Danny Guthrie doubtful as Walsall host Darlington in FA Cup first round

Posted Thursday, November 07, 2019 by PA

Walsall could be without midfielder Danny Guthrie for their FA Cup first-round tie against Darlington.

Guthrie was forced off midway through the first half of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Swindon with an unspecified injury.

Saddlers boss Darrell Clarke had made six changes, with Wes McDonald, Kory Roberts, Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Stuart Sinclair all left out of the squad.

Alfie Bates, midfielder James Hardy and forward Caolan Lavery are also options having come off the bench against Swindon, which was a sixth-straight Sky Bet League Two defeat.

Vanarama National League North side Darlington are making a first appearance in the FA Cup competition proper since 2010.

The Quakers, though, will be without on-loan striker Tyrone O’Neill, who scored twice during the 3-0 win over Tamworth in the last round, after he was been recalled by parent club Middlesbrough.

Stephen Thompson, the longest serving player on the club’s books, is expected to come into the side, with no other injury problems reported.

Thompson, who started his career in the youth team at Middlesbrough, is just two goals short of Alan Walsh’s all-time club record of 100.