Preview: Walsall Vs Crystal Palace

Last updated : 25 August 2014 By Matthew Roche

In previous encounters Walsall have failed to score in their last four clashes with Crystal Palace in all competitions.The Eagles are unbeaten in their last 13 games against the Saddlers, a run stretching back to 1975.

However the Eagles go into the Walsall game having recorded two defeats this season in as many games after the shock resignation of manager Tony Pulis.

Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has been working hard behind the scenes to bring in a new manager. Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni says the club’s chairman Steve Parish needs to take his time over a new managerial appointment.

The Eagles will face a Walsall side that have Walsall have won just three of their last 11 League Cup games and all those victories were in the first round.The Saddlers have not reached the third round since 2002-03, when they were eventually eliminated by Blackburn.The League One side recorded their best League Cup run during the 1983-84 season, when they progressed to the semi-finals before losing out to Liverpool.

Since reaching the semi-finals in 2011-12, Palace have been eliminated in the second round in successive seasons. Both those defeats came against lower league opposition.

Crystal Palace will assess the fitness of midfielder Joe Ledley, who pulled out of Saturday's defeat to West Ham after hurting his groin in the warm-up. Scott Dann will also face a late fitness test to assess his fitness ahead of the game.

Caretaker manager Keith Millen will be hoping to avoid any inujries ahead of an away league fixture to Newcastle on Saturday. Millen will likely use this opportunity to give some of the fringe players a run out.

 The Eagles will be looking to record a confidence boosting win over the League One side after what has been a dissapointing start to the season so far.