Walsall vs Peterborough: Posh strikers out to end poor record

A summer recruitment drive saw Grant McCann splash out on three strikers who hit 70 goals between them last season.

Ricky Miller arrived having found the target 40 times in 38 starts for Dover, while Danny Lloyd netted 22 for Stockport.

But it’s the capture of Jack Marriott from Luton that has ensured Posh have made a flying start to the new campaign.

Often utilised from the bench for the League Two Hatters, Marriott has jumped up a level and quickly found his scoring boots.

In seven league outings, the former Ipswich man has netted six times.

But it’s not just Marriott’s goals that have brought a new dimension to McCann’s side. All three of the boss’s summer striking arrivals were identified because of their pace.

And that’s proved the missing ingredient, with Posh currently the joint top scorers in the division having netted 15 goals.

Currently second in the table, even chairman Darragh MacAnthony didn’t expect them to start so well.

The Irish entrepreneur felt his side would get stronger as the season progressed.

But the shrewd arrivals up front have been matched with equally impressive additions elsewhere.

The arrival of former Newcastle centre-back Steven Taylor has shored up the defence, while Michael Doughty’s arrival from QPR has bolstered the midfield.

Such is Peterborough’s strength in depth, former key man Chris Forrester is no longer a regular.

But it’s still Marcus Maddison who is their main danger man – with the club securing the attacking midfielder to a new contract at the start of August despite plenty of interest from elsewhere.

Despite traditionally being a winger, Maddison has often been deployed as a number 10 in a 3-4-1-2 formation this season.

And he will now be out to end the dreadful record Posh have at the Banks’s Stadium.

McCann’s side have failed to score in each of their last four visits to WS1.

Walsall are also undefeated against Saturday’s opponents in their last eight meetings.

DANGERMAN – MARCUS MADDISON

Quick, direct and with an impressive record for both goals and assists, few players in the league are as dangerous as the former Newcastle trainee.

Still just 23-years-old, Maddison is also a set-piece specialist and capable of the spectacular.