Crewe Alexandra (H) League One 26th Sept, 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

Back to the real world after the Lord Mayor's show that was Chelsea, and we welcome Crwho Alexandra who currently share bottom place in the table with Blackpool. In their first eight League One games this season Crewe have only managed to score an average of a goal a game (sounds like us last season....), and Adam King has scored half of those without even being a striker. He's a midfielder on Youth Loan from Swansea City, but manager Steve Davis is on record as saying that there will no more loan signings unless he can show some players the door - it's a financial thing. Crewe won their first (and only) game last weekend, getting the better of the Sloppies, that man King scoring after 2 minutes. Their most recent form:

18 Aug Coventry City (A) League One, Lost 3-2
22 Aug Bury (H) League One, Drew 3-3
29 Aug Wigan Athletic (A) League One, Lost 1-0
5 Sep Swindon Town (H) Lost 1-3
12 Sep Millwall (H) League One, Lost 1-3
19 Sep Shrewsbury Town (A) League One, Won 0-1

I suspect the big question regarding Dean Smith's team selection is whether Tom Bradshaw will be fit enough to play. I commented in the Chelsea preview that I would rather Tom was rested against Chelsea, as the Crewe game is of greater importance in the long term with promotion looking a distinct possibility. The remaining team places are awarded on Smithin's planning criteria, and it's becoming ever harder to read his mind!! It wouldn't surprise me to see some high-flying spies at Bescot on Saturday running the rule over Romaine Sawyers after his performance on Wednesday.

Anyway - prediction time.....We really should have enough ammunition to Bury Crewe (see what I did there?), and with our three nearest rivals all playing away from home there is a real chance of getting back to the top of the table. Added to that, a win would give us 20 points, thus qualifying all interested parties to mossive pay-outs from MPSADDLER..... :D So I'll go for a home win, let's say 3-1, with Bradshaw, Sawyers and Baxendale (late sub) getting on the score sheet.

[LLASLAW]

3-0 - Sawyers will score.

[Magic Man Fan]

It's the kind of game that let us down last season, and they beat us against form, but I think there's too much confidence amongst players to slip up this time.

2-0 Lalkovic and Sawyers.

[SoccerHQ]

3-1 win.

When was the last time Crewe actually lost here, all I remember in recent times is 1-1 draws and obviously the dismal defeat last season.

[Mrdollabill]

5-0 Walsall - sawyers, chambers, og, Bradshaw (2)

Att:5234

[BathSaddler]

A 1-1 draw, with Bradshaw for us, in front of 4,296, including 480 from Crwho.

We'll be knackered after Wednesday and we never do well against Crewe at home.

[Walsallone]

Tend to agree with Bathsaddler...a lot depends on the team selected . Hopefully Bradshaw will be back and a fully fit Taylor will play. I would also include Forde...he started against Coventry,scored a good goal and I don't think he has started since. He has something to prove however I think a low scoring draw is likely.

[kshammer]

Back to the proper stuff. 3-1, Sawyers, Lalko and Bradshaw (if fit).

The gate will be back to usual with half of Wednesday night's fans still busy touching themselves over actually seeing Mourinho and Terry in the flesh.

[PT]

Back to the proper stuff. 3-1, Sawyers, Lalko and Bradshaw (if fit).

The gate will be back to usual with half of Wednesday night's fans still busy touching themselves over actually seeing Mourinho and Terry in the flesh.

Crewe at home. Perfect game following the midweek ballyhoo.

As others say, how we do against sides like this will be a good benchmark of how far we've come since last year.

I expect some changes regardless of whether Tom is fit or not.

Would love a nice relaxed 3-0 but expect we'll make it far harder for ourselves so I'd go for a tight 2-1 with 3,900 of us lot there, 400 of them lot and 6,000 seats returning to business as usual.

[scott_powell]

2-0 Walsall

Sawyers and Mantom.

Sawyers to prove once again why he's the best in League One.

[reedswood sadler]

We never seem to do well at home against crewe nad as stated in other posts this is type of game we usually fail in, bottom of league only 1 win on paper walkover.

