Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway is considering Matty Virtue and Jaylan Pearman as potential solutions to his side's severe goal drought ahead of their League Two fixture against Walsall on Saturday 17 October. The Robins have found the net only once in their last five matches, a stark contrast to their opponents' recent scoring form. Walsall, who sit 6th in the table with 15 points from nine games, have scored 12 goals this season while conceding just six.
Holloway pointed to the experience of Matty Virtue, a midfielder who scored 19 goals for Fleetwood Town, as a possible spark. "I like arriving in the box; when the ball is wide, I want to make runs into the box, a bit similar to Skip [Ollie Clarke]," Holloway said. "Hopefully, if I am getting in there, then the ball will come my way and I can chip in." The manager is looking for these third-man runs to add a new dimension to Swindon's 4-2-3-1 setup.
The other option is 20-year-old Jaylan Pearman, who has not played a minute of league football since August. Despite his lack of recent action, Holloway has been impressed in training. "This is what they've got to deal with. People like Pearman are a perfect example of come on, has it gone right yet?" the manager noted. The selection dilemma is compounded by the fact that attacker Joseph Hungbo is unlikely to be fit for a full 90 minutes, and the club also faces a defensive injury crisis.
Walsall, who sit 6th in the table with 15 points from nine games, will travel to the County Ground for Saturday's match. The Saddlers' recent form of two wins, two draws and one defeat shows resilience with just one defeat in their last five outings. They are coming off a 3-2 victory over Fulham U21s in the EFL Trophy, where Taione Richard Evumena Sodje scored twice in the first half and James Furlong added a third. Their other recent results include a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town, where Aaron Pressley scored a late equaliser, and a 1-1 draw at Tranmere. The team's top scorer this season is D. Kanu with 15 goals in 40 appearances.
For Swindon, currently 17th, the match represents a critical opportunity to jumpstart their season. They will face a Walsall side that is also missing four players, which could level the playing field. Holloway's tactical tweak, whether it involves the goal threat of Virtue or the youthful energy of Pearman, will be under immediate scrutiny. The game kicks off at the County Ground on Saturday, 17 October. Walsall, four points behind leaders Salford City, will be looking to maintain their push near the top of the table.
The original report is at Swindon Advertiser
