Leyton Orient (H) League One 22nd March 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

We welcome high-flyers Leyton Orient, who come to fortress Bescot to end our unbeaten run (2 games and counting). Orient seem to have lost touch with the automatic promotion places - they're 3rd in the table on 74 points, 2 points adrift of Brentford and 3 behind the Dingles, both of whom have 2 games in hand. Early in the season they looked certainties for the top spot winning their first 8 games, only to be pegged back by 10-man Walsall in a 1-1 draw. Westcarr scored for us with a header that day back in September (it was our first attempt on target, in the 71st minute...sound familiar???). Leyton Orient's most recent League One form:

18 Feb Stevenage (H) Won 2-0
22 Feb Swindon Town (H) Won 2-0
1 Mar Colchester United (H) Won 2-1
8 Mar Notts County (A) Drew 0-0
11 Mar Port Vale (A) Won 0-2
15 Mar Brentford (H) Lost 0-1

Orient's ability to score plenty of goals is self-evident. They have FOUR players who have scored 10 goals or more...Mooney (17), Lisbie (14), Cox (12), and Odubajo (10). Their club goal difference is a very impressive +36, enough on its own to give Dean Smith a headache without the absence of Ben Purkiss who was perhaps unfortunate to be sent off at Rotherham. However Orient can be vulnerable - this was demonstrated last weekend by Brentford, who not only won at Orient but did it with 10 men for almost the whole of the second half, and also keeping a certain W. Grigg on the bench for the duration! I reckon we could win this one (with a following wind and the rub of the green)...let's say 2-1, Lalkovic and Ngoo for us. :D

[We-ARE-Walsall]

We welcome high-flyers Leyton Orient, who come to fortress Bescot to end our unbeaten run (2 games and counting). Orient seem to have lost touch with the automatic promotion places - they're 3rd in the table on 74 points, 2 points adrift of Brentford and 3 behind the Dingles, both of whom have 2 games in hand. Early in the season they looked certainties for the top spot winning their first 8 games, only to be pegged back by 10-man Walsall in a 1-1 draw. Westcarr scored for us with a header that day back in September (it was our first attempt on target, in the 71st minute...sound familiar???). Leyton Orient's most recent League One form:

18 Feb Stevenage (H) Won 2-0
22 Feb Swindon Town (H) Won 2-0
1 Mar Colchester United (H) Won 2-1
8 Mar Notts County (A) Drew 0-0
11 Mar Port Vale (A) Won 0-2
15 Mar Brentford (H) Lost 0-1

Orient's ability to score plenty of goals is self-evident. They have FOUR players who have scored 10 goals or more...Mooney (17), Lisbie (14), Cox (12), and Odubajo (10). Their club goal difference is a very impressive +36, enough on its own to give Dean Smith a headache without the absence of Ben Purkiss who was perhaps unfortunate to be sent off at Rotherham. However Orient can be vulnerable - this was demonstrated last weekend by Brentford, who not only won at Orient but did it with 10 men for almost the whole of the second half, and also keeping a certain W. Grigg on the bench for the duration! I reckon we could win this one (with a following wind and the rub of the green)...let's say 2-1, Lalkovic and Ngoo for us. :D

I love how you built it up, you had me believing your story, I really though " Yes, we can do this" then you had to add that bit on the end, and it was like the alarm clock going off :lol:

Think we could get a good hiding here to be honest, but wouldn't be surprised if we won either. First goal will probably be crucial.

Not going anyway, got more pressing matters, hope it's a good game for those that go.

[kshammer]

I'll be going as long as Rushall aint at home.

