Crewe Alexandra (H) League One, Sat 18 Oct, 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

We welcome our old friends from Crwho on Saturday, no doubt they will be wanting to turn a corner of their own having got their second win of the League One season under their belt last week-end. Prior to that game I would have placed good money on a fairly comfortable Walsall win, but what with them winning and us losing it looks like a potential banana skin game. We can expect to see Febian Brandy in their starting XI as well as teenage 'wonder boy' striker George Cooper. Crewe's current form:

16 Sep Yeovil Town (A) Drew 1-1
20 Sep M K Dons (A) Lost 6-1
27 Sep Colchester United (H) Lost 0-3
30 Sep Notts County (H) Lost 0-3
4 Oct Bradford (A) Lost 2-0
11 Oct Coventry City (H) Won 2-1

Brandy and Cooper both scored in the Coventry win, and Coventry's goal was an o.g.....bad day at the office for the Sky Blues, who finished the match with 10 men. Crewe are still bottom of the table by 3 points, and their goal difference of -20 means they'll still be bottom no matter what happens on Saturday.

Walsall's team news is like the curate's egg....good in parts. Romaine Sawyers is back from his globetrotting duty, and Andy Taylor has shaken off the sickness bug that laid him low last week-end. Tom Bradshaw has resumed training, but Dean Smith only rates him as 50/50 and has said that with fixtures coming thick and fast he doesn't want to risk bringing him back too soon. Another player to return to training is Sam Mantom - that could be good news for us.

As I will be attending this game I'll be rash and predict a Walsall win - let's say 3-0, with Sawyers, Baxendale and Manset finding the net. :D

[Soton Saddler]

Should really be a home win this but we struggle against the so called "poorer" teams in this division.

I'm going for a 1 - 1 to give the Smithout army a bit of ammunition. This will be followed up by a strong 0 - 2 against Crawley giving the Smithin contingency the wondrous sound-bite of: "I'd have taken 4 points from these last two fixtures so more than happy with these showings." I know this because I'll be one of them! UTS!

Walsall 1 - 1 Crewe
Manset Brandy (obviously!)

Att: 3,988 (415 from Crewe)

UTS!!

[Wyrley_saddler]

We always seem to struggle against Crewe, particularly when we are at home. 0-1 Brandy

[latviancheese]

3-1 win

[BathSaddler]

The pressure will be on us to win this one and I'm not convinced that we have what it takes at the moment. If Bradshaw, Taylor and Sawyers are back, then we might sneak it.

However, the pessimistic Walsallian in me says this will be a 1-0 or 2-1 defeat and that Brandy will score for them.

[Cully]

I'm hoping Baxendale will resume his rightful place on the ball boys bench. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, I doubt SMITHOUT knows either.

Everyone should look forward to the usual tedious dross both on the pitch and also on this board after the match which for me will be somewhat tempered by the number of pints of bitter consumed at the match and glasses of wine when I return home................que sera sera.

[Big Dave wfc]

O'donnell, j chambers, downing, butler, Taylor
Clifford, a chambers
Cook, sawyers, forde
Manset

That is the line up I would be going for tomorrow depending on if Bradshaw is fit.

IMO that's plenty strong enough to see off crewe, 2-0 home win

[Ghostofwalsallpast]

0-0

[chestersaddler]

As I will be attending this game

I expect your match updates to be at least 5 minutes ahead of the BBC website :D

An exhilarating 1-0 win in front of 4213. Baxendale with the winner

Cully's match report to be as bitter as his tipple of choice as he acknowledges Baxendale's inspired performance.

[longdogs]

Can someone confirm you can pay cash at the turnstile downstairs behind the goal?

[TheSwift]

Even if we lose, I would be massively concerned if we don't score against them. So:

Both 1 over par and on Bogey's at 3 sets all with 12 lay ups each, two hole in ones and an ace each. Butler to grab a touchdown and Manset with a K.O.

Can someone direct me in the way of a bookmaker that holds odds on this?

[windowman]

yes mate,you can

[longdogs]

yes mate,you can

cheers

[Guest]

If we can't win this, then we're in for a long, hard season - even longer and harder than the one we're already in for.

[ws9swift]

O'Donnell
Purkiss j.chambers butler Taylor
Flanagan a.chambers
Forde sawyers benning
Cook

5 changes from Oldham.

[BarnsleySaddler]

Early goal as Notts County go 1-0 up against Crawley.

[BarnsleySaddler]

58% of the play to Walsall but both sides 3 shots each. Crewe more direct?

[SWS1]

No details on BBC@Walsall???
Or is it just my PC???
:(

[BarnsleySaddler]

Bristol City beating Coventry but Peterborough losing to Barnsley both 1-0.

Looking at ITV.com due to nothing on BBC.

[BarnsleySaddler]

Crewe now in the ascendancy, the only thing we appear to be winning is the number of fouls given away.

[BarnsleySaddler]

After a scintillating first half we arrive at half time 0-0. Hope the second half is better for us.

[BarnsleySaddler]

Second half underway, is there anybody out there :?:

[Ancient Moaner]

Second half underway, is there anybody out there :?:

Me!............ I know, O Bugga! :lol:

From the stats (on ITV, no BBC for me either) it looks as if we have reached our level, 0-0 at home against the bottom club with the worst defence in the football league? It can't get much worse can it?

Absentees no longer an issue, we are just utter pap aye we, end of. :(

[BarnsleySaddler]

Cooper booked for Crewe.

[BarnsleySaddler]

There`s a bit of a game going on at Notts Country who were 3 up now Crawley have pulled 2 back. Plus 4 bookings so far!

AM as you say utter pap the week after giving Smith another 12 months.


ATT: 4.127 (438 Crewe Alexandra)

Manset set to come on for Benning.

[BarnsleySaddler]

Flanagan OFF Clifford ON.
2 down 1 to go.

[latviancheese]

This game is making me sleepy and im only reading about it :(

[Ancient Moaner]

There`s a bit of a game going on at Notts Country who were 3 up now Crawley have pulled 2 back. Plus 4 bookings so far!

AM as you say utter pap the week after giving Smith another 12 months.


ATT: 4.127 (438 Crewe Alexandra)

Manset set to come on for Benning.

Have I missed something? ...............another twelve months of this garbage, please tell me your kidding..........................The bloke has the worst stats of any manager in recent history and he is rewarded for this with a twelve month contract extension? Are we living in the real world?

[paddy]

Yet again it's clifford on for Flanagan, how's the kid to get any confidence in playing first team football when he's hooked every game he starts

[Ancient Moaner]

This game is making me sleepy and im only reading about it :(

Yeah I've just jumped out of my chair cus a car went past! :lol: :lol: