Port Vale (H) League One, Sun 20th Dec, 12noon k.o.

[Welsh_Saddler]

The club's main activity has to take back seat on Sunday as there's a football match on......Port Vale are the visitors for this 12noon kick-off, by which time all our main rivals in the promotion race will have played (mostly against apparently mild opposition) and we will have even more motivation to make up lost ground. Port Vale bring their mid-table side and at least one familiar face in Ben Purkiss - they currently lie 12th in the table, having scored 8 goals fewer and conceded 5 more than us despite having played one more game than we have. They're missing Tom Pope (thank goodness) who left for Bury a while ago, and he's still hitting the net with alarming regularity. The financial shadow hanging over their recent form is the F.A. Cup defeat by Exeter City, who now have the pleasure of hosting Liverpool..... back to current matters, and Vale's form reads like this:

19 Nov Maidenhead United (A) F.A. Cup 1st round, Won 1-3
21 Nov Chesterfield (H) League One, Won 3-2
24 Nov Blackpool (H) League One, Won 2-0
28 Nov Rochdale (A) League One, Lost 2-1
6 Dec Exeter City (A) F.A. Cup 2nd round, Lost 2-0
12 Dec Scunthorpe United (H) League One, Drew 1-1

It's reported that Tom Bradshaw may be fit enough to play on Sunday, but he won't be risked if there's the slightest doubt. Rico Henry's injury came as something of a surprise, and either he's back to full fitness or he's being wrapped in cotton wool ready to sign on the dotted line for a few squillions. If Bradshaw is still ruled out then it would make sense to use Murphy up front with Lalkovic (why else was Murphy recalled from his loan at Kidderminster?). The defence (I'm not including Henry because to my mind he's not a defender) should select itself, and if the pitch doesn't resemble a quagmire I think we should be looking for a 2-0 win and a welcome three points. Sawyers and Mantom to find the net. :D

[BathSaddler]

We need to rectify our recent run against this lot, but I think it will be another 0-0, in front of 4,715, including 703 from Burslem.

[chestersaddler]

So, we manage to get on Sky and where will I be at 12:00 on Sunday? Sat on a fudge Ryanair flight to Malaga :evil:

2-0 Sawyers and Milan

4344

[SoccerHQ]

This lot have been a massive pain in the Burslem since they came back up, all the talk before of them never beating Walsall in the league, what is it now 3 defeats in 4?

They're having a real mid table season and I think not having Pope anymore will be the difference.

Very hard fought 1-0 win, 4, 678.

[Andy_Petterson]

So, we manage to get on Sky and where will I be at 12:00 on Sunday? Sat on a fudge Ryanair flight to Malaga :evil:

2-0 Sawyers and Milan

4344

And they say nurses have it tough :wink:

[chestersaddler]

So, we manage to get on Sky and where will I be at 12:00 on Sunday? Sat on a fudge Ryanair flight to Malaga :evil:

2-0 Sawyers and Milan

4344

And they say nurses have it tough :wink:

Sticking a thermometer up someone's arse - how difficult can it be? :wink:

[Whaleoilbeefhooked]

6-0 Walsall

SOD'S BARMY ARMY!

[LLASLAW]

3-0, 3-1 or 4-0 :lol:

[Big Dave wfc]

Expecting a difficult game here against another hard working physical fail side.

Would like us to go with a 4-1-4-1

Etheridge
Demetriou
Downing
Oconnor
Henry
Chambers
Lalkovic
Sawyers
Evans
Forde
Bradshaw

If Bradshaw is unavailable I'd stick Milan uptop and put Morris in.

We should win this of we play to our capabilities, 3-0 Bradshaw brace and lalkovic

[chunkster]

i think we will win this with ease going for a 3-0 with 4700. and 600 clay heads in attendance can't say who will score until i see the team :wink:

[JonnyOwen]

If Bradshaw isn't fit I would honestly prefer us to play the 433 and drop Cook for Mantom or Forde and just play without a striker.

Is there a more well suited team in league one to playing with a false nine?

