Rochdale (H) Tue 6th Mar, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

"In the midst of the dale"

(Wordsworth)

"It's a funny old game" (J. Greaves) and last Saturday's result was up there among the top funni-osities ..... we travelled to in-form Southend United (undefeated in 5, on the crest of a wave with a new Manager) and won 0-3. We now entertain bottom-of-the-table Rochdale, knowing that 3 points from this one will lift us into the top half of the League One table - well, it's a dead cert home win, isn't it? Possibly not, if Rochdale can turn in the kind of performance that held Spurs to a draw in the F. A. Cup recently. They do have games in hand over the other sides in the drop zone, but 12 points from safety is a lot to make up when you've only won 5 games out of 30 in League One so far. Scoring (or lack of it) is a big problem, with only 29 goals scored in those 30 games. Rochdale's recent League One form:-

1 Jan Blackpool (H) Lost 1-2
13 Jan Gillingham (A) Lost 2-1
3 Feb Northampton Town (A) Won 0-1
13 Feb Bristol Rovers (A) Lost 3-2
21 Feb Milton Keynes Dons (H) Drew 0-0
24 Feb Wigan Athletic (A) Lost 1-0

Our win at Southend was all the more praiseworthy when the loss of Joe Edwards is considered, and add to that the sudden team change at the last minute when Jack Fitzwater was hurriedly replaced after a potential injury in the warm-up. I've often wondered how much value there is in some of these warm-up routines - I realise that these players are fit as butchers' dogs, but does the effort expended detract from the remaining energy to see the game through?

Anyway - what of JW's tactics for this one? Ngoy seems to be getting some regular game time, as befits his pedigree, with Bakayoko being kept back as an impact substitute. Our Turkish Messi is still guaranteed a starting place - let's see if he can repeat last weekend's performance. Defensively there shouldn't be a problem against the 'Dale as long as we exercise the same kind of control that was obviously displayed at Roots Hall. I'm a little worried about George Dobson on the disciplinary side - how many yellow cards will mean an automatic suspension? Without checking, I seem to think he's been shown yellows three or four times in the recent past.

Prediction? I have to go for a home win, even though this game is a potential banana-skin. Let's say 2-0, with Ngoy and Bakayoko scoring.

UTS :D

[Exile]

If past results are a predictor of future performance we'll get thrashed 5-0 in this match. Luckily they're not, and Rochdale are pretty toilet, so 1-0 on the cards.

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

A 1-0 defeat at Wigan was better than we could do so I'm thinking a hard fought 1-1 their goal a mistake from a young un.

[Walsallone]

We are so inconsistent I haven't a clue about this game.....possibly a draw is the best bet.

[scott_powell]

You have to beat bottom of the table. Dow care if they're scrappin for a victory, they are there for a reason. 2-0 Walsall

[SoccerHQ]

1-1.

[SaigonSaddler]

A win by the odd goal, or a draw.

Maybe a win by 2 or more, or could possibly lose.

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

A win by the odd goal, or a draw.

Maybe a win by 2 or more, or could possibly lose.

Can you do weather forcasts as well. :)

[SaigonSaddler]

A win by the odd goal, or a draw.

Maybe a win by 2 or more, or could possibly lose.

Can you do weather forcasts as well. :)

My prediction expertise is exhausted for the day ... or is it?! :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

A win by the odd goal, or a draw.

Maybe a win by 2 or more, or could possibly lose.

Can you do weather forcasts as well. :)

My prediction stabs in the dark with the aid of a rusty pin are exhausted for the day ... or are they?! :D

FTFY :D

[reedswood sadler]

Should be a nailed on win and one of our bankers for 3 points towards safety but this is Walsall we are talking about, after an unexpected win against Southend and a bonus 3 points watch us blow it and lose.

[Mazza01]

Guaranteed win followed by Whitney claiming we are chasing the Playoffs.

[Guest]

Definitely a draw.

[layzeedude]

0-1 at halftime. UTS to be all doom n gloom.

Whitney does whatever he does at halftime that seems to work quite a lot lately. Has anyone got any idea how many more we've scored 1st half vs 2nd half?

Scrape a 2-1 win.

[Ancient Moaner]

A truly unique experience for Walsall supporters everywhere this season....a game that we are actually EXPECTED to win!

Which means of course, being Walsall, that we will cock it up! We should run out easy winners by at least 2/3-0 so 1-1 it will be then.

