Wigan Athletic (H) League One, 20th Feb 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

As this season progresses each game seems to be more important than previous games, and if it was true of last week's match at Crewe it's even more so for the visit of Wigan Athletic. Their recent good form has brought them to within a point of ourselves (although we do have a game in hand) but in terms of the automatic promotion places this is a real 6-pointer. One of the benefits of having pots of money to invest in the first team squad can be clearly seen in terms of size - Walsall currently have a 22-man squad whereas Wigan Athletic's is 34 strong, and it includes their top scorer with 11 League One goals to his name - a certain Will Grigg. We won't see Richard O'Donnell of course as he has now moved clubs to be nearer to his home oop north (so he went to Bristol City), and Jordy Hiwula has been recalled by parent club Huddersfield Town, where he has a 3-year contract. It's not often we get the chance to see a 40-year old goalkeeper in action, but Jussi Jaaskelainen is currently the number one choice between the sticks, and he will be 41 in April.

Our biggest problem for Saturday is probably form.....ours at home, and Wigan's away. We haven't won at home since December, and Wigan's most recent League One away defeat was on September 12th (*shudder*). Their recent League One form:

12 Jan Sheffield United (H) Drew 3-3
16 Jan Chesterfield (H) Won 3-1
23 Jan Crewe Alexandra (A) Drew 1-1 (sound familiar?)
30 Jan Port Vale (H) Won 3-0
6 Feb Sheffield United (A) Won 0-2
13 Feb Oldham Athletic (H) Drew 0-0

Wigan's most recent League One defeat of any kind was on December 12th when they managed to lose 0-1 at home to Blackpool, so there is perhaps a feeling that they do occasionally have a bad day at the office.

Sean O'Driscoll will be looking at various options for Saturday - assuming James O'Connor is fit after his dead leg he will be recalled; does Rico Henry start at left-back while Andy Taylor is rested?; how much pressure are Middlesbrough exerting in the interests of loan player Bryn Morris doing something more than warming the bench? isn't it about time that Tom Bradshaw was given some real assistance up front rather than having to plough a lone furrow, etc. etc. etc........

A draw is really not much good to us at this stage of the season - it wouldn't even lift us back up to 2nd place in view of Gillingham's superior goal difference (unless they manage to lose 4-0 at Oldham....no, can't see that), so a win of any sort has to be the ambition. The corresponding match at Wigan back in October saw a 0-0 draw even after Wigan's captain was sent off, and a slight improvement to get a 1-0 win will be very pleasing. Lalkovic to start, and score after 89 minutes!! :D

[Walsallone]

I think you will find Bryn Morris has come as cover for Chambers so unless something happens to the skipper I think we won't see much of him unless ,of course ,we start winning by large margins and we give the skipper a few minutes off per game :D I suppose it also possible we may wish to play 2 holding midfielders in the odd game!
As for Saturday a close game methinks..about time Wigan lost away so 2-1 to us I hope!

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

It would be interesting to see a battle between Grigg and Matt Preston if O'conner doesn't play.

[chunkster]

well after my prediction of a 4-0 win at crewe :oops: . in my defence i would have been proved right if we had taken our chances though :) . IF and i mean IF we play as well as we have played against millwall and crewe. and create the chances that we have. then it can only go one way. we could win 3-0. BUT if we fail to take them then we could easily lose 3-0. i have faith in the ability of the team to play fantastic football. i just haven't got faith in us being able to finish teams off :( so i am going 0-0 :|

[Mazza01]

Feeling slightly confident as I think we've had our share of bad luck over our last couple of games something has to give!

3-1 Saddlers

[realist saddler]

Going for a 2-0 home defeat here, and I really wanna be wrong! In terms of momentum I think we're faltering and were not on top of our game.

6,461 with 2,186 from wiggin

[BathSaddler]

Going for a 2-0 home defeat here, and I really wanna be wrong! In terms of momentum I think we're faltering and were not on top of our game.

Unfortunately I agree, but you never know with this team as they've surprised us all season. Whatever happens, at least there will be a crowd approaching 7,000 to see it.

UTS

[crodonilson]

Should be an absolute belter and Bescot will be absolutely rocking.

2-2 for me in a really high quality League One contest, don't think there is much at all between the teams and on the day it could be one exquisite piece of skill or a defensive mistake which could prove the difference.

Attendance: 7,658

[jeffsmate]

We are due a good win so I'm going for a three nil to us, uts.

[scott_powell]

Gutted to be missing this one but I think we'll get absolutely smashed.

4-1 to Wigan. I hope I'm wrong!

