Doncaster Rovers (H) Tue 13th Feb, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

"Bonnie White Rose"

(Cunningham)

We welcome Darren Ferguson's Vikings to Bescot knowing that a home win will guarantee a climb of at least one place in the League One table, because Doncaster Rovers are 2 points ahead of us - their record so far this season is remarkably similar to ours, identical figures of wins and defeats and a broadly similar goal tally. There would normally be a very warm welcome for ex-Saddler Andy Butler, their Vice-Captain, but he was taken off injured at Portsmouth and hasn't featured since then. Current League One form can be described as uninspiring (rather like ours) ......... but having said that, you could say that their away form is pretty good - the most recent trips having been draws at Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Portsmouth. Details:-

13 Jan Plymouth Argyle (H) Drew 1-1
20 Jan Shrewsbury Town (A) Drew 2-2
23 Jan Scunthorpe United (A) Drew 1-1
27 Jan Bristol Rovers (H) Lost 1-3
3 Feb Portsmouth (A) Drew 2-2
10 Feb Charlton Athletic (H) Drew 1-1

We showed at Blackpool that we don't really need strikers because we have midfielders and defenders quite capable of finding the net - which is a pity, because we then go and concede sloppy goals at the other end. There seems to be a lot of ball watching and not enough effective marking of opposing players, particularly in the danger zone in and around the penalty area. No doubt our esteemed coaching staff are analysing and replaying the available videos (or perhaps not!). It's not known whether our Arsenal loanee Krystian Bielik will be available - his injury which had previously been described as a "niggle" has also recently been reported as a shoulder injury likely to keep him out for some time. The state of the Banks's' pitch is likely to be better than that at Bloomfield Road, so perhaps Jon Whitney may feel like starting Erhun Oztumer on the pitch rather than the bench (if he thinks there is sufficient motivation on the player's part, that is). Up front still presents the recurring problem of deciding (a) How many strikers to play, and (b) Which ones to play and which ones to bench, out of Bakayoko, Ngoy and Shaibu. In the reverse fixture earlier this season Oztumer played a bit of blinder, scoring twice in a 0-3 result which saw Kieron Morris also finding the net. Is Florent Cuvelier fully match-fit? There is a school of thought that says he should really be playing if he is fit, and he must be fit if he's named a substitute - all very confusing...........

Prediction? Based on Rovers' current away form a draw would be quite acceptable, but there has to come a time when our strikers show us what they're made of, and with my rose-coloured specs firmly in place I will go for a 2-1 home win, with Ngoy and Oztumer on target.

[Walsallone]

I agree WELSH ....I will go tentatively for a win. I hope Cuvelier plays perhaps it is time to give Chambers a little rest!!

[BarnsleySaddler]

I think this is a winable match. Similar to last year at this time Doncaster are picking up points but they are not playing well and are not very good at set pieces. Therefore depending on which team JW picks this could be another 6 pointer to us.

[Barren Flak]

Score draw. Leahy with assists for both teams.

[Ancient Moaner]

Doncaster will obviously score, so we will need some good attacking play in order to accomplish a win, I'll go for 2-1, Ngoy (if he gives him the nod over Baka) and a Morris thunderbolt in the last few minutes.

Less than 3,500 crowd, awful weather predicted.

[scott_powell]

2-1 either way

[coop63]

I reckon one of our crack team of hit men will strike tonight - a drab 1-0 for me

UTS

[Addis Saddler]

This has got 1-1 all over it.......

[chunkster]

I fully expect us to win this 2-0 anything else would be a failure seeing as we beat them at their ground, if we lose at home to them it would be a backward step, the squad have had time to get some idea as to how we play now so lets start moving up the table :)

[SaigonSaddler]

This has got 1-1 all over it.......

Nailed on, they've drawn seven of the last 8 games.

1-1

[saddlersjse]

1-1. No more than 3,500.

Energy blahblahblah

[m&m]

Wow that line up looks weak!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Staring line-up against Doncaster Rovers:-

Roberts

Devlin
Fitzwarer
Guthrie
Leahy

Morris
Chambers
Dobson
Edwards

Oztumer
Shaibu

Substitutes: Gillespie, Cuvelier, Kinsella, Ngoy, Bakayoko, Roberts, Kouhyar

Well, that will please Ancient Moaner :wink:

Bury must have deep problems - they've only named 6 substitutes for tonight's game at home to Southend.

[Ancient Moaner]

Staring line-up against Doncaster Rovers:-

Roberts

Devlin
Fitzwarer
Guthrie
Leahy

Morris
Chambers
Dobson
Edwards

Oztumer
Shaibu

Substitutes: Gillespie, Cuvelier, Kinsella, Ngoy, Bakayoko, Roberts, Kouhyar

Well, that will please Ancient Moaner :wink:

Bury must have deep problems - they've only named 6 substitutes for tonight's game at home to Southend.

The ambulance is on it's way for Whitney, must have had a stroke, no other explanation..............
I do actually understand his thinking, constantly picking him despite him only making up the numbers and being a waste of space on the pitch, he is after all one of our own, so we must persevere in promoting our youngsters, even if it has lost us many a point with his incompetence in front of goal.

Thank goodness the major weakness in our defence, Kinsella has been left out of the line up.
But where oh where is this lad from Arsenal? We all thought he might plug some of the holes in our colander defence but his only appearance will be in the medical room until his loan ( :( ) runs out.................hope he ain't costing us owt!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Very early goal - Peterborough Utd 1 Scunthorpe Utd 0 (1 min)

Wigan Athletic 0 Blackpool 1 (5 min)

Northampton Town 0 Gillingham 2

Rotherham Utd 1 Oxford Utd 0

Plymouth Argyle 1 AFC Wimbledon 0

Portsmouth 0 Blackburn Rovers 1

[Welsh_Saddler]

SUPER SADDLERS !!!!!!!!!! 1-0, 21 minutes (Our leading striker .... Joe Edwards)

[chunkster]

Edwards again :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

23 minutes ...... would you believe 2-0 ?????????

[SoccerHQ]

PT will be cutting that quiff into his hedge at midnight at this rate. :D

Good work by Shaibu btw.

[chunkster]

Edwards again :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

Charlton Athletic 1 Bradford City 0

62 minutes to go ....... play for time, lads !!! :wink:

[Super Gabor]

I fully expect us to win this 2-0

You were saying Chunkster........ :D

[Exile]

Guaranteed to go up a place in the table if we can keep this up.

[scott_powell]

Drop Bakayoko, already two up. Funny that

(Yes I am aware a midfielder scored both, but with Bakayoko it’s basically 10 men. He’s useless)

We absolutely can’t fudge this up ...

[Welsh_Saddler]

Bristol Rovers 0 Rochdale 1

Rotherham Utd 2 Oxford Utd 0

Peterborough Utd 1 Scunthorpe Utd 1

Oldham Athletic 1 M K Dons 0

Plymouth Argyle 2 AFC Wimbledon 1

[Exile]

Drop Bakayoko, already two up. Funny that

(Yes I am aware a midfielder scored both, but with Bakayoko it’s basically 10 men. He’s useless)

We absolutely can’t fudge this up ...

Baka on at half time? :D

[BarnsleySaddler]

I finish me pancakes and what do you know, 2 up. Memo to self must have more pancakes in the future.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Wigan Athletic 0 Blackpool 2 :shock: :shock:

[Welsh_Saddler]

3-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!! (Kieron Morris)

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the half-time score .......... :D :D :D :D

[Exile]

Have I woken in an alternative universe?