Walsall warned ahead of Gateshead FA Cup tie
Gateshead will face League Two leaders Walsall in the FA Cup second round on Sunday afternoon.
Walsall manager Mat Sadler has called on his players to focus on their own game as they look at avoid an FA Cup upset at the hands of Gateshead on Sunday.
The League Two title contenders will travel to the International Stadium as overwhelming favourites to become the latest visiting side to claim a win at the Heed’s home and secure a spot in Monday’s third round draw. The Saddlers have established themselves as favourites to claim promotion into League One this season and have been solid on the road after losing just two of their opening nine away games.
They have already experienced the challenges posed by National League clubs in this season’s FA Cup after coming through a first round tie at Eastleigh with a 3-0 win on the south coast. Despite Gateshead’s dismal run of form that currently stands at five consecutive defeats in the aftermath of their shock FA Cup win at AFC Wimbledon, Sadler has insisted Walsall will have to be ‘right at the top of their game’ to secure their place in Monday’s draw.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Saddlers boss said: “I think it's key in every single game that you play - trying to focus on being you and then the game that you're playing next. That's it, that's all I think about. We'll just focus on us, the way that we want to play against a good team. We're going to have to be right on top of our game going away to them. It's definitely always going to be a tough game.”
Walsall will be without former Gateshead transfer target Harrison Burke after he was ruled out for another month after suffering a setback in his comeback from a knee injury.
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