[latviancheese]

ill be going but im not sure i really want too.

Think we will get rolled 3-0 like Rochdale and Millwall games.

[otiswfc]

I'm really worried about this game I just can't see us winning it at the moment. I'd settle for a draw to be honest we are 9th in the league based on just home games and 1st based on away games
So a 1-1 will do vs Wigan and we can go and beat Burton next week.
Walsall 1 Wigan 1
6,800 - 2,100 from Wigan.

[Ancient Moaner]

Lots of negativity on here about Saturdays match, despite the fact that we are currently utter tat at home, we always tend to perform slightly better against better quality opposition, so I'm going for 0-0 again. (Though my heart yearns for a last minute goal from Jason to claim all three points!)
Hope they bring enough down to get beyond the 6K mark attendance.
Would be a bad couple of weeks if we fail to claim any points at all from the next two games.
Come on me Babbies let's get that 'swagger' back in our play!!

[SoccerHQ]

Wigan have started to sort out their away form (won 2-0 at Sheffield last time) so certainly needs to be improvement on the recent 0-3 home defeats otherwise it could be that or worse.

I will go for 2-2 as I do think with Wigan playing a 3-5-2 their is space to get at and run at their defence so I reckon Sawyers will have a good game and score.

Fine with a draw as I fancy a 0-1 win at Burton afterwards.

[coop63]

Hoping for an open game where we can get back to our best form but feel it will be a tight affair...

Head says 1-1 :roll:

6988 - 1915 latics

UTS

[JonnyOwen]

Our luck in front of goal will turn, 3-2 win. Grigg to play awful and get laughed off.

[TownSwift]

Well its exactly 50 years to the day since my first game at Fellows Park...where, along with 9000+ others, I witnessed a 5-0 victory over Swindon Town. What a day. Half a century of ups and downs hasn't killed my optimism! I'd happily take any kind of win against Wigan... but whatever happens I'll be celebrating this weekend.

[Big Dave wfc]

Flapper is proper going for this one, don't care about team selection, formation or any sort of outstanding performance, just get a win Walsall as ugly and as dirty and underhanded as you like, just beat this lot.

#mattprestonisalad

[Leatherman]

2-0 win to us and fans Moanings it should have been more.
Will Grigg to hand out signed shirts to every Saddler entering the flea pit in the hope they won't take the piss when he skies one over the bar from 6 inches out just before half-time.

[Salop Saddler]

4-1. Don't care who's on the end of 'em. Att: 7,034

[Robertwafc]

0-4 only because I back us to win every game that score and at 50/1 it's worth a couple of Bob

[Zaddler]

With Bradders n O'Connor I will go for 2-1 Walsall, without 0-3 as that is our current go to home score line

Att 6897

[chestersaddler]

Walsall are 2/1 with a couple of bookies to win this game. :shock:

I'm having some :D

[Gripper]

2-0 Loss I reckon I'm afraid.

[chunkster]

forgot to say about attendance. with blues and villa not playing today. albion and wolves away i think we will pick up a few neutrals. and it is reported that wigan will bring around 2500. so i am going for 7000+ sould be a cracking atmos :D

[funk_hits_the_fan]

Walsall are 2/1 with a couple of bookies to win this game. :shock:

I'm having some :D

Yes! Just popped a fiver on a Walsall win on sky bet. Not advisable betting on your own team of course, however I have faith!!

Comfortable 2-0, Wigan don't turn up and we refind our form in front of 7k+. Few celebratory pints later this evening. Perfect Saturday!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Wigan Athletic:

Etheridge

Demetriou
Downing
Preston
Taylor

Chambers
Sawyers
Mantom
Forde

Lalkovic
Bradshaw

Substitutes: Roberts, Flanagan, Morris, Cook, Morris, Kinsella, Kouhyar

[gerryhatrick]

S O'D fell out with Rico ? No mention of injury.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Walsall yellow card, 5 min....... Sam Mantom :shock:

Early goals:

Swindon Town 0 Blackpool 1

Bury 0 Colchester Utd 1

Chesterfield 1 Crewe Alex 0

[Welsh_Saddler]

Walsall's second yellow card after 9 minutes....... Lalkovic, for a dive :roll:

Chesterfield 2 Crewe Alex 0 now (12 min)


Wigan's first yellow card after 12 minutes - is this ref card-happy, or what???


Bradford City 0 Rochdale 1

Fleetwood 1 Scunthorpe Utd 0

Bury 0 Colchester Utd 2 now (16 min) :shock:

Swindon Town 1 Blackpool 1 now