Mat Sadler deems Grimsby's mud bath surface "playable" ahead of Walsall clash
Mat Sadler says he thinks the pitch looks "playable" at Blundell Park, as Walsall prepare to travel to Grimsby Town on Wednesday night.
The surface resembled a mud bath when the Mariners lost 1-0 against Premier League opponents Wolves in their FA Cup fourth round tie on Sunday.
Walsall are set to return to action after an 11-day break since they lost 3-1 at home to Barnet on February 7, but the game will be subject to a 2.30pm pitch inspection on Wednesday.
The training pitch has also taken a battering at the Saddlers' Essington training ground, which Sadler feels is perfect preparation for their midweek clash.
'Our training pitch is the same' - Sadler on Grimsby preparations
"Preparing differently is not the problem because our training ground is the same as what the pitch will be like at the moment," boss Sadler explained.
"We worked on the training pitch on a couple of occasions when we probably shouldn't have done in other circumstances.
"But it has naturally served as fantastic use for preparation. In terms of the pitch, for me it should be fine.
"I watched the game on Wednesday, I watched the game on Sunday. And I can't see it getting any worse and the weather seems to be alright when I've looked.
"For me, the pitch has taken a battering, but it'll still be playable, and we'll go out there and play."
Grimsby will be buoyed by a nine-match unbeaten run in the league, which has heralded six wins and eight clean sheets in the process.
'It's a good old-fashioned English pitch'
And Sadler has called on his side to rise to the battle on what is expected to be a scrappy affair.
"It's a good old-fashioned English pitch that we'll go and play on," he added.
"In that game on Sunday, you saw two teams that slightly enjoyed it, and we have to do exactly that.
"We will enjoy that battle side of it and the unexpected mistakes that might come from it.
"It's a game of reactions, and being the first team to react and the best team to react, which will be really important.
"Taking that out of the equation, Grimsby are a very good team and David [Artell] has done a great job.
"They're on a good run, so it is up to us to focus on us in the game. Not the pitch, not the opposition - we need to focus on us."
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