Peterborough Utd (H) League One, Feb 18th 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

We welcome the Posh to fortress Banks's in the hope that they can again appreciate what a talent they failed to retain when letting go of Erhun Oztumer. According to Wikipedia (I know.....) Oztumer played 50 games whilst at Peterborough, scoring 7 goals, yet in 30 games for us he has scored 12 - which just goes to show how an individual's performance can be affected by external influences (Different manager, team mates, facilities, surroundings etc.). On his current form he must be very near the top of Jon Whitney's list when preparing teamsheets.

Peterborough United currently occupy 8th place in the League One table on 47 points, but it should be borne in mind that they're only 4 points ahead of ourselves, and they've actually lost one more game than we have. Their League One away form this season has been largely positive, winning an impressive 7 games on their travels, and yet they do have "bad days at the office" like any other team, the 5-1 thumping at Gigg Lane being a case in point. They did win last night at home to the improving Sloppies, but the fact that for most of the second half Shrewsbury only had 10 men may have been a factor. Peterborough's recent League One form:

21 Jan Swindon Town (A) Won 0-1
24 Jan Oldham Athletic (A) Lost 2-0
28 Jan M K Dons (H) Lost 0-4
4 Feb Port Vale (A) Won 0-3
11 Feb Sheffield United (H) Lost 0-1
14 Feb Shrewsbury Town (H) Won 2-1

Injuries sustained in our 0-0 draw at Scunthorpe will necessitate some changes in JW's starting line-up. Florent Cuvelier is reported to have a calf injury and is highly doubtful. Simeon Jackson also left the field injured - presumably Kieron Morris and Amadou Bakayoko would be their standard replacements. Young Makris played for the development squad this week against Bradford City, and scored, so he might make the Saturday mix.

In the reverse fixture back in September we were a trifle unlucky to come away with just a point in a 1-1 draw, with only the thickness of the goalpost stopping Laird from scoring a potential winner four minutes from time. I feel sure we can do better at home, and I'll go for a 3-1 win, goals from Bakayoko, Oztumer (of course), and a late pile-driver from Jason McCarthy.

UTS :D

[coop63]

Cheers Welsh

With some inconsistent form, the Posh could prove tricky but I'm hopeful our lads will be looking to get back to winning ways asap..

Interesting if you look at the last 5 games where we've lost one and they've lost 3 but we've both only picked up 6 points!! Just goes to show that occasional losses between wins is no worse that perceived good runs of draws and the odd win!! Just an observation...

Back to Saturday though - I reckon we'll see them off 2-1 with Ozzy and Edwards on target

4355 with 622 Posh folk

[Super Gabor]

Gotta love Welsh's sterling work kicking off the matchday threads.

[Barren Flak]

Cheers Welsh, top work as always.

We've a decent record against the Posh, especially recently, we haven't lost at home to them since Nov 2010, in fact we're undefeated against them in the league for the past four seasons. This despite them being such a mooooosive club with unbound ambition :wink:

A win would make Tuesday's point a very good one, and it would also mean four home wins on the bounce. I'm thinking score draw though, and I'm a little more concerned that they'll come with a plan to kick Otzumer off the pitch. However with lots of attention on the Turkish Messi, hopefully Morris can exploit any lack of attention.

http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2737&team2_id=1996

[Whaleoilbeefhooked]

I'll go for a hard fought 2-1 win with Morris to ping one from range.

Taken from the Posh forum earlier:

'not worried about oztumer at all myself.
we know all about him...he contributed nothing at our gaff earlier in the season...and in anthony grant, we have a good footballer who's more than capable of dealing with his threat...which is very hit and miss'.

And another:
'Totally.
So glad Grant didn't get booked last night as I am looking forward to seeing him (fairly) put the turk up in the air and on his arse'

I would argue he has been a lot more hit than miss this season as another UTS poster has pointed out he has nearly doubled the amount of goals that he scored for posh in 20 games less for Walsall but don't let facts get in the way of a good story.