Bakayoko to start of course, we can't have these upstart Premiershite reserves looking good up front when we have Baka to run around chasing his tail. (AM mode)

[layzeedude]

Whitney does whatever he does at halftime that seems to work quite a lot lately. Has anyone got any idea how many more we've scored 1st half vs 2nd half?

I'm talking rubbish. Just had a quick tally and we've scored 22 1st half goals and 25 in the second. (conceded 1st:27, 2nd:22)
Think it just felt that way with recent performances.

[Optimistic]

We are so inconsistent I haven't a clue about this game.....possibly a draw is the best bet.

I am not sure that we are inconsistent Walsallone, although I do think we have suffered from the conditions recently. We started off last summer with a brand new defense and understandably it took a while to gel but we have now kept 3 clean sheets since Xmas.

We are playing good football lately although we gave Blackburn too much respect in the first half and the conditions at Blackpool and Peterborough did not do us any favours and did not suit our style. The players have also contributed to our problems with individual errors but that should be ironed out given time. That's the managements job and it seems to be working but those are the players we can afford and it takes a while.

As for the results I was not surprised that we won at Southend but I would not have been surprised if we had lost. The same applies to Rochdale and although I am hoping to watch us win it's always difficult playing a team who are in trouble and although they are rock bottom they are almost certain to win again before the end of the season and when they do it will obviously be a team above them.

[Ancient Moaner]

We are so inconsistent I haven't a clue about this game.....possibly a draw is the best bet.

I am not sure that we are inconsistent Walsallone, although I do think we have suffered from the conditions recently. We started off last summer with a brand new defense and understandably it took a while to gel but we have now kept 3 clean sheets since Xmas.

We are playing good football lately although we gave Blackburn too much respect in the first half and the conditions at Blackpool and Peterborough did not do us any favours and did not suit our style. The players have also contributed to our problems with individual errors but that should be ironed out given time. That's the managements job and it seems to be working but those are the players we can afford and it takes a while.

As for the results I was not surprised that we won at Southend but I would not have been surprised if we had lost. The same applies to Rochdale and although I am hoping to watch us win it's always difficult playing a team who are in trouble and although they are rock bottom they are almost certain to win again before the end of the season and when they do it will obviously be a team above them.

You very nearly finished off that sentence with 'US' then, so you may be slipping into AM mode if your not careful! :wink:

[wednesburysaddler]

right lets get my head around this

the saddlers at home in the league have played 17 won 7 drew 6 and lost 4
this puts us 11th in the league on home form

rochdale away in the league have played 17 won 1 drew 5 and lost 11
that puts them in 23rd in the league on away form

bet365 tonight have walsall at 2/1 and rochdale fav at 31/20

how can this be???

I know I wouldn't lump my mortgage on us but surely they have prices the wrong way around??

[swampysaddler]

Off the clubs Twitter feed

Please note - the toilets in the Stadium Suite are out of order for this evening's game against Rochdale.

Has Manchester been in there preaching about Brexit so they are blocked ? :lol:

[chunkster]

Fully expect a good win tonight 3-0 anything less would be a the proverbial 1 step forward 3 steps back

[SoccerHQ]

Fully expect a good win tonight 3-0 anything less would be a the proverbial 1 step forward 3 steps back

1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-2 or 3-1 not good enough? :lol:

Rochdale despite their league position have some good players in the final third. Brad Inman, Matt Done, Ian Henderson, Calum Camps wouldn't mind having a look at a few of those in the summer.

[Exile]

Off the clubs Twitter feed

Please note - the toilets in the Stadium Suite are out of order for this evening's game against Rochdale.

Has Manchester been in there preaching about Brexit so they are blocked ? :lol:

Clogged with Leave promises. :mrgreen:

[BathSaddler]

Fully expect a good win tonight 3-0 anything less would be a the proverbial 1 step forward 3 steps back

A 1-0 defeat it is, then.

[SoccerHQ]

1 nil down.

[Ancient Moaner]

1 nil down.

Now THAT didn't take long did it? How we always seem to let the fans down. Hope this is just a blip, but the 2-0 3-0 type predictions have gone right down the proverbial eh!

[hullsaddler]

Pretty downbeat on commentary. Sounds like Rochdale missed a free header to make it two as well.

[BathSaddler]

A reasonable attendance of 3,505 (115).

[Exile]

Somewhat deflating...

[Guest]

Rochdale are obviously treating this game as a cup tie.