Sheppey United-Walsall: Mat Sadler's Saddlers will be fully prepped on the Ites
- Published
Sheppey United crossed the River Thames to beat Billericay on penalties after a replay in the fourth qualifying round
Walsall boss Mat Sadler says he has still been able to do all his usual pre-match preparations for Friday night's FA Cup first-round tie in Kent against Sheppey United.
A long trek to face a non-league side under lights on an artificial pitch has all the makings of a potential upset.
But Sadler says he knows just how tricky a test Sheppey could be, having seen plenty of footage of them.
"I'll be doing all the same video preparation as normal," he told BBC WM.
"We're very fortunate in that I've got a fantastic analyst who, by hook or by crook, has been getting hold of games for us to watch.
"He's done really well with it. He's worked tirelessly to get those sort of things in, so our preparations will be exactly the same as for any normal league game."
Walsall are 15th in League Two, four tiers above Sheppey, who play in the Isthmian League South-East Division.
The Kent side - known as The Ites - are currently 14th in the table, but have only completed six league fixtures this season because of all their cup commitments.
They punched above their weight in the fourth qualifying round when they drew 1-1 at Billericay, from the Isthmian League top flight, shared another 1-1 draw back at the 1,400-capacity Holm Park, but won through 5-4 on penalties.
They also have an in-form striker in prolific non-league marksman in Danny Bradshaw, the younger brother of former Saddlers striker Tom Bradshaw.
Tom scored over a century of career goals, but had his most prolific days at Walsall, where he averaged almost one every other game for two seasons to earn bigger moves, first to Barnsley, then on to Millwall.
And Danny knows where the back of the net is is too, having scored in both games against Billericay to take his season's tally close to double figures.
"We have to be right on top of our game," said Sadler, "because we know they'll be of theirs."
Walsall boss Mat Sadler's only FA Cup goal in 33 appearances came seven years ago this weekend with the opener in a 3-0 win over Barnet
In his own 20-year EFL career with Birmingham City, Northampton Town, Watford, Stockport County, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall, Crawley Town, Rotherham United and Oldham Athletic, Sadler experienced both sides of the FA Cup, both as giant and slayer.
And he has injury concerns over defenders Priestley Farquharson and Oisin McEntee, striker Aramide Oteh and eight-goal on-loan top scorer Freddie Draper.
But Sadler is embracing being part of it under the Kent lights, on an unfamiliar surface, 190 miles away from the home comforts of Bescot.
"The romance isn't lost on me," he said. "It's just good to be involved in. It's why we love the cup."
Walsall boss Mat Sadler was talking to BBC Radio WM's Mike Taylor.