vs Gillingham (15) 

Venue : The Bescot, Walsall
Competition : Nationwide League Division 1
Date & Time: 23/11/02 3pm
Ticket Availability: The opening of the Purple Stand and the appearance of Pete Waterman is certain to attract a bumper crowd. Strangely enough the club have not said how ticket sales are going with the new tier, so their must be plenty of space left.  We should be looking at figure either side of 7000. Get their early to follow the much hyped opening.
Walsall Team News:   Aranalde (Out) Roper (doubtful) Pollet (Set for Home Debut). Question mark over if Simpson will find a place in the midfield or back 4. Colin keeps everyone guessing yet again.
Gills Team News: Wallace (Out) With  Johnson, King,  Guy Ipoua, Mamady Sidibe and Kevin James The Gills have an abundance of talented forwards.
Head to Head - Records So Far 4-2 vs Stoke Biggest Home Win 5-0 vs Preston 3-0 vs Millwall Biggest Away Win 2-0 vs Stockport, Preston 0-2 vs Ipswich, Reading Heaviest Home Defeat 0-4 vs Bradford 1-3 vs Wolves Heaviest Away Defeat 1-5 vs Bradford 23 Players Used 25 4 Clean Sheets 14 6 Failed To Score 11 2 Best Winning Sequence 3 3 Best Unbeaten Sequence 8 4 Worst Losing Sequence 4 5 Worst Sequence With No Win 4 The Last 10 Games, head to head. Walsall       Gillingham Ven Versus Pos A 2 - 3 Wimbledon L 15 A 0 - 2 Leicester L 2 H 4 - 2 Stoke W 21 H 3 - 4 Crystal Palace L 15 A 0 - 0 Coventry D 7 H 3 - 3 Preston D 18 A 1 - 2 Burnley L 12 A 2 - 2 Derby D 9 H 1 - 0 Sheff Wed W 20 A 3 - 0 Millwall W 18 Ven Versus Pos H 1 - 1 Sheff Wed D 23 H 0 - 1 Reading L 8 A 1 - 1 Grimsby D 23 H 0 - 4 Wolves L 11 A 1 - 0 Ipswich W 14 H 3 - 0 Watford W 4 A 1 - 1 Rotherham D 8 H 0 - 2 Coventry L 7 A 2 - 2 Crystal Palace D 16 H 1 - 1 Sheff United D 3 The Last meeting - For a further history, click here... 30/3/2002    Walsall  1    Gillingham  1  6,190    Herivelto    Saunders Hot Shots Head to Head. 9 Jorge Leitao 10 Guy Ipoua 6 Goals 4 19 Games Played 17 0.32 Goals Per Game Average 0.24 5 Total Games Scored In 4 4 Games Scored 1 Goals 4 1 Games Scored 2 Goals 0 0 Games Scored 3 Goals 0 2 Scoring Run (games) 1 4 Dry Spell (games) 7 0 Close Range 3 6 Inside 18 Yard Box 1 0 Outside 18 Yard Box 0
Walsall Man to Watch: Ludo Pollet, making his home debut.
Gills Man to Watch: Young Keeper Brown, attracting attention with some classy displays.
The Verdict: There should be a real feel good factor and air of expectation around the Bescot. Hopefully Colin Lee has been helping the defenders out on how to defend, and drums it in to them to remain focused. A Win is needed after a recent slump in form, but the Saddlers do have bags of goals in them. The good omen is that the Gills have never scored more than one goal at the Bescot in a single game, and the Saddlers are on the goal trail. This may not mean much, but Lee was gutted after the Palace match and will not want that sinking feeling again.
PREDICTION: Walsall 2-0 Gillingham