Shrewsbury Town (A) League One, Tue 1st Dec, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

The New Meadow at Shrewsbury beckons as we fulfil the League One match postponed because of our international call-ups. The Sloppies are having something of an up-and-down season under manager Micky Mellon - currently languishing in 19th place in the table just above the relegation zone, they still managed to put 4 goals past Sheffield United at Bramall Lane a few days ago despite having gone one behind early on. James Collins leads their scoring charts with 7 so far this season, but part of their recent improvement seems to have come from a couple of loan signings (Sullay Kaikai from Crystal Palace who has already scored 5, and Larnell Cole from Fulham). Manager Mellon is on record as saying that he wants to keep both players for longer, if not permanently. One face should be familiar (despite getting booked in today's Gillingham game) and that's Anthony Gerrard, who has obviously reached match fitness quickly after a few months' rest. Shrewsbury's current form:

24 Oct Bury (H) League One, Won 2-0
31 Oct Port Vale (A) League One, Lost 2-0
8 Nov Gainsborough Trinity (A) F.A. Cup 1st round, Won 0-1
21 Nov Wigan Athletic (A) League One, Lost 1-0
24 Nov Sheffield United (A) League One, Won 2-4
28 Nov Gillingham (H) League One, Drew 2-2

The top of the League One table could be quite congested after this game, because Burton Albion (3rd) are also playing their postponed match at home to Millwall (7th). Many fans would urge Dean Smith (or his successor?) to name the same starting XI named for the Bradford City game, although there is talk of Sam Mantom approaching full fitness (but whose place would he take? Certainly not George Evans, I hear you say). I can't imagine any of our yellow-carded players are near automatic suspension as yet but the Sloppies won't be the pushovers they would have been had we played them in August and September, when their first home League One win didn't come until September 26th. By then, they'd already lost at home to Millwall, Chesterfield, Burton and Crewe.

This could be a tight game but if we play as we can, I think a 0-1 win is on the cards. Tom Bradshaw, who else? :D

[IHTC.]

No better time to get his 50th career goal

[saddla]

I can't imagine any of our yellow-carded players are near automatic suspension as yet

We don't currently have any players on 4 yellows but the cut off date for 5 yellows is 30th November so we are OK for up to 10 yellows now until 2nd Sunday in March :D

[SoccerHQ]

0-2, Henry and Bradshaw.

[latviancheese]

Proper looking forward to this even though its a pain in the arse rush form work.


Sneaky 1-0 win.

[Tom_1992]

I have literally no idea how the team will react.

2-1 win I'm hoping for with around 1300 Saddlers there.

[latviancheese]

Im revising my prediction to a 4-0 defeat

[Ancient Moaner]

Hoping for a victory out of this fixture (if it goes ahead during monsoon season!). But as was proved on Saturday against the Gills, they are certainly no pushover currently.
We cannot afford to drop points tomorrow!
I'll go for a sneaky 1-0 hopefully. :wink:

[Ancient Moaner]

Im revising my prediction to a 4-0 defeat

Why, is Mr. Smith replacing super Tom with Cook and replacing Chambers & O'Connor with Kinsella & Flanagan?

Sorry, just seen the news. Ah well we had a good start to the season, more of what supporting Walsall is all about from now on, Mid table anyone? :(

[JonnyOwen]

4-0 win, the team go on a mad one inspired by the loss of Deano but the fight to win for each other instead.

[tinned]

Tomorrow I will be singing songs in support of our team. I won't sing songs relating to Dean Smith (pro or anti). He's gone.

[JonnyOwen]

Tomorrow I will be singing songs in support of our team. I won't sing songs relating to Dean Smith (pro or anti). He's gone.

"Adam Chambers' Barmy Army!"

[Whaleoilbeefhooked]

Very hard to predict which Walsall will show up tomorrow on the back of the expected bad news.

1-1

Bradshaw penalty for us.

[BathSaddler]

We are more than capable of winning it, but circumstances probably dictate that a draw is a decent result. So a 1-1 draw, with Sawyers for us, in front of 5,651, including 1,228 Saddlers.

