Walsall v Gillingham preview: Mat Sadler aims to channel the disappointment of defeat
Mat Sadler has urged Walsall to use the difficulties over the past week to grow when they welcome Gillingham to Bescot tomorrow.
The Saddlers followed a catastrophic 4-0 drubbing at Sutton United with a 1-1 draw against Forest Green in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
Sadler insists that difficult periods will come in any season, and has set his side the challenge of fighting through adversity in order to improve.
“I just urge the supporters to be with us on that journey because there will be little hiccups in the road,” Sadler said.
“But we are desperate to create something that we are all proud of. Sometimes that takes a little bit of time, and sometimes you have those difficult moments.
“It’s about coming through them to get to the other side, learning from them, and growing as a group to get better and build something.”
Sadler is optimistic Freddie Draper will be available after missing the last two games with a hamstring issue.
Walsall are also hopeful that Owen Evans, Donervon Daniels and Joe Riley will be involved after missing the draw against Forest Green due to injury. However, the Saddlers will assess Priestley Farquharson and Aramide Oteh ahead of tomorrow’s fixture.
“We are hopeful with Freddie (Draper) for the weekend. Has had a little bit of time out with his hamstring and we’ll see how that settles down over the course of the training sessions,” he revealed.
“We’re also hopeful Donervon (Daniels), Joe (Riley) and Owen (Evans) will be OK.
“Donervon had to come off in the game on Saturday so he has been assessed earlier this week and we are working towards him being back in the fray.
“But as these things usually are, we hope it’s a straight line, but whether it is or not, we don’t know. Fingers crossed we have the same with Owen, and Priestley (Farquharson) is a similar thing.
“Rem (Oteh), we’re still assessing, so we are not sure on him at the moment. That will be something that comes out in the wash in the next 24-48 hours.”
Liam Gordon will also be ineligible after jetting off on international duty with Guyana.
Gillingham climbed into third place with a 2-1 win over MK Dons in Keith Millen’s first game as interim manager. And Sadler believes the contest will provide a good yard stick for where his side are currently at.
He observed: “They are a good team. They’ve started the season well in the main, and are a team that are expected to be up there.
“They’ve spent a hell of a lot money over the last 12 months, and will want to be fighting at the top end of the table come the end of the season.
“It’ll be a good yard stick for us, a good challenge and one that my group are ready to rise to.”
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