A look ahead to two important games in League One this weekend

With another set of League One fixtures nearly upon us, we look ahead to two notable games this weekend.

Walsall v Gillingham 

League One’s top two sides face off against each other at the Bescot Stadium this weekend.

Under the guidance of Dean Smith and Justin Edinburgh both sides have surprised pundits and fans alike to sit at the summit of League One.

Smith’s Walsall have only lost two games all season and have recorded important victories over fellow high flyers Burton Albion and Coventry City. The Saddlers also have the sternest defense in the league, having only conceded 12 goals this season.

Meanwhile table-toppers Gillingham will also come into Saturday’s game full of confidence having won five of their last seven games.

Gills boss Edinburgh admitted in the week that he was surprised with how well his team had started the season.

“We are massively overachieving and there is no doubt about that

“We are not big-hitters in the league financially but that doesn’t say we can’t continue to develop and fight to stay near the top” explained the former Newport manager.

Walsall are set to welcome back Rico Henry after the defender missed last weekend’s draw at Colchester through injury.

However, Neil Etheridge continues to be a doubt for Dean Smith’s men.

Meanwhile Gillingham will be without the suspended Josh Wright and the injured Luke Norris.

Port Vale v Shrewsbury 

The two local rivals are both on 17 points and both have a goal difference of -2. It can therefore be expected that Saturday’s game at Vale Park could be a closely fought affair!

Rob Page’s Port Vale come into the game on a poor run of form having failed to win any of their previous five games. This run has seen Vale slip down to 17th place in the table.

However, Page told reporters this week that he is hopeful that his side can quickly reverse their current form.

“We’ve got to roll our sleeves up in our position at the minute where we need to dig ourselves out of it and we’ve got characters in the changing room who are more than capable of doing that.” said the Vale boss.

Shrewsbury on the other hand have won three of their last four games and recorded a notable win against high-flying Bury last weekend.

The Shrews have benefited greatly from the recent goal scoring exploits of Sullay Kaikai who has scored four goals in his last five games.

As for the team news. Vale are set to be without strikers Uche Ikpeazu and Enoch Andoh. However, Byron Moore and Chris Birchall could return from injuries in time to play.

Shrewsbury’s Ian Black looks set to miss out with a thigh injury but new signings Anthony Gerrard and Zak Whitbread are available.