Doncaster Rovers (A) League One, 2nd Feb 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

A chance to climb back into the automatic promotion places with a trip to the Keepmoat Stadium to face Andy Butler and his Doncaster colleagues. Another Andy (Williams) is their leading scorer this season with 14 goals to his name, but performances have been very inconsistent and Rovers are 16th in the table, only 8 points clear of the relegation zone. Admirable results on their travels to Southend (won 0-3), Burton and Coventry (both draws), are contrasted with home defeats at the hands of Scunthorpe, Port Vale and Bradford City. Doncaster's recent form in League One:

26 Dec Scunthorpe Utd (H) Lost 0-1
28 Dec Oldham Athletic (A) Won 1-2
2 Jan Southend Utd (A) Won 0-3
16 Jan Gillingham (H) Drew 2-2
23 Jan Fleetwood Town (A) Drew 0-0
26 Jan Port Vale (H) Lost 1-2

Sean O'Driscoll has the task of getting the nasty taste of Reading out of the way and motivating the team for our remaining 19 fixtures. He should be able to call on the services of our loan signing Bryn Morris, and it's to be hoped that he is in the same mould as George Evans. A strong aggressive midfielder could well enable Romaine Sawyers to play further forward than has sometimes been the case - one thing's for sure, Romaine won't score any goals or have assists to his name if he's constantly filling in at full-back. Andy Taylor may well be understandably rested, with Rico reverting to the full-back role that is nominally his anyway. It's fairly certain that Etheridge will be unavailable, so the decision will be whether to call on MacGillivray or go for an emergency loan keeper.

Three points would push the Saddlers up to 2nd place, a point behind Burton Albion and 2 ahead of Gillingham with a game in hand. Our rivals really pushed the boat out at the weekend helping us - with the exception of Wigan Athletic, who are creeping up the table (undefeated in 8 games since losing to Blackpool (at home!!) gaining 18 points in those 8 games). They do have a potential struggle at Sheffield Utd on Saturday while we entertain play-off contenders Millwall.

We did win the corresponding home fixture against Doncaster back in September 2-0 courtesy of late goals from Tom Bradshaw, and let's hope for a repeat scoreline to the Saddlers, with Sawyers and Lalkovic on target.

[Big Dave wfc]

Really hope we can get a win here, by what ever means neccassary. 1-2 oconnor and Bradshaw, Williams for donny

[Walsallone]

After Saturday(assuming no ins or outs ) I would pick the following team;

MacGillivray

Demetriou
Downing
O'Conner
Henry

Chambers
Morris(B)

Mantom/Forde
Sawyers
Lalkovic

Bradshaw

And I would instruct the three to give as much support to Bradshaw as possible. Hopefully a win but a draw would be satisfactory after Saturday.

[Welsh_Saddler]

After Saturday(assuming no ins or outs ) I would pick the following team;

MacGillivray

Demetriou
Downing
O'Conner
Henry

Chambers
Morris(B)

Mantom/Forde
Sawyers
Lalkovic

Bradshaw

And I would instruct the three to give as much support to Bradshaw as possible. Hopefully a win but a draw would be satisfactory after Saturday.

This. Possibly having Sawyers slightly more forward on his own, and nearer to Tom for assists and/or shots.

[JonnyOwen]

As long as Rico is at left back and Milan on the wing, i'm happy. Fed up of seeing someone of Milan's talent on the bench, I could understand dropping him after he was dreadful at Cov, but not for this long. He is far too important.

[hullsaddler]

As long as Rico is at left back and Milan on the wing, i'm happy. Fed up of seeing someone of Milan's talent on the bench, I could understand dropping him after he was dreadful at Cov, but not for this long. He is far too important.

Agree. Will be very disappointed if SOD doesn't make this change.

[scott_powell]

Drop Taylor. He's just not good enough nowadays.

Rico at left back and Lalkovic on the wing.

2-0 loss.

[Ancient Moaner]

Drop Taylor. He's just not good enough nowadays.

Rico at left back and Lalkovic on the wing.

2-0 win.

This! but amended accordingly! Possibly replace Ford with Morris too?
Come on me babbies!!
UTS

[saddla]

Drop Taylor. He's just not good enough nowadays.

Rico at left back and Lalkovic on the wing.

2-0 win.

This! but amended accordingly! Possibly replace Ford with Morris too?
Come on me babbies!!
UTS

That's better! Stay POSITIVE :D

[Optimistic]

I am hoping that Bryn Morris is as good as expected and I would play him instead of Mantom. Because Bryn is defensive minded that will allow Sawyers to get forward more which is where we need him.

I liked Evans but I did feel he pushed forward a lot which meant that Sawyers was dropping deeper while he was here. It's a fine balance and this might just be the answer. I would also play Rico and Milan on the left, this would look a balanced side to me.