[PT]

Feels somehow bigger now. A real tone setter for the next few weeks.

From us lot it's got to be all about getting behind the team and nothing about Brentford's manager whoever he might be.

2-0 to us. Sawyers

Anthony Gerrard to rob your house.

[SoccerHQ]

Tough one now with the upheaval.

I'd take a point tbh with the cup coming up and hoping things will settle down for Fleetwood and the Vale games

[*DOFFER*]

:D Offer here,

In a very strange way, our season starts here....

We can go equal top tonight and I fully expect us to do this....

The new boss will think its xmas come early and will he be in the stands.................

Keep a look out lads & lassies..

UTS.

[PT]

John Ward saying all the right stuff ahead of tonight's game.

Interestingly he has been a caretaker once before (Wolves). He had four games and won three of them.

That would do nicely.

[scott_powell]

We'll smash the dirty sheepshagging bastards.

3-0

Bradshaw x2 and Morris

[CooperTheSaddler]

Really looking forward to the game tonight. My prediction is a 1-0 victory with Tom Bradshaw scoring in the 94th minute :twisted:

[Cheesebag]

Bradshaw to sneak the winner after 90 minutes of no Dean Smith songs (hopefully)

[latviancheese]

A Tom Bradshaw winner and Adebayor esque knee slide infront of their "block 19 " weirdos and we will soon all forget Dean Smith.

[Sadders]

Everyone needs to focus solely on the XI on the pitch and getting behind Walsall FC. We do not want our players heads dropping or moping because the fans are abusing the ex manager that brought them to the club, that would be so pathetic in true Walsall style.

Sloppies are in good form. Scored 4 against Colchester after being 2 down at half time, scored 4 at Bramall Lane and then held the Gills 2-2 on Saturday, if anyone thinks this is an 'easy win' they are deluded, especially with the goings on in recent days.

I'd take another away point. It's Walsall though with a good chance to go into the top 2, so you can imagine we will take a pumping tonight.

[PT]

It's got that feeling of the game after Dann, Fox and Ricketts left. We hadn't lost for about 12 games and then lost that one (Carlisle?)and you kind of felt the dream was over.

The massive difference on this one though is that Brentford's head coach never kicked a ball for us this season. That promising combination of Young players are all still around and I'm sure they will continue to dig deep for themselves and each other.

We'll win.

[Guest]

It's got that feeling of the game after Dann, Fox and Ricketts left. We hadn't lost for about 12 games and then lost that one (Carlisle?)and you kind of felt the dream was over.

The massive difference on this one though is that Brentford's head coach never kicked a ball for us this season. That promising combination of Young players are all still around and I'm sure they will continue to dig deep for themselves and each other.

We'll win.

Yes, it was Carlisle. Lost 2-1. I was there (Chinese New Year holidays).

[derbysaddler]

Ward will be fully aware of how we play and what our strengths are, I doubt the players themselves have forgot either. We'll be fine.

[funk_hits_the_fan]

It's gonna be close this one.

Will be interesting to see how the players react - John Ward has bags of experience, so there's no real excuses.

I think it will be an all-round unsatisfying draw. 1-1.

Did we sell out in the end?

[BathSaddler]

Come on me babbies :)

[cumbria-saddler]

It's got that feeling of the game after Dann, Fox and Ricketts left. We hadn't lost for about 12 games and then lost that one (Carlisle?)and you kind of felt the dream was over.

The massive difference on this one though is that Brentford's head coach never kicked a ball for us this season. That promising combination of Young players are all still around and I'm sure they will continue to dig deep for themselves and each other.

We'll win.

Yes, it was Carlisle. Lost 2-1. I was there (Chinese New Year holidays).

Ian Roper started in place of Scott Dann that day, and he was immense.

On tonight, hopefully the players will be out to impress either Ward or any potential new managers watching us.

3-2 Walsall, Bradshaw penalty, Lalkovic and Demetriou.

[saddla]

28 degrees here in Florida but I bet the atmosphere is hotter in Shrewsbury right now!
Come on you saddlers!

(anything exciting happened while I've been away?)