THE MATCH PREVIEW: Vs GILLINGHAM THE MATCH PREVIEW: Vs GILLINGHAM

THE MATCH PREVIEW: Vs GILLINGHAM

This coming Bank Holiday Monday, Walsall Football Club play host to Gillingham in Sky Bet League One.
This coming Bank Holiday Monday, Walsall Football Club play host to Gillingham in Sky Bet League One;

The Saddlers head into the game on a Good Friday draw with relegation threatened Carlisle United. Walsall manager Dean Smith will be concerned with the continuing victory drought, having won just three of the last sixteen games.

Top scorer Craig Westcarr could come straight back into the team after completing his three-match ban, Milan Lalkovic is expected to remain on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Gillingham will arrive at the Banks's following a 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers, a victory that has pushed Rovers closer to a relegation dogfight.

Aside from Friday's win, the Gills have won four of the previous ten and find themselves fifteenth in the league, with relegation a very slim possibility, should results go against them.

In-terms of head-to-head, Gillingham hold a slight overall lead with forty-five wins to the Saddlers forty-one, there have also been twenty draws during the fixtures history. The first game between the two took place on 24th September 1927, the game ended 7-4 to Walsall.

The most recent encounter took place in December and ended 2-2, with goals from Cody McDonald (2), Romaine Sawyers and Julian Gray.

Previous five;
01 Sep '07    Gillingham v Walsall    2-1    League One
26 Jan '08    Walsall v Gillingham    2-1    League One
29 Aug '09    Walsall v Gillingham    0-0    League One
30 Jan '10    Gillingham v Walsall    0-0    League One
29 Dec '13    Gillingham v Walsall    2-2    League One

The referee for this game is the Surrey based Darren Sheldrake. Referee Sheldrake has officiated over thirty matches this season where he has issued one-hundred-and-eleven yellow and seven red cards. He has also awarded seven penalties.

The last Walsall game refereed by Sheldrake was the Saddlers' 5-1 away thrashing of Notts County on 25th January.

Danny Gratton and Joe Hull are scheduled to be referee's assistants, whilst Simon Hooper will be Fourth Official.
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