I am Optimistic.

[Barren Flak]

Decent surface at the Keepmoat, and a happy hunting ground for us since 2007. We have a 100% record there. 3 Games 3 wins.

Let's hope the weather doesn't play havoc with that record tonight.

Prediction: Donny fans to be so busy applauding O'Connor and O'Driscoll that they don't notice we beat them 0-2.

[cumbria-saddler]

Looking forward to this one.. My first game since moving to Yorkshire so a new 'local' one for me.

3-1 Walsall. Sawyers, Lalkovic and Henry.

[Chambo IOW]

No Rico ???

[gerryhatrick]

No Rico ???

On an impressive looking bench.

[SaddlerCrewe]

Since Welsh Saddler is not doing his job very well tonight, I'll post the team.

MacGillivray, Demetriou, Downing, O'Connor, Taylor, Chambers, Mantom, Forde, Sawyers, Lalkovic, Bradshaw.

Subs: Roberts; Henry, Kinsella, Preston; B.Morris, K.Morris; Cook

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Doncaster Rovers:

MacGillivray

Demetriou
O'Connor
Downing
Taylor

Chambers
Mantom

Forde
Sawyers
Lalkovic

Bradshaw

Substitutes: Roberts, Kinsella, Morris (K), Henry, Preston, Morris (B), Cook.

[SaddlerCrewe]

Starting line-up against Doncaster Rovers:

MacGillivray

Demetriou
O'Connor
Downing
Taylor

Chambers
Mantom

Forde
Sawyers
Lalkovic

Bradshaw

Substitutes: Roberts, Kinsella, Morris (K), Henry, Preston, Morris (B), Cook.

You are late!

[Saddlers at Hertford]

Exiled in Dorset for this game - anyone know of any know of any on-line radio coverage?

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Doncaster Rovers:

MacGillivray

Demetriou
O'Connor
Downing
Taylor

Chambers
Mantom

Forde
Sawyers
Lalkovic

Bradshaw

Substitutes: Roberts, Kinsella, Morris (K), Henry, Preston, Morris (B), Cook.

You are late!

Damned if I do, damned if I don't......... :mrgreen:

[Leatherman]

Starting line-up against Doncaster Rovers:

MacGillivray

Demetriou
O'Connor
Downing
Taylor

Chambers
Mantom

Forde
Sawyers
Lalkovic

Bradshaw

Substitutes: Roberts, Kinsella, Morris (K), Henry, Preston, Morris (B), Cook.

Surprised, but not surprised about Henry if you know what i mean.

I imagine the structure will be:

MacGillivray

Demetriou
O'Connor
Downing
Taylor

Forde
Chambers
Mantom
Lalkovic

Sawyers
Bradshaw

P.S. I know Butler is injured, but is he sitting with the Walsall fans :mrgreen:

Probably not. :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

Elsewhere in league One, Port Vale 1 Swindon Town 0 (Vale now in 7th place)

[Fish]

According to WM 'Walsall have gone very route one and Bradshaw is very isolated'. Which was one disappointing characteristic of the second half at Reading

[SaddlerCraig]

No Rico so lets brace ourselves for the taylor boo boys...

Think we're expecting a physical game gainst doncaster so tried to minimalise our small or more flair minded players i.e rico and morris

Can see us pinching a scrappy 1-0

[Leatherman]

According to WM 'Walsall have gone very route one and Bradshaw is very isolated'. Which was one disappointing characteristic of the second half at Reading

At Reading we were hitting balls down the channels like Port Vale do.

Sexy football is back, not.

[Saddlers at Hertford]

Taylor is a curates egg, I'll never boo anyone who dons a Walsall shirt and give their all such as Taylor does.

He was contender for MOM when we played Blackpool, at the heart everything we did good in an otherwise indifferent and slightly clueless performance on that occasion in my opinion (Henry did well that game because Taylor was also playing well). Its easy to see if Taylor has a stinker, Henry is is in no-mans land.

I can see what OD is thinking, shame it aint working.

Route 1 football so far for this match? OD is building his case to get in a 6 footer up front for a plan B. If I'm being optimistic.

Otherwise that's brain dead tactics with our squad!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Doncaster hit woodwork following a corner........

Sloppies 0 Southend Utd 1 (23 min)

Villa reckon they can still win, even with the 10 men they have on the pitch.......

[newjersey exile]

Anybody else having problems with SaddlersPlayer? I updated my plug ins.

How frustrating!!!

[SaddlerCraig]

Anybody else having problems with SaddlersPlayer? I updated my plug ins.

How frustrating!!!

yeah cant access the stream from laptop phone browser or the phone app piss take

[Carolina Saddler]

Tried multiple devices. No live commentary.

[Mazza01]

It's down to Bt broadband crashing.