Kevan Hurst (62 mins)
George Bowerman (85 mins)
npower League 1
, Feb 18, 2012
Ground: Banks's Stadium
, Kickoff: 15:00 , Att 3,491
Team news
Saddlers sweating on duo Walsall goalkeeper Jimmy Walker and striker Jon Macken face late fitness tests ahead of the vital visit of relegation rivals Wycombe.
The duo missed Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Oldham with hamstring injuries but returned to light training on Thursday ahead of a full session on Friday.
However, the game may come too soon for the pair, who face an uphill battle to prove their match fitness in time, while manager Dean Smith will not want to take any risks.
Defender Daryl Westlake, who has been on the fringes of late, has also been ruled out of action for around a week with an ankle injury.
The Saddlers head into the clash one point and one place below Wycombe, who occupy the final relegation berth, knowing only victory will provide a genuine boost to their survival hopes.
Wycombe have no new problems.
Long-term absentees Scott Donnelly and John Halls aside, manager Gary Waddock has a fully-fit squad to choose from.
Changes could be on the cards following the disappointing home defeat to relegation rivals Yeovil on Tuesday night.
Defender Danny Foster, midfielders Joel Grant and Stuart Lewis and strikers Ben Strevens and Matt McClure are amongst the options available to Waddock.
Wycombe were booed off the pitch in midweek and Waddock subjected to chants of `you don't know what you're doing'. But the Wanderers boss insists it will not affect him.
Walsall vs Wycombe
Last modified 18:38 18/02/12
Saddlers claim important triumph Two second half goals enabled Walsall to leapfrog fellow strugglers Wycombe with a 2-0 win at the Banks's Stadium Kevan Hurst put the Saddlers ahead with a blistering 63rd minute drive - his third goal of the season - and George Bowerman added the second from a pass by fellow substitute Jon Macken.
Walsall could even afford a penalty miss - Alex Nicholls failing from the spot for the second time in a week as Chairboys goalkeeper Nikki Bull got down to smother his low effort.
The Saddlers easily contained a Wycombe side for whom Matty Whichelow shot wide in the first half and Stuart Beavon headed over.
Walsall's star was 20-year-old Jamie Patterson, who went close on several occasions, as Wycombe were condemned to a third successive defeat.
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Substitution | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | David Grof | ||||
| 14 | Richard Taundry | ||||
| 5 | Oliver Lancashire | ||||
| 4 | Andy Butler | ||||
| 3 | Mat Sadler | ||||
| 11 | Kevan Hurst |
|
|||
| 25 | Florent Cuvelier | ||||
| 7 | Adam Chambers | ||||
| 15 | Jamie Paterson(sub 90) |
|
|||
| 9 | Will Grigg(sub 81) |
|
|||
| 16 | Alex Nicholls(sub 61) |
|
|||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 1 | Jimmy Walker | ||||
| 10 | Jonathan Macken(sub 81) |
|
|||
| 12 | Lee Beevers | ||||
| 17 | George Bowerman(sub 61) |
|
|
||
| 19 | Anton Peterlin(sub 90) |
|
|||
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Substitution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikki Bull | ||||
| 2 | Danny Foster | ||||
| 3 | Louis Laing |
|
|||
| 5 | Dave Winfield |
|
|||
| 15 | Grant Basey | ||||
| 7 | Gareth Ainsworth(sub 65) |
|
|||
| 11 | James Harper |
|
|||
| 18 | Stuart Lewis | ||||
| 12 | Ben Strevens(sub 72) |
|
|||
| 20 | Stuart Beavon | ||||
| 24 | Matthew Whichelow(sub 54) |
|
|||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 6 | Leon Johnson | ||||
| 17 | Joel Grant(sub 72) |
|
|||
| 29 | Matt McClure(sub 54) |
|
|||
| 34 | Anthony McNamee(sub 65) |
|
|||
| Team | Walsall | Wycombe |
|---|
