RiTCHIE Thoughts pre - Walsall From Main Site

REDS boss Andy Ritchie gave his thoughts ahead of tomorrow's trip to Walsall.

He said: "We will obviously have Paul Reid back after suspension but Paul Heckingbotton is cup tied. Dale Tonge will go for an exploratory operation later this afternoon to get to the bottom of his knee injury and Nicky Wroe has trained but is still struggling with swelling around his knee and could need another scan.

"Bobby Hassell has missed training this morning but is fit to play at Walsall. Antony Kay is on the mend and should be ok for the weekend.

"I will have to make my mind up about whether to start Daniel Nardiello at Walsall and that is something I will think about tonight. Paul Hayes will start up front.

"We had problems last week when Paul Reid was suspended but he will come straight back in at Walsall. He is my captain and is a big influence both on the field and in the dressing room.

"Saturday was really a game of two halves and we have to start putting two 45s together now. I was not happy with the defending for both goals in the first half really although there is no way you can have a go at Nick Colgan for the second one. Nick has done well this season and has saved us time and time again with some fine saves so something like that is completely out of the blue.

"I was not pleased at all with the defending that led up to both goals. We were niaive and it cost us in the end.

"In the second half we were a lot better and I think Martin Foyle was very, very relieved to get a win in the end. He was a little amazed and very complementary about how we played. We had chances but were always fighting an uphill battle after being two goals down at the break.

"We have to start brightly and really go for it at Walsall. There is the opportunity of a winnable match in the next round against either Tamworth or Stoke City - we just have to make sure we get through first.

"I do not think Walsall caused us too many problems in the first game and their goal led a charmed life in the second half. We have to do it all again now.

"We know more about Walsall now after playing them at out place. We know more about their loan players and we will be able to deal with them more effectively now".

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how slowly.....

.........do you reckon Nicky Wroe will run with his swollen knee?