Shrewsbury Town (H), League One, 15th Oct 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

An early start for this preamble as we've had a week without our Saddlers fix.....and we welcome the Sloppies to Fortress Bescot in the hope that we can extend their current form - currently almost propping up the table with only 2 wins from their 12 games, and without a win in the last six. They're also without a Manager, Micky Mellon having left "by mutual consent" to take up the reins at Tranmere Rovers together with his assistant Mike Jackson. Names in the frame to accept the poisoned chalice include Ian Holloway, Dean Saunders, Kenny Jackett, Dave Jones and our old friend Sean O'Driscoll :shock: .... Two likely contenders (Danny Coyne, their caretaker manager, and Steve Cotterill) have ruled themselves out publicly, so it's wait and see time. Midfielder Abu Ogogo told BBC Radio Shropshire that the players feel they have let their manager down, and any new manager will have his motivational skills called upon as much as anything else. Shrewsbury's recent League One form:

10 Sep Bury (A) Lost 2-1
17 Sep Scunthorpe Utd (H) Lost 0-1
24 Sep AFC Wimbledon (A) Drew 1-1
27 Sep Peterborough Utd (H) Drew 1-1
1 Oct Swindon Town (H) Drew 1-1
8 Oct Bradford City (A) Lost 2-0

One familiar face we will probably see will be that of defender Olly Lancashire, who signed a 2-year contract with the Shrews in May this year, having rejected the deal offered at Rochdale.

Last season saw us win both home and away League One matches, and Shrewsbury Town is one of a select group of clubs where we actually come out on top in a head-to-head analysis over the years - our League encounters have resulted in 28 Walsall wins, 22 draws, and 18 Shrewsbury Town wins (so, bearing in mind their current predicament we will probably trip up with this game!).

I haven't seen any reports of injuries following Saddlers players featuring in the international matches although I think Makris was substituted late on for Cyprus, probably to shore up the defence as much as anything. Jon Whitney should have almost a full squad from which to select his starting XI, the only long term absentee being Reece Flanagan (although there are other players that are susceptible to frequent niggling setbacks - no names, no pack-drill). Bakayoko has to be pushing for 90 minutes League One time, and Joe Edwards is available after his suspension. Speaking of suspensions, Micky Mellon stated recently (October 3rd) that his team wasn't overly physical, yet in the recent form games listed above they've had 3 red cards dished out. On top of that there have been 23 yellow cards this season, giving Shrewsbury Town the worst disciplinary record in League One.

In the light of our recent improvement in form I have to predict 3 points from this game, let's say a 2-0 result with Bakayoko and Makris (eventually) scoring....... :D

[Cheesebag]

Gotta be a win.... surely?

:?

[Micky Saddler]

Hoping for a decent atmosphere with this one...
Bringing 5 of my mates down after having a while off. Just hope its not the same style of play as the Yeovil game.

I reckon a 2-0 win with 'The Mouss' & Edwards getting on the scoresheet.

Attendance 5273 with 7.3 on the back of a motorbike from the Salop army.

Micky

[Welsh_Saddler]

Gotta be a win.... surely?

:?

Certainly should be......and please don't call me Shirley. :wink:

[Barren Flak]

They signed some good players in the summer - like O'Brien - amongst the Paul Downing impersonators.

Hope they don't pull a manager out of the hat between now and kick-off, Kenny Jackett would be good for them, but be amazed if he ended up there.

Hoping to make good of their potential disorganisation, a single-goal margin victory, Makris to open his account.

[Ancient Moaner]

They signed some good players in the summer - like O'Brien - amongst the Paul Downing impersonators.

Hope they don't pull a manager out of the hat between now and kick-off, Kenny Jackett would be good for them, but be amazed if he ended up there.

Hoping to make good of their potential disorganisation, a single-goal margin victory, Makris to open his account.

Hope we won't still be saying that with half as dozen matches left to play at the end of the season! :?

If we don't win this one, there will be a few attempted slit wrists about!

I'll go for 3-1, Etheridge lobbed from 80 yards for their consolation! :lol:

[scott_powell]

3-1 Walsall

We'll be all over them.

[SoccerHQ]

1-1.

They have better players than their form and placing suggest imo.

This will be the new Crewe at home...dominate, fall 1 nil down and then scramble an equaliser late in the game.

[Mazza01]

2-2 with no more than 4.5k in attendance.

[scott_powell]

1-1.

They have better players than their form and placing suggest imo.

This will be the new Crewe at home...dominate, fall 1 nil down and then scramble an equaliser late in the game.

So have we?

[Sound_out]

2-1 Walsall win

[BathSaddler]

Yep, a narrow win, 2-1, in front of 4,500.

[Ancient Moaner]

1-1.

They have better players than their form and placing suggest imo.

This will be the new Crewe at home...dominate, fall 1 nil down and then scramble an equaliser late in the game.

Problem with that suggested scenario is that we all know how true it will be. :? :( :(

Followed by disappointments at Gillingham, Swindon & a 4-1 defeat at home to Coventry. :evil:

It's the Worsul way.................

[SWS1]

1-1.

They have better players than their form and placing suggest imo.

This will be the new Crewe at home...dominate, fall 1 nil down and then scramble an equaliser late in the game.

Problem with that suggested scenario is that we all know how true it will be. :? :( :(

Followed by disappointments at Gillingham, Swindon & a 4-1 defeat at home to Coventry. :evil:

It's the Worsul way.................

Stone me. :roll: Talk about pessimism :shock:
Although I suppose the upside is that almost anything gained after such low expectations will feel wonderful. :wink:

[Ancient Moaner]

1-1.

They have better players than their form and placing suggest imo.

This will be the new Crewe at home...dominate, fall 1 nil down and then scramble an equaliser late in the game.

Problem with that suggested scenario is that we all know how true it will be. :? :( :(

Followed by disappointments at Gillingham, Swindon & a 4-1 defeat at home to Coventry. :evil:

It's the Worsul way.................

Stone me. :roll: Talk about pessimism :shock:
Although I suppose the upside is that almost anything gained after such low expectations will feel wonderful. :wink:

Sure would! We expected sooo much from this squad, the quality is there, but somehow they just aint 'clicking' the way we would like to see. How great would it be to see us dominate a game, look good and send us all home happy as sandboys....will that ever happen? we will just have to wait and hope! :wink:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Shrewsbury Town:

Etheridge

McCarthy
O'Connor
Toner
Laird

Chambers
Edwards

Oztumer
Morris
Moussa

Bakayoko

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Dobson, Kinsella, Preston, Osbourne, Ginnelly, Makris

So, our record signing is warming the bench, and our leading goalscorer doesn't even get that far. Is Jackson injured or jet-lagged? :?

[Welsh_Saddler]

Very early goal up in Lancashire sees Fleetwood Town 1 Peterborough Utd 0 (2 min)

Another goal in Lancashire - Bolton Wanderers 1 Oldham Athletic 0 (12 min)

Sheffield Utd 1 Port Vale 0 (22 min)

Southend Utd 1 Chesterfield 0

[Welsh_Saddler]

YES!!!!!!!!!!! A goal..... Walsall 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 (24 min) :D :D

Bakayoko, with an assist from Oztumer :D :D :D

[Ancient Moaner]

YES!!!!!!!!!!! A goal..... Walsall 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 (24 min) :D :D

Bakayoko, with an assist from Oztumer :D :D :D

Hoorah!! Loads of folk have said that he needs a start up front, and he's proving his mettle, perhaps we had a star here all the time but didn't realise his potential?

[Welsh_Saddler]

YES!!!!!!!!!!! A goal..... Walsall 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 (24 min) :D :D

Bakayoko, with an assist from Oztumer :D :D :D

Hoorah!! Loads of folk have said that he needs a start up front, and he's proving his mettle, perhaps we had a star here all the time but didn't realise his potential?

Had to happen..... An equaliser from the Sloppies makes the score 1-1...... :(

Touch of irony there - McGivern had to go off injured, and his place was taken by ex-Saddler Olly Lancashire - who immediately scored !!! :roll:

[Ancient Moaner]

Here we go.... :( :( :( :(
Why can this team NEVER hold on to a lead, is it written into their genes? Will have to buy Lee in future. :mrgreen:

As it stand we are 2 points off the relegation trap door and only 5 points better off than the bottom club, who will be with us in a fortnight to swap places? :(

[Welsh_Saddler]

Charlton Athletic 1 Coventry City 0 (31 min)

Northampton Town 0 Millwall 1

Scunthorpe Utd 0 MK Dons 1 :shock:

Rochdale 1 Bury 0

[Ancient Moaner]

Charlton Athletic 1 Coventry City 0 (31 min)

Northampton Town 0 Millwall 1

Scunthorpe Utd 0 MK Dons 1 :shock:

Rochdale 1 Bury 0

Well, Scunny have put out the girls under 14's reserve team after all! :mrgreen:

[Welsh_Saddler]

2-1 to the Super Saddlers!!!!!!!!!!! (43 min) :D :D :D

Kieron Morris with the goal, Joe Edwards with the assist.

[Ancient Moaner]

Great news, we're back in the lead again....hoorahh!! :mrgreen:

[SaddlerSteve]

Could have quite easily conceded again straight after scoring.
Our defence is woeful.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Great news, we're back in the lead again....hoorahh!! :mrgreen:

Yes, and as things stand we're 15th in the table, 4 points away from both play-off and relegation zones! (We also have a game in hand over most sides)

[Welsh_Saddler]

No sooner is the 2nd half under way than Shrewsbury are awarded a yellow card...... (Waring)

No Walsall substitutions at this stage, by the way.

(Edit, make that 2 yellow cards for the Sloppies!!) :roll:

(Edit, make that 3 yellow cards for them - 55 minutes) :evil:

Edit - would you believe 4 yellow cards? :roll:

[Welsh_Saddler]

We now have 2-2 :( :( :(

Cards galore......our first yellow (Bakayoko), and Shrewsbury's first RED (McGivern) !!!

Edit - another yellow card for Walsall..... James O'Connor(69 min)

Attendance 4,759

[Welsh_Saddler]

This referee is using cards more often than his whistle...... Shrewsbury now have 5...... :evil:

Substitution - Ginnelly on for Morris, 76 min