Gillingham (A) League One, Tues Apr 12, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

As the family Cymraeg will be on holiday this week, the threads for Gillingham and Southend are appearing early and may be a little abbreviated.

We visit Gillingham for our third away game in 10 days, but our away record seems to have crumbled compared to our early-season form. The ability to win from going a goal behind has also deserted us - as Gillingham have good cause to remember - they were 0-2 up at Bescot back in October and we managed to win 3-2, but in all honesty I can't see that kind of Saddlers' form at present. Gillingham's current form:

5 Mar Scunthorpe United (A) Drew 0-0
12 Mar Crewe Alexandra (H) Won 3-0
19 Mar Southend United (A) Drew 1-1
28 Mar Bury (A) Won 0-1
2 Apr Coventry City (H) Drew 0-0
9 Apr Sheffield United (A) Drew 0-0

Gillingham are level on points with us at the moment, but their goal difference is 5 better than ours. They have Bradley Dack as a major contributor - although nominally a midfielder, he has weighed in with 15 goals this season. Would that we had a midfielder with that kind of strike rate.........

What will the JW triumverate come up with for this game? Nothing seems to be clicking at present, but we must start winning games if we are to have any chance of catching Burton Albion (whose form has similarly stuttered lately, with only 2 points from their last 4 games, thankfully). Perhaps it's time to rest Tom - bench him as an impact sub? - and use Morris and Lalkovic as a twin strike force, backed up by Jordy. Oh, and if we are going to insist on lumping high balls forward it might be a good idea to have someone up front with the height and presence to claim them - and after his performance against Colchester United could it be an idea to use Preston in that role?

For the last two games I've predicted 0-2 wins for the Saddlers. This time I'm not going to be so ambitious, so in the hope that O'Connor will be back to help the defence keep a clean sheet I'll go for a streaky 0-1 away win, with the goal coming from Sam Mantom.

[Wragbyred]

I noticed that Dack, who has been injured for the last 5 or 6 weeks, came on for the last 10 minutes on Saturday.
Let's hope he's not quite at his best yet.

[Mazza01]

Can only see defeat, we don't compete enough. This is when you need a Rambo type player to lead from the front and take the fight to them.

3-0 Gills

[JonnyOwen]

Not going to enjoy the drive back up whatsoever, especially if we lose :shock:

Get back around 1:30am I reckon.

[BigSillyFool]

Time for a bit of leftfield thinking. If Bradshaw is out go 2 upfront - Jordi and Preston. Big guy little guy and a slightly more physical approach.

[otiswfc]

If Bradshaw is out or not either way we need to go two up front if not I will be very disappointed and slightly worried by Whitney's logic as there is absolutely not point whatsoever in going to Gillingham for a draw we need a win if we do win it sets up the home game on Saturday very nicely lose it and we can basically forget automatic promotion and start to try cling onto 6th.

[philthesaddler]

I disagree, I think we need to go back to what served us so well earlier in the season; ie, Henry at left back, one up top, Lalkovic and Morris on the wings.

Who that "one up top" is, I'm not sure, probably Hiwula.

[WFC_Rob]

I disagree, I think we need to go back to what served us so well earlier in the season; ie, Henry at left back, one up top, Lalkovic and Morris on the wings.

I'm being a bit facetious here, but Henry wasn't really playing as a left back at the start of the season - he was playing as a wing back. That might sound like a case of semantics, but if we play Henry at wing back, we can't play Lalkovic and Morris on the wings because the system doesn't allow it.

I get what you're saying though and personally, I think we look more dangerous in the final third with Lalkovic and Morris in the side. Forde's a decent enough option too, but doesn't quite carry the same goal threat as the former two.

[philthesaddler]

I disagree, I think we need to go back to what served us so well earlier in the season; ie, Henry at left back, one up top, Lalkovic and Morris on the wings.

