Preview: Walsall v Bolton Wanderers

Table topping Bolton Wanderers head to Walsall tomorrow to that poky ground you can see from the motorway aiming to maintain both their unbeaten start to the season and their newly-acquired status as being a big fish in this division.

In the midst of their tenth-successive season at this level, the Saddlers had a busy summer as they continued to rebuild following the traumatic departure of former boss Dean Smith to Brentford part way through last year.

Summer signings included Florent Cuvelier from Sheffield United, Joe Edwards from Colchester United, Franck Moussa from Southend United and Andreas Makris from Anorthosis Famagusta - famously breaking a club transfer record that had been held for nearly 20 years.

They lost Romaine Sawyers, who once liked a tweet of mine insisting that he move to Bolton, and Rico Henry to Brentford. Both highly talented and highly missed as a result.

A ropey pre-season saw them win just twice in six games under the leadership of Jon Whitney, who took over in June 2016.

Since the season began, they have carried over that poor form winning just once - on the opening day against AFC Wimbledon. Defeats to Chesterfield, Charlton Athletic and newly-promoted Northampton Town have left them just once place above the relegation zone just seven games into the new season.

They did however win 5-2 against Grimsby Town in the EFL Trophy that nobody cares about.

Notable squad members include former Blackburn Rovers striker Simeon Jackson and Isaiah Osbourne who has played for every single club in the world.

Bolton will be expecting to come away from the game with three points and, quite frankly, there should be no excuses if we do not win the game.

With Walsall having lost last season's top scorer Tom Bradshaw to Barnsley they are lacking in firepower which should mean that even our defence has enough to cope with what they can throw at us.

Manager Whitney is inexperienced and appears to be struggling in his first professional job. His success as caretaker manager last season does not seem to have translated into the 2016/17 League One season and I would expect Wanderers to take full advantage when the teams meet tomorrow.