Walsall manager Mat Sadler has revealed that they didn’t want to postpone this weekend’s clash with Gillingham due to fears over fixture congestion later in the season.
The Saddlers have won just two of their last 12 League Two fixtures, although still cling to the top spot. However, they have seen a 12 point lead reduced to just three thanks to the recent resurgence of Bradford City and travel to Kent tomorrow without a win in four.
Walsall have seen six players called up for international duty, which would have made them eligible to cancel the tie. These players include Tommy Simkin, Liam Gordon, David Okagbue, Ronan Maher, Darius Lipsiuc and Ethan Wheatley.
Sadler Addresses Postponement Decision
Cancelling the trip to Gillingham would have seen the fixture rearranged for a midweek in April. With the business end of the season now upon us, Sadler has revealed that they made the decision to play the game in order to avoid a backlog later in the campaign. Speaking to the BBC, the 40-year-old said:
“We had the ability to request a postponement but that would have had real ramifications further down [the line] for fixture congestion so we didn’t want to do that.
“We know it is going to be a tough game whatever. They have an incredibly experienced manager in John and we saw what a tough game it was a few weeks ago [against them] and we expect nothing different on Saturday.”
Continuing, the boss reiterated that the absence of key players opens up a fantastic opportunity to some of the fringe members of his squad:
“It gives a brilliant opportunity for some guys – we have always known we have a really good squad and everyone is going to be needed to play their part.
“That is no different on Saturday and no different the following Saturday. It is one to look forward to. It is a tough long journey but every game is tough and we have to be strong. It is a real opportunity to show that togetherness.”
Writer’s View
There is logic behind Walsall’s decision. They already have six fixtures in April so wouldn’t have wanted to add another to their calendar. However, with form having stagnated over the past couple of months, this allows Sadler to try something different and potentially freshen up his starting XI. Even if they do lose at Gillingham, they are likely to remain top of the table anyway as they possess a much stronger goal difference than second-placed Bradford City.