[kshammer]

So, we manage to get on Sky and where will I be at 12:00 on Sunday? Sat on a fudge Ryanair flight to Malaga :evil:

2-0 Sawyers and Milan

4344

Bet you're gutted... :lol:

Agree on the score. Henry instead of Milan.

[Casual D]

Anyone know what time the ticket office opens tomorrow? With today not being a matchday it isn't open.

Maybe i'll just have to take my chances on getting to the cash turnstile before the allocation is bought up by drooling premier league scouts!

[Mazza01]

Anyone know what time the ticket office opens tomorrow? With today not being a matchday it isn't open.

Maybe i'll just have to take my chances on getting to the cash turnstile before the allocation is bought up by drooling premier league scouts!

9am mate

[Casual D]

Anyone know what time the ticket office opens tomorrow? With today not being a matchday it isn't open.

Maybe i'll just have to take my chances on getting to the cash turnstile before the allocation is bought up by drooling premier league scouts!

9am mate

Thanks! 8)

[PT]

They all feel like big games at the moment, but results have gone pretty well for us in the last two weeks which leaves the door open for us to stake a real claim on a top two spot.

Given the day, the time and the fact it is on the box, I'm surprised that there isn't some sort of incentive to increase the attendance for tomorrow. It's a derby but one than tends to have more seats unoccupied than occupied at both grounds with tomorrow being no different.

Let's get behind Sean and the lads with us stomping into second place with a game in hand. Be great if Tom and Rico are both fit as they give us an extra edge and spurt of pace.

If they are both playing I will go for a 3-1. If not a 1-0. Attendance 5,120 (548 from Burslem).

[coop63]

I reckon it'll be a very tight game

Saddlers nicking it 2-1 (Milan and Tom!)

588 Burslemers making up 5296

UTS :)

[Saddlers9]

I know this isn't related to the Vale game but I was hoping someone could help me out. Myself and a friend are looking to go on the coach to Millwall on Boxing Day but I went into the Saddlers club in the week and they told me it's fully booked.

Is there any other way that we could get coach travel? Is there anybody else who puts on any coaches?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Prediction- a very close 2-1 win for us. Evans and Downing with the goals.

[WarsawPact]

Saddlers 3 - Bog-Mekkers 1

Alan Buckley (pen), Dean Peer & Jimmy Williams for us, Bernie Wright for them.

[chestersaddler]

No Bradshaw or Henry again :(

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Port Vale:

Etheridge

Demetriou
Downing
O'Connor
Taylor

Chambers
Evans
Morris
Sawyers

Lalkovic
Forde

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Mantom, Baxendale, Preston, Flanagan, Cook, Kinsella

[Fish]

No Bradshaw or Henry again :(

If anyone has experience of playing up front can you bring your boots with you.

[gerryhatrick]

No Bradshaw or Henry again :(

If anyone has experience of playing up front can you bring your boots with you.

Well, there's Pedders - with his hobnails.

[Welsh_Saddler]

No Bradshaw or Henry again :(

If anyone has experience of playing up front can you bring your boots with you.

Well, there's Pedders - with his hobnails.

Yes, but would he be allowed to bring his Zimmer frame on to the pitch? :?

[EvenFlow]

Craig Mac injured in the warm-up, so Roberts now on the bench.

I'm awaiting the first comment on Facebook along the lines of "Pathetic excuse! He's clearly off to Brentford in January."

[chestersaddler]

Craig Mac injured in the warm-up, so Roberts now on the bench.

I'm awaiting the first comment on Facebook along the lines of "Pathetic excuse! He's clearly off to Brentford in January."

Aalong with Henry and Bradshaw? :mrgreen:

[Hairy Saddlebags]

Anyone found a decent stream, none of the ones I use are working.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Following on Betfair.... Port Vale "scored" after 2 minutes, but the goal was disallowed.

[usa_saddler]

Found a stream on Kodi after going through about 15 tries on Sportsdevil.... Nice to see the Saddlers here in the US. Little early for a Sunday morning....!!

[LLASLAW]

Following on Betfair.... Port Vale "scored" after 2 minutes, but the goal was disallowed.

Great offside decision by the linesman.

Etheridge a bit wobbly so far.