[chriss5471]

I'll go for a hard fought 2-1 win with Morris to ping one from range.

Taken from the Posh forum earlier:

'not worried about oztumer at all myself.
we know all about him...he contributed nothing at our gaff earlier in the season...and in anthony grant, we have a good footballer who's more than capable of dealing with his threat...which is very hit and miss'.

And another:
'Totally.
So glad Grant didn't get booked last night as I am looking forward to seeing him (fairly) put the turk up in the air and on his arse'

I would argue he has been a lot more hit than miss this season as another UTS poster has pointed out he has nearly doubled the amount of goals that he scored for posh in 20 games less for Walsall but don't let facts get in the way of a good story.

I'll agree with them he is hit and miss during games as he never seems to contribute for the full 90 minutes but in our favour I'll put forward two points.

1) He always looks like scoring even if he isn't in the game for 89 minutes he seems like he will score during the other 1 minute.

2) If they are concentrating on nullifying him as a threat that will give the other midfielders and our wing backs more space to work in which should create plenty of chances so let them feel free to man mark him out of the game!

[saddlerphil]

Another tight game for the Saddlers. But i think we will have enough firepower to edge the game.

Att: 4746 (457 POSH)

Danny Naisbitt plays a blinder in goals for Walsall, while James McKeown lets a few in for the POSH. Of course Walsall's Wacker comes off the bench to pull off a double save from Erhun Oztumer & Florent Cuvelier. Leaving Peterborough going home empty handed.

4-3

WALSALL
Martin O'Connor
Matt Gill
Trevor Benjamin
Dean Holden


PETERBOROUGH
Clive Platt
Dean Keates
Chris Westwood

UTS

[Cheesebag]

3-0 Makris hat trick

[aaaae]

In the same fixture last season we beat them quite easily to stay top of the league. Those were the days... :mrgreen:

[leics_saddler]

The result of this could be absolutely anything.
So I'm going for Makris to score all six goals in a 3-3 draw.
Barry Fry to go mental at half time and throw a cup of tea at Mick Bodley.

[saddlerphil]

Better than my match report:

The result of this could be absolutely anything.
So I'm going for Makris to score all six goals in a 3-3 draw.
Barry Fry to go mental at half time and throw a cup of tea at Mick Bodley.

:D :D :D

[chunkster]

Could be our biggest win of the season, 4-0 with all the goals coming from midfield because we lack any threat up front :mrgreen:

[scott_powell]

I think we'll win this you know ... 2-1 Walsall. Jackson and Oztumer for us, Taylor for them.

[Euphrosyne]

I'll go for a hard fought 2-1 win with Morris to ping one from range.

Taken from the Posh forum earlier:

'not worried about oztumer at all myself.
we know all about him...he contributed nothing at our gaff earlier in the season...and in anthony grant, we have a good footballer who's more than capable of dealing with his threat...which is very hit and miss'.

And another:
'Totally.
So glad Grant didn't get booked last night as I am looking forward to seeing him (fairly) put the turk up in the air and on his arse'

I would argue he has been a lot more hit than miss this season as another UTS poster has pointed out he has nearly doubled the amount of goals that he scored for posh in 20 games less for Walsall but don't let facts get in the way of a good story.

You've plainly visited the Posh forum known locally as the Kiddies' Table. Take my word for it that he's very fondly regarded at Posh save for around a minicab's worth of cretins who have slagged off every other player we've ever fielded.

I'm a very big admirer of Erhun and I'll have mixed feelings tomorrow as I want to see him in the Championship next term - this is a contest that neither side can afford to lose as we both enter the business end of the season a handful of points shy of the play-off action. Posh will again pay particular attention to Erhun and again, they may forsake an opportunity to steal three points by being too cautious. Time will tell.

I definitely hope that Erhun plays well as he remains an absolute joy to watch, even in Saddlers' colours - if he scores a hat-trick yet Posh win 4-3, I'll know that somebody up there likes me!