I'm being a bit facetious here, but Henry wasn't really playing as a left back at the start of the season

I beg to differ, in the following matches, Henry started as part of a flat-back 4:

Forest (A)
Brighton (H)
Doncaster (H)
Chelsea (H)
Barnsley (A)
Gillingham (H)
Fleetwood (H)
Sheffied U (H)
Swindon (A)
Bradford (H)
Shrewsbury (A)
Chesterfield (A)

...and then SOD came in and fell out with Henry.

Incidentally, Chelsea and Swindon are the only teams to have beaten us with Henry at left back.

[Ryanponder18]

I disagree, I think we need to go back to what served us so well earlier in the season; ie, Henry at left back, one up top, Lalkovic and Morris on the wings.

Who that "one up top" is, I'm not sure, probably Hiwula.

Agreed, with Bradshaw out i'd like a 4-2-3-1 with Sawyers behind Hiwula, Milan and Morris/Forde out wide

[moaning saddler]

Beautiful blue skies here in Gillingham.
Doom Bar is slipping down very nicely in the Frog & Toad beer garden.
Will this be as good as it gets tonight?.....

[funk_hits_the_fan]

Live on WM tonight for those that can't make it - with analysis from a certain Wacca Walker

3-1 to the Saddlers, 150 of us there.

[BathSaddler]

The most important match of the season so far. Win it and we're back in the automatic mix.

A pity it is at one of the hardest away venues we could wish for in this league, but you never know.

PS here's hoping Oldham get something at Barnsley too.

UTS

[windowman]

no jimmy or bradshaw

[Ancient Moaner]

Poorly chosen disjointed team selection, at least he has rested Taylor, who looked like he might collapse late on in the second half at Oldham, though he WAS the only player on the pitch that thought attack was an option.
Preston and Morris should have been shoehorned in....is Forde everybody's love child? gave nowt on Saturday.

And Dacks in their team, he ALWAYS scores against us so that's one goal advantage to start with.
It's being so positive that is so easy! :mrgreen:

[boringteacher]

1Etheridge
2Demetriou
5Pennington
6Downing
14Henry
7Chambers
8Mantom
10Sawyers
12Forde
15Lalkovic
31Hiwula-Mayifuila

from the beeb. Very attacking imo, sounds even on dingleFM

[Cully]

Penalty to Gillingham.

SAVED!

[Cully]

Lalkovic hits the bar!

[SoccerHQ]

Sounds very frantic which is not surprising as auto promotion is probably over for whoever dosen't win tonight.

Been the Etheridge show really, two top class saves aside from the penalty.

Walsall really need the first goal, can't see them winning if they go a goal down.

[Cully]

The penalty was given away by Downing - handball.

Cabbage :arrow:

[hullsaddler]

Anyone got problems with Sadworld commentary?

[Wragbyred]

3 fouls by Dack in the first half hour - no yellow yet?

[Derbyshire Saddler]

Anyone got problems with Sadworld commentary?

Not any problems as yet, fingers crossed.

[chunkster]

Anyone got problems with Sadworld commentary?

it did cut off a couple of times but fine now

[hullsaddler]

Just got Sadworld commentary back after about 10 minutes missing. Perhaps my internet connectiom

[DonningtonSaddler]

1Etheridge
2Demetriou
5Pennington
6Downing
14Henry
7Chambers
8Mantom
10Sawyers
12Forde
15Lalkovic
31Hiwula-Mayifuila

from the beeb. Very attacking imo, sounds even on dingleFM

Whatever the result, Whitney can't be criticised for this line up.

[Cully]

Forde wasted header, missed target after good work by Lalkovic.

[DonningtonSaddler]

Morris on for Forde or Mantom in the second half?

[SoccerHQ]

Would take a draw now as Gillingham really should be ahead.

Draw is acceptable as long as the two home games coming up are won. It's the winning two home games in a row that looks a bit questionable to me so three points would be massive in the context of the season.

[moaning saddler]

We have looked the stronger side since the penalty.
Unfortunately, Forde has been piss-poor, wasting some good opportunities.
Cannot complain about Mantom's shooting - his passing, however, is atrocious.
Some class touches from Sawyers - although the group of half a dozen morons prefer to call him a lazy fool...
Dack is a dirty get - he should have been booked by now.