Hopefully this team will cure that and think we will win 2-0 to keep hope of good season alive, back to normal 3500 plus 450 crewe

[mosaddler]

a banana skin game, Crewe have always done well here. they played shrews last week and by all accounts they held on for 89mins after taking the lead in the opening minute and went on to win 1-0.

an early goal for us will be key and the players fitness.

ethridge
taylor(henry rested)
downing
o'conner
demetriou
mantom chambers
forde
bradders(if fit)
sawyers
morris

4-4-2

2-0

[Big Dave wfc]

Need the 3 points with the fixtures looking tougher in the month of October.

Would rest a couple and hopefully Bradshaw will be 100%

Etheridge
Demetriou
Oconnor
Downing
Taylor
Osborne if fit and rest chambers
Mantom
Lalkovic
Sawyers
Morris
Bradshaw

In a 4-1-4-1

Bradshaw and Sawyers are rightfully getting all the headlines but I'd like to go on record as stating I think oconnor and downing have been playing fantastically well together, come on you saddlers

3-0

[JonnyOwen]

Etheridge
Demetriou
Downing
O'Connor
Taylor
Chambers
Mantom
Forde
Sawyers
Lalkovic
Cook

Bradshaw not risked a start, Morris and Rico on the bench to rest them

[saddla]

I think we really need an early goal today to make Crewe come out of defense then we will Muller 'em.
If it's still 0-0 at half time then we will struggle.

[latviancheese]

For once I am going to predict a comfortable 2-0 win.


Wouldn't be surprised if Bradshaw doesn't start again.

[ObiWan7]

Once again stuck in front of a computer screen at work all day again , so will miss out liek i did on Tuesday.

Never liked Crewe that much for some reason and they always seem to do all right against us.

However going for a cautious 2-1 win in front of just under 5k

Milan is due a goal and i fancy another Sawyers missile.

UTS

[Welsh_Saddler]

The Crewe Alexandra squad have been on a "team-building" exercise this week in the far reaches of the Lake District. Reports from the players speak of aching muscles they never knew they had, having to be up at the crack of dawn, etc.

So they will either be fit as fiddles or completely knackered....... :mrgreen:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting XI against Crewe Alexandra:

Etheridge

Demetriou
Downing
O'Connor
Taylor

Chambers
Mantom
Forde
Sawyers

Lalkovic
Bradshaw

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Baxendale, Henry, Preston, Flanagan, Morris, Cook.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Early goal elsewhere, of some local interest:

Liverpool 1 Aston Vile 0 (1 min) :mrgreen:

Swindon Town 0 Colchester United 1 (2 min)

[shrewsbury saddler]

The Crewe Alexandra squad have been on a "team-building" exercise this week in the far reaches of the Lake District. Reports from the players speak of aching muscles they never knew they had, having to be up at the crack of dawn, etc.

So they will either be fit as fiddles or completely knackered....... :mrgreen:

I saw that and wondered the same thing. Seemed an odd thing to do at this stage of the season.

[Welsh_Saddler]

BRADSHAW!!!!!! 1-0 after 3 mins :D :D :D :D :D :D

We are top of the league, say we are top of the league........



.....and Chesterfield 1 Burton Albion 0 does us a favour too......

[Pheasey_Saddler]

Walsall winning, Burton losing. Good start!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Millwall 1 Rochdale 0

Southend United 0 Scunthorpe United 1

As things stand we're not just top, we're 2 points clear at the top........ :D

...and a bit more local interest - Preston North End 1 Dingles 0 :lol:

[shrewsbury saddler]

It gets better. PNE 1 Inbreds 0.

[Mrdollabill]

Wolves going down and we'll be going up at this rate :) :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

Wolves going down and we'll be going up at this rate :) :D

At this rate we will be playing the Vile twice in the League next season !!

[Mrdollabill]

Wolves going down and we'll be going up at this rate :) :D

At this rate we will be playing the Vile twice in the League next season !!

And most probably be at Stoke on a cold wet Tuesday night.

[Welsh_Saddler]

More action elsewhere - Fleetwood 1 Port Fail 0 (13 min)

[Mrdollabill]

1-1 :( spoke too soon. Think I'll shut up