[tinned]

We welcome high-flyers Leyton Orient, who come to fortress Bescot to end our unbeaten run (2 games and counting). Orient seem to have lost touch with the automatic promotion places - they're 3rd in the table on 74 points, 2 points adrift of Brentford and 3 behind the Dingles, both of whom have 2 games in hand. Early in the season they looked certainties for the top spot winning their first 8 games, only to be pegged back by 10-man Walsall in a 1-1 draw. Westcarr scored for us with a header that day back in September (it was our first attempt on target, in the 71st minute...sound familiar???). Leyton Orient's most recent League One form:

18 Feb Stevenage (H) Won 2-0
22 Feb Swindon Town (H) Won 2-0
1 Mar Colchester United (H) Won 2-1
8 Mar Notts County (A) Drew 0-0
11 Mar Port Vale (A) Won 0-2
15 Mar Brentford (H) Lost 0-1

Orient's ability to score plenty of goals is self-evident. They have FOUR players who have scored 10 goals or more...Mooney (17), Lisbie (14), Cox (12), and Odubajo (10). Their club goal difference is a very impressive +36, enough on its own to give Dean Smith a headache without the absence of Ben Purkiss who was perhaps unfortunate to be sent off at Rotherham. However Orient can be vulnerable - this was demonstrated last weekend by Brentford, who not only won at Orient but did it with 10 men for almost the whole of the second half, and also keeping a certain W. Grigg on the bench for the duration! I reckon we could win this one (with a following wind and the rub of the green)...let's say 2-1, Lalkovic and Ngoo for us. :D

I love how you built it up, you had me believing your story, I really though " Yes, we can do this" then you had to add that bit on the end, and it was like the alarm clock going off :lol:

Think we could get a good hiding here to be honest, but wouldn't be surprised if we won either. First goal will probably be crucial.

Not going anyway, got more pressing matters, hope it's a good game for those that go.

Get your priorities sorted man! What could be more important? You stayaways make me sick! :D

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Got to sign my life away Tinned, it happens to us all eventually, I've had a good run, can't be happy all your life.

I am making up for it, by walking to Port Vale :D

[chestersaddler]

Got to sign my life away Tinned, it happens to us all eventually, I've had a good run, can't be happy all your life.

I am making up for it, by walking to Port Vale :D

Good luck on Saturday Mark.

[SWS1]

I've got a good feeling about this one. Ground is a bit drier and it's about time the Team gave me a nice weekend, although I was happy with a good point last week, in the circumstances.
UTS :D

['O'in the middle]

I predict a 1-1 draw, which wont be beneficial to either it seems. around 7,000 attending?

[WFC_Rob]

around 7,000 attending?

Wishful thinking unless there's 3,000 of you making the trip. :D

['O'in the middle]

around 7,000 attending?

Wishful thinking unless there's 3,000 of you making the trip. :D

Is this because you lot have given up on the play-offs? I would guess 12-1500 'O's. :D

[chestersaddler]

around 7,000 attending?

Wishful thinking unless there's 3,000 of you making the trip. :D

Is this because you lot have given up on the play-offs? I would guess 12-1500 'O's. :D

No, it's because we would struggle to muster that many if we were in the Championship :(

['O'in the middle]

around 7,000 attending?

Wishful thinking unless there's 3,000 of you making the trip. :D

Is this because you lot have given up on the play-offs? I would guess 12-1500 'O's. :D

No, it's because we would struggle to muster that many if we were in the Championship :(

I recall Walsall regularly getting 7k plus when in the championship, what's happened? We were quite jealous!!

[chestersaddler]

around 7,000 attending?

Wishful thinking unless there's 3,000 of you making the trip. :D

Is this because you lot have given up on the play-offs? I would guess 12-1500 'O's. :D

No, it's because we would struggle to muster that many if we were in the Championship :(

I recall Walsall regularly getting 7k plus when in the championship, what's happened? We were quite jealous!!

Well, it all started on a cold transfer deadline day in January 2008.....

[gerryhatrick]

Well, it all started on a cold transfer deadline day in January 2008.....

Yep. Chairman was suffering sleep deprivation, at the thought of promotion and decided to bail out.

['O'in the middle]

Sir Barry Hearn doesn't bail out. He did oversee getting rid of Chambers though!!
Are there any gentlemen who could treat me to a candlelight lunch pre game?
A lovely Englishman for companionship who loves footy please!!! :x :lol:

[gerryhatrick]

Sir Barry Hearn doesn't bail out. He did oversee getting rid of Chambers though!!
Are there any gentlemen who could treat me to a candlelight lunch pre game?
A lovely Englishman for companionship who loves footy please!!! :x :lol:

I've got a tin of Spam and some sprouts that have reached their sell-by date. Interested ?

