Walsall vs Tranmere 'expected' to go ahead as Mat Sadler praises ground staff

The Saddlers have not been in action since beating Notts County 2-1 on New Year's Day after their trip to Cheltenham Town was called off due to a frozen pitch last weekend. 

Walsall have been working with Sport and Stadia Services to help protect the surface from the freezing temperatures which have affected clubs up and down the country in recent days. 

In a video on Walsall's social media channels, head groundsman Paul Mason and Gary Johnson outlined the measures which have been taken to ensure that the game will go ahead this weekend. 

A raised tent has been installed over the Bescot pitch, with hot air blowing underneath to prevent the grass from frosting. And boss Sadler expects the surface to be in playable condition as he paid tribute to the hard work of the ground staff at the club.

He said: "The cold has been challenging but in terms of that game, that'll be absolutely fine. 

"There's been a small fortune spent on that to ensure that the game goes ahead so that'll be no problem at all. 

"Our ground staff work around the clock to ensure that not only is the game on but that we've got a training pitch that we're ok to train on and areas that we can train on. 

"We're looking well again this week and I feel sorry for them because they're up at the crack of dawn. Andy, Paul and Ellis are working so hard for us and they've done amazingly well." 

Walsall, who sit 10 points clear at the League Two summit, will be chasing a club record eighth successive league win when Tranmere visit the West Midlands. 

Sadler's charges are also unbeaten in 14 league games and have won their last four home matches in League Two.