Bristol City (A) League One, Sun 3 May, 12.15pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

For our last game of the season it's off to Ashton Gate to bid farewell to the worthy winners of the League One title, not to mention winning the FL Trophy. City are seven points clear at the top of the table. Their form has been so consistent that their most recent defeat was back in February (at the hands of Colchester United, would you believe??). On the goalscoring front it's interesting to note that their third highest scorer (with 11 goals) is defender Aden Flint, who we remember well from Wembley. In the League One "team of the season" Bristol City contributed 5 players. Enough said - current form:

3 Apr Oldham Athletic (A) Drew 1-1
7 Apr Swindon Town (H) Won 3-0
11 Apr Preston North End (A) Drew 1-1
14 Apr Bradford City (A) Won 0-6
18 Apr Coventry City (H) Drew 0-0
25 Apr Chesterfield (A) Won 0-2

A Romaine Sawyers late goal gave us a point in the corresponding home fixture last October, a game in which Tom Bradshaw's hamstring injury saw him limp off after 35 minutes. By contrast Dean Smith looks to have full availability for this last game, but with nothing hanging on the result for either team it's very difficult to predict. On form it's a banker home win of course, but our recent improvement in form may result in a greater degree of confidence than would have been the case a couple of months ago. I'll go for a repeat of the Bescot result - a 1-1 draw with either Bradshaw or Hiwula netting for us.

[aaaae]

Slight change to your intro - "to bid farewell to the worthy buyers of the League One title" :mrgreen:

Money talks as usual.

[Leatherman]

Slight change to your intro - "to bid farewell to the worthy buyers of the League One title" :mrgreen:

Money talks as usual.

...but does he wave?

[aaaae]

Slight change to your intro - "to bid farewell to the worthy buyers of the League One title" :mrgreen:

Money talks as usual.

...but does he wave?

Only goodbye..

[SoccerHQ]

Would be great to get something from this to secure a top half finish.

Don't see it though, Bristol have hardly downed tools since they won promotion so think it will be something like 3-1 them I'm afraid.

[Super Gabor]

Think we can win this. Draw at worst.

Last outing for our godawful flourescent away kit. RIP

[The Bosted Slab]

As ever it depends upon which Walsall turns up.

Hopefully it will be the one that more than matched them at Bescot, although we didn't quite beat them.

[clawtheolder]

If we turn up like the team v Crew god help us, if we turn up like the team v MK Dons Whoopee.

[SWS1]

5 - 1 to Walsall after Brizzle begin their celebrations too early and all turn up with terrible hangovers. Four Brizzle players get sent off in the first 20 minutes so they can get at their aspirin. Two own goals and a hat-trick for Purkiss. Aden Thingy with their goal, after borrowing step-ladder to climb above the Walsall defence.
Brizzle dow give a fewk as they am gooin up.

[Ancient Moaner]

If we turn up like the team v Crew god help us, if we turn up like the team v MK Dons Whoopee.

Lets hope it's not the team that turned out at Barnsley!! :( :?
In that case it may be a record win in the Third Division!

Think we'll get beat, but I hope that we at least score a goal for the brave souls in fancy dress (put a vest on, it'll be nithered!) to celebrate.

UTS

[Soton Saddler]

Bristol City 0 - 2 Walsall Bradshaw, Morris.

Do we ever read the script? UTS!

[JonnyOwen]

Bristol City 0 - 2 Walsall Bradshaw, Morris.

Do we ever read the script? UTS!

Our squad is so young I imagine quite a lot of them can't actually read yet :lol:

[PT]

Top half finish and we're seeds in next year's league cup, so it isn't completely meaningless.

Would be nice for that to happen as a result of us getting a point or three tomorrow. They beat us without breaking sweat at Wembley but we're a slightly different proposition now. Which means they will probably beat us but have to try harder to do it.

Let's hope they can't be arsed and we can.

[SWS1]

I'd love it we beat them. I'd just love it!
(Quotation: Kevin Keegan. It went mammaries up for him. Hope it doesn't for us).
I'd love it....etc.
:D

[Guest]

I agree with Soton Saddler. 2-0 to Walsall. Revenge for Wembley. Then we can all moan about why we didn't play like that at Wembley.

[otiswfc]

I agree with Soton Saddler. 2-0 to Walsall. Revenge for Wembley. Then we can all moan about why we didn't play like that at Wembley.

I'm already moaning £3.80 for a Guinness last night and this morning in Bristol, I was paying less at Wembley. :|

[aaaae]

I'm really regretting not getting a ticket for this now. Shame we aren't playing a team where we could rock up on the day and pay on the gate.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Bristol City:

MacGillivray

Purkiss
O'Connor
Chambers
Benning

Chambers
Cain
Mantom
Morris

Bradshaw
Hiwula

Substitutes: O'Donnell, Taylor, Downing, Sawyers, Flanagan, Cook, Forde.

Something more of a real test for young Mr. MacGillivray.......

[SoccerHQ]

Surprised O'Donnell wasn't given a farewell appearence today but yes McGillivary will be tested far more than last week with what Bristol have in attack so good indication of his capabilities for next season.

This is more like what should've lined up at Wembley to counter them, high at the back to nulify them from set pieces, three man central midfield to track Freeman's runs and pace upfront on the wings so I'd be disappointed if the performance today is as poor as at Wembley.

[Welsh_Saddler]

The bookmakers seem to have made their minds up.........immediate pre-match odds:

Bristol City to win - 8/13

The draw - 16/5

Walsall to win - 4/1

Aaron Wilbraham (striker) does not start - heel injury.

Surprisingly Bristol City have only named 6 substitutes......... :?

[boringteacher]

Here's for a Saddlers, Crawley (holds nose but would love to see Cov go down) and Preston (to piss off the Mongs) win triple.

[Welsh_Saddler]

And the first goal of the day goes to the Mongs....... MK Dons 1 Yeovil Town 0 (6 min)

Closely followed by Dean Holden's men.... Oldham Athletic 1 Peterborough 0

[Welsh_Saddler]

AND WALSALL TAKE THE LEAD AT ASHTON GATE...................... details to follow

It's that man Jordy Hiwula again (12 min) - sign him up, Dean !!!

[chestersaddler]

Wehey :D :D :D 1-0

[SoccerHQ]

0-1, Hiwula.

Shall I start with "Why couldn't they do that at Wembley?" Line. :lol:

[boringteacher]

:D

[SoccerHQ]

Strong Mantom run followed by Hiwula finish.

Next season will be better if both are playing in the first game next season.

[Welsh_Saddler]

... And it's 1-1 before you have time to take a breath :(

Flint (again) following a corner (again), but this time with a shot.

[SoccerHQ]

1-1. Flint unmarked again from a corner. :roll: "They did do this at Wembley."

Was just about to post Walsall were 9th in the table.

[chestersaddler]

Well that didn't last long :(