['O'in the middle]

Spam? I may be knocking on a bit but its not war time cheeky. :D

[BathSaddler]

A third 1-1 draw in a row, in front of a decent 5,000 + crowd, including 800 O's.

Good luck to Leyton Orient for the rest of the season. I would just love it if they edged out Mordor Wanderers.

[mosaddler]

going for a 2-1 home win

brandy & swayers

5,213(600 O's)

:D

[TheGilbertAlsop]

With Purkiss suspended I would like to see Ben George added to the squad at least, or he could even start if Smith continues with Butler and James Chambers at centre-back. I can't see either Taylor or Benning switching to right-back. Moat likely though will be James Chambers moving to right-back and Downing coming back in at centre half.
Where the hell is Ashley Hemmings? Is he injured? I haven't seen him for weeks.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Just under an hour to kick-off, and SkyBet match odds are (surprisingly, to me):

Walsall to win........ 13/10
The Draw............. 23/10
Leyton Orient win... 21/10

I don't think we're THAT much of a favourite, to be honest!! :?

Elsewhere - half-time in the early kick-off, it's Sheffield United 0 Wolves 1

Edit that... at 52 minutes it's Blades 0 Dingles 2 :roll:

... and Sheff will be pleased with the latest from Stamford Bridge..... Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0 :shock:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Leyton Orient:

O'Donnell

Chambers
Taylor

Chambers
Butler
Downing

Brandy
Mantom
Westcarr
Sawyers
Lalkovic

Substitutes: Featherstone, Benning, Baxendale, Roberts, Hewitt, McQuilkin, Ngoo

[Welsh_Saddler]

Elsewhere... early goal - Port Vale 1 Tranmere Rovers 0 (Pope, 2 min)

also Gillingham 0 Crewe Alexandra 1

[Welsh_Saddler]

Lalkovic hits the post with a shot after 5 min........... :shock:

Brentford 0 Coventry City 1 (8 min)

Colchester United 0 Bristol City 1 (8 min)

[Welsh_Saddler]

WE LEAD 1-0......scorer to follow!!!!!!!!! (Downing, 13min - makes a change from an own goal, at least :D )

Stevenage 1 MK Dongs 0 (17 min) :lol:

Brentford have equalised at home to Coventry..... now 1-1 (further edit, now Brentford 2 Coventry City 1)

Oldham Athletic 1 Crawley 0

Blades 0 Dingles 2 is a final score.

Vincelot (Leyton Orient) booked, 26 min

[Welsh_Saddler]

As it stands, we're back up to 7th in the table because of Stevenage 2 MK Dons 0 :D

Also Notts County 2 Carlisle United 0

Gillingham 1 Crewe Alex 1

JUST BEFORE HALF-TIME........ Peterborough 0 Rotherham 1 :D :D :D

[BarnsleySaddler]

Half time and still 1-0 up. Hope it continues. :)

[philthesaddler]

Played well up until the goal, since then we've been playing at half pace.

No killer instinct, no wonder we've scored more than once only 3 times in the last 17 games - the players just don't want to push for that 2nd goal.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Played well up until the goal, since then we've been playing at half pace.

No killer instinct, no wonder we've scored more than once only 3 times in the last 17 games - the players just don't want to push for that 2nd goal.

I'm quite happy that we've restricted Leyton Orient to 1 shot in the first half....OK it was on target, but that's all they've had.

Second half has started - no substitutions (as yet)

Port Vale 3 Tranmere Rovers 0
Notts County 3 Carlisle 0
Brentford 3 Coventry City 1
Colchester 0 Bristol City 2

['O'in the middle]

I'm torn here. Geoff Dance is a personal friend of mine. My daughter is married to a passionate Walsall fan, he loves Ray Graydon, results aren't going the 'O's way.
:wink: