Gillingham (A) League One, Tues Oct 18th, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

As our form improves despite the recurrence of squeaky bum syndrome, we head off to the Football League's only member in Kent, where Gillingham have had their base at the Priestfield Stadium since their formation as New Brompton in 1893. They were regular opponents of ours in the old Division III (South) days and I well remember them as being something of a bogey team for us, with Brian Yeo usually condemning us to a 1-0 defeat. Since then they've experienced life in the Championship together with the downside of financial over-extension, which was severe enough to force the club into administration early in 1995 with the real prospect of expulsion from the League. However, new owner Paul Scally saved the day at that time and brought in Tony Pulis as manager - Pulis lasted four years before being sacked for gross misconduct.........

Gillingham's League One form this season is a mystery - after 2 games they were top of the table, and still in the play-off zone after 5 games. Then came the stutters, and at present they're a point below ourselves in 18th place. Recent League One form:

17 Sep Port Vale (A) Lost 2-1
24 Sep Coventry City (H) Won 2-1
27 Sep Chesterfield (A) Drew 3-3
1 Oct A.F.C. Wimbledon (A) Lost 2-0
8 Oct Oldham Athletic (H) Lost 1-2
15 Oct Bristol Rovers (A) Lost 2-1

In that recent run of 6 League One games therefore, Gillingham have gathered 4 points. In our most recent 6 League One games we've managed 11 points. (Which, of course, means nothing on Tuesday night!!).

As far as Jon Whitney is concerned it looks as though he will have problems to consider in connection with both defence and attack. Defensively we've only kept a clean sheet in our away League One games on one occasion (Oldham Athletic, 13th Aug), and likewise only once at home. It's asking a lot for our strikers to have to score a couple of goals in every match to gain us points, especially when (as now) it looks as though we will be unable to call on them to start the game. I understand Simeon Jackson to be injured, as he didn't even make the bench against Shrewsbury Town, and Amadou Bakayoko certainly won't be available after incurring the wrath of a card-happy referee for celebrating Erhun Oztumer's goal in the same game. Time for young Makris to make a name for himself, perhaps?

As far as a prediction is concerned, it would be a positive sign just to keep our current unbeaten run going, so I'll settle for a 1-1 draw.......and I don't particularly care who scores for us! :D

[El_Nombre]

I predict a 1-0 win for The Saddlers and Gillingham to be labelled the new "worst team we played this season so it doesn't mean anything" :wink:

[chunkster]

have they got anyone that can put the ball in the box, in the air? and have they got someone that can jump more that 5ft 6? if so 2-0 to gillingham :mrgreen:

[scott_powell]

I'd take 4 points from the next two. A draw would be decent tonight. Think we can win it though.

1-0 Walsall

Jackson to haunt his old club

[Gripper]

Fair play to anyone going. Long trek on a weekday (again).

Would be happy with a draw but you never know these days away from home.

[saddlerphil]

Looking at the last few games between us, i'd go for a 2-2 score draw. Check your pool coupons (young 'uns ask your dad)

2-2

Att: 3757 (225 singing Saddlers)

Bertrand Bossu - in goals for both!!

Take your pick from:
Simon Osborn
Darren Byfield
Steve Claridge
Richard Green
John Hodge

[reedswood sadler]

Yet to win away so due anytime now.

It will all depend on our centre of defence if the gills have any forwards bigger than ozzy we are sure to concede

Putting a decent run together even though not playing well. if our luck holds a 3-2 win.

[DonningtonSaddler]

I predict a 1-0 win for The Saddlers and Gillingham to be labelled the new "worst team we played this season so it doesn't mean anything" :wink:

:lol: :lol:

[Barren Flak]

Looking at match highlights, they have added long throws to their tactics. Paid off against Brizzle Rovers, long throw towards Jay Thomas & Max Ehmer, Josh Wright scoring from the second ball. Only luck and Etheridge at his best would grant us a clean sheet against those tactics. If only we had a strong centre back who just needs to be told where to be :roll: :roll:

Gillingham haven't kept a clean sheet for a while either. A score draw looks on the cards.

[chriss5471]

Line up is in:

Etheridge

McCarthy
O'Connor
Toner
Laird

Edwards
Chambers

Morris
Oztumer
Moussa

Makris

Subs
Macgillivray
Dobson
Osbourne
Kinsella
Preston
Ginnelly
Roberts

[Welsh_Saddler]

Still no Jackson then....... :(

[chunkster]

and now we will get to see how good a striker Makris is :| and i can't for the life of me see why he doesn't give preston a go with how bad we have been at the back :|

[Ancient Moaner]

Still no Jackson then....... :(

Does anyone know the reasoning behind this no-show?

Big ask for Makris if they still intend to use hoof-ball up to him on his own, so it looks unlikely that he will score tonight then?
Lets hope we can get a goal from somewhere then, cus the Gills are gonna score no doubt about it, 1-1 the best we can hope for. Is the away end still out in the open these days?

[WarsawPact]

Jackson still not recovered from 'international' injury.
I'm not there, but I would be interested to hear any comparisons between Oztumer and Dack as an all-action No. 10

[Ancient Moaner]

Line up is in:

Etheridge

McCarthy
O'Connor
Toner
Laird

Edwards
Chambers

Morris
Oztumer
Moussa

Makris

Subs
Macgillivray
Dobson
Osbourne
Kinsella
Preston
Ginnelly
Roberts

This 'squad' is beginning to feel less and less impressive as time goes by, two of the back four will be gone in January. and we already resemble a colander at the back as it is!
The subs don't exactly stir the blood either do they? Where is that kid Kouyar (or whatever his name is)?

[Wragbyred]

Injured on the international break
These "breaks" don't seem to be doing us much good?

[reedswood sadler]

Kouhyar injured playing for Afganistan.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Very early goal dahn saath.... Millwall 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (1 min)

Peterborough Utd 1 Northampton Town 0 (14 min)

MK Dongs 1 Bristol Rovers 0

[Ancient Moaner]

Kouhyar injured playing for Afganistan.

I liked it best when we didn't have 'internationals' (apart from one big goalie who played on occasions for N.I. I seem to remember) ....3rd Division cloggers rule KO!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Swindon Town 1 Rochdale 0 (22 min)

MK Dongs 2 Bristol Rovers 0 now

At Gillingham there has been 1 shot so far - a Walsall one that was blocked.....

[Welsh_Saddler]

Gillingham 1 Walsall 0 (25 min) :( :(

Bury 1 AFC Wimbledon 0

Coventry City 1 Oxford Utd 0

Port Vale 0 Charlton Athletic 1

Bradford City 1 Southend Utd 0

[Cully]

McDonald heads home a cross :roll:

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

Were tumbling down the league as others score.

[Cully]

Highlights.......Dack heads straight at Etheridge, Oshilaja heads wide from a Dack free kick

[Welsh_Saddler]

Goals raining in...

Chesterfield 0 Fleetwood 1

Bury 1 AFC Wimbledon 1

Peterboro' 2 Northampton Town 0

Oldham Athletic 1 Scunthorpe Utd 0 :shock:

Oh, and Dingles...... :lol: :lol:

[Welsh_Saddler]

44 minutes, and the first yellow card goes to Gillingham.

Half-time... 1-0 ... all to play for. :mrgreen:

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

Oldham 2 up.

[Cully]

Vital Walsall on Twitter sitting on the fence as usual....................

Shocking
This is cack
This is piss poor
This is poor, long ball when we can't see any other option
Shocking defending
Poor effort

Who'd have thought it?

[Welsh_Saddler]

With no specialist strikers on the bench, Jon Whitney could give Preston 45 minutes up front to see how much damage he could do. After all, we've nothing to lose at this stage.

Meanwhile, Villa :shock: :shock:

[Cully]

108 away fans...........well done chaps :D

Here's hoping for a Makris hat trick :arrow: PERIOD