[dobbster71]

Can't argue with Mr. Cheese's prediction.

[LEE75]

Two teams who should at this stage of the season be going all out attack to make the play-offs.. so with that, I reckon
2-2 with goals from oztumer,morris. UTS !!!

[Welsh_Saddler]

(A bit late ... sorry!!) Starting line-up against Posh:

Etheridge

Preston
O'Connell
O'Connor
McCarthy

Osbourne
Chambers
Morris
Edwards

Oztumer

Jackson

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Laird, Dobson, Moussa, Randall-Hurren, Bakayoko, Roberts

[Welsh_Saddler]

Early goal at Spotland: Rochdale 1 Charlton Athletic 0 (3 min)

Bradford City 2 Bolton Wanderers 0 (15 min)

Coventry City 2 Gillingham 0 (20 min)

Southend Utd 1 Northampton Town 0

Chesterfield 1 Bury 0 (30 min)

[Welsh_Saddler]

With half an hour gone, we've had 1 shot on target (Jackson) ... which is 1 more than Posh have had. :mrgreen:

Southend Utd 2 Northampton Town 1 (33 min)

Back at home, the first yellow card of the game goes to Peterborough Utd..... (Grant)

[Ancient Moaner]

With half an hour gone, we've had 1 shot on target (Jackson) ... which is 1 more than Posh have had. :mrgreen:

But, if it ends up as another 0-0 draw, perhaps, perhaps, the 'management' might, might, wake up and smell the coffee?

[chunkster]

With half an hour gone, we've had 1 shot on target (Jackson) ... which is 1 more than Posh have had. :mrgreen:

But, if it ends up as another 0-0 draw, perhaps, perhaps, the 'management' might, might, wake up and smell the coffee?

Are you you on the the single malt already AM? :lol: :mrgreen:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Charlton have equalised at Rochdale - it's now 1-1

Northampton have done the same at Southend - that's now 2-2

No goals at half-time in the important match - we've had 4 shots on target though!!! What thoughts on possible subs?????

[Guest]

Apparently, it's a very good game - according to my man at the match.

[Welsh_Saddler]

2 goals in the first 3 minutes of the second half at Bramall Lane ... It's Sheffield Utd 1 Scunthorpe Utd 1

Walsall yellow card early in our second half ... Adam Chambers :(

[chunkster]

2 goals in the first 3 minutes of the second half at Bramall Lane ... It's Sheffield Utd 1 Scunthorpe Utd 1

Walsall yellow card early in our second half ... Adam Chambers :(

scunny have had a player sent off

[Welsh_Saddler]

Port Vale 1 Bristol Rovers 0 (53 min)

On the betting exchanges the draw is now clear favourite at the Banks's's's for the attendance of 4,759

Coventry City 2 Gillingham 1

MK Dons 0 Fleetwood Town 1

Bradford City 2 Bolton Wanderers 1

[Welsh_Saddler]

64 minutes, and a 2nd yellow card for Walsall ... (Jackson)

Sloppies 1 Wombles 1

Rochdale 2 Charlton Athletic 2

Dobson on for Osbourne, 67 min

Posh double substitution immediately afterwards

Bradford City 2 Bolton Wanderers 2

Chesterfield 1 Bury 1

[Welsh_Saddler]

Bakayoko replaces Jackson, 74 min

A 3rd yellow card for the Saddlers, 79 min - Bakayoko !!!

Port Vale 1 Bristol Rovers 1

Rochdale 3 Charlton Athletic 3

Chesterfield 1 Bury 2

[Welsh_Saddler]

In the 93rd minute we have our 6th corner.......

AND SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D (Oztumer - who else??)

Yellow cards galore - another one for each side (95 min)

Peterborough red card (Forrester)

[Welsh_Saddler]

97 minutes, and it's 2-0 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D (Kieron Morris)

Full time 2-0 .... Fat Franck came on for Oztumer, on 95 minutes by the way!!

4 points away from the play-offs, and 12 from the mire - Whitney IN :D