Gillingham v Walsall preview

The Saddlers travel to Gillingham tomorrow looking to end a run that has seen them go seven games without a win.

Last weekend, Keates’ men slipped to a 2-1 loss to Scunthorpe – a match which in many ways defined their season.

The Iron had just two genuine attempts on goal – both of which should have been prevented.

And Keates says cutting out those errors will lead to better results and a surge up the League One table.

“The mood in the group is OK – we are in a good place,” Keates said.

“We are disappointed results-wise. But performances aren’t a million miles away from where we want to be.

“We’ve looked back at Scunthorpe, done a debrief – we’ve looked at the wrongs, we need to put them right and all being well we will do that at Gillingham.

“The players are an honest bunch and they know there have been too many individual errors. As soon as we eradicate them we will get some points on the board.

“We just have to keep trying to do the right things. We are re-acting things in training, putting them under stress.

“And if we do that, hopefully, the lads will make the right decision when it comes down to that split second at the weekend.”

With confidence having taken a hit in recent weeks, Keates has told his players not to over complicate things at Priestfield tomorrow.

“The Scunthorpe game shows where we are,” the boss continued.

“They have had two shots on target and scored two goals.

“Our issue is errors. We need to eradicate those errors.

“We need to make better decisions. It may be a case in that split second – if a player can’t see a pass or he feels under pressure – they put the ball in the stand or over the stand.

“If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes. We can’t try and force a picture that isn’t there.

“We can then regroup, get back into shape and defend the second phase whether that’s a throw-in or a set-piece.”

Walsall saw Morgan Ferrier come off after just 11 minutes in the defeat to the Iron.

Top scorer Andy Cook also picked up a shoulder injury, but battled on.

Keates, though, is confident he will have both players available for the weekend.

“They are getting on alright, the boss added.

“They both picked up niggles last weekend, but I expect them to be fine.”

The Opposition - Gillingham

With just one point and one position separating them in the table, both Walsall and Gillingham know tomorrow’s game marks a huge opportunity to pull clear from danger.

The Gills enter the clash in decent form after a surprise FA Cup win over Cardiff was followed by victory at Burton last weekend.

But manager Steve Lovell knows if they are to stay up, they have to improve defensively.

The Gills are one of the few teams in League One who have a worse defensive record than Walsall.

Lovell’s men have conceded 45 goals in their 27 games – two more than the Saddlers.

And that is something they are desperate to rectify heading into tomorrow’s game.

On paper, the Gills have a squad full of League One talent.

Striker Tom Eaves has scored 15 goals in 30 games this year.

But while he did play against Cardiff he has missed a host of games recently with a thigh problem.

Gills chairman Paul Scally has also confirmed Eaves, who is out of contract in the summer, is unlikely to sign a new deal.

And that has led to speculation he could leave the club this month – with Scottish giants Rangers reportedly keen. While a lot of Gillingham’s goal have come from Eaves, the team’s midfielders have also shown they can chip in.

Elliott List has four for the campaign and Callum Reilly five.

Having scored 39 times this season, Lovell knows his team can find the back of the net – with that record the best outside the top six.

But he desperate for the Gills to defend better as a team, something he wants them to start tomorrow.

“We spoke to the players about how these teams cause us problems at times when they are in possession of the ball and it starts with our two front men,” Lovell said.

“The first line of defence is your front men and if they don’t do their job it is like a domino effect through your team.

“It is important we start there, up top. Those two boys have got to do more defensively when the opposition have the ball.

“There were a couple of times Saturday where the goalkeeper threw it to the centre-half and Josh (Parker) or Elliott (List) hasn’t closed down in the right areas and it goes to the full-back. They go all the way through and have a shot at goal and that is coming from the 18-yard box and it shouldn’t happen.”