Northampton Town (H) 28th April, 3pm

[Derbyshire Saddler]

Grimes.

I had to check their squad details to make sure it wasn't THE Grimes, one of the "most naturally gifted" strikers to wear a Walsall shirt. :wink:

No no he's found his true level at Edinburgh City in the Scottish second division. :lol:

Could have been the perfect Whitney signing, ex Saddler from the Scottish lowers.

[funk_hits_the_fan]

The fans on their message board sound very confident.

Also sounds like a fair few of them have brought tickets in the home end.

That is the last thing we need on such an important game like this, could get very nasty :(

There are always those sort of rumours and nothing ever happens. Northampton only sold out yesterday. The keenest to be there will be there, the remainder who had four days after they beat Plymouth to get themselves organised are bothered but not that bothered.

And it’s not like anything will actually be decided.

I think we’ll lose this 2-0. We have neither the ability nor mental strength to turn up and win this type of game. I fear a Devlin red card.

9,210.

I have to be honest I find the whole notion of the mighty Northampton Town fans having to infiltrate our end due to demand slightly ridiculous. PT has pretty much summed it up. I'm only aware of it happening once and that was when Sheffield Wednesday had sold 3800 tickets for Boxing day 2011 and there were a couple of slightly suspicious accents in our end - keeping very quiet I may add.

I would say just over 2k is about right for them.

I think we are going to win this 3-1. Att: 9652

[Whitters]

An easy 3-2 in front of 8912.

Just in case it goes tits-up, this might be handy - it's showing this seasons teams ATM of course.... http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/LeagueMap.asp?League=L2

[El_Nombre]

To be fair I didn’t mean to insinuate the Northampton fans were their to cause trouble, just that they sold their allocation pretty easily, which they did, and now people are buying tickets in our end because they seem pretty up beat about their chances.

[Mazza01]

Really do not understand the fuss Northampton are making over the tickets , it took them all the way up to Thursday to sell out lol.

How many more would they of realistically sold in one or two days? certainly not another 1k or even close to that. Reminds me of the time we asked for more tickets for the playoffs and didn't sell the initial allocation :lol:

[Walsallone]

I have resisted the temptation to make a prediction so far however I think we will lose.....the Wimbledon debacle showed up our inexperience and vulnerability to teams with a more 'streetwise' approach. Having said that I hope, of course ,that the large crowd will lift the lads and we storm to victory. UTS

[aaaae]

To be fair I didn’t mean to insinuate the Northampton fans were their to cause trouble, just that they sold their allocation pretty easily, which they did, and now people are buying tickets in our end because they seem pretty up beat about their chances.

I'm sure they won't be stupid enough to celebrate a Northampton goal will they?

I've sat in the home end at away games many times to watch the Saddlers, Man City, Arsenal. Stoke, Burnley, Brentford, Swindon, Rotherham, Exeter. It's all good fun!

Anyway, if I had to put money on it, I'd go for a draw, due to our lack of firepower.

[BathSaddler]

A tense 0-0 at best, or what PT says (0-2 defeat).

Attendance 9,213

[BarnsleySaddler]

Still believe we can get out of this. Keates has them playing more as a team but individual performances have undone us. They are capable of getting a draw as they are improving together but the problem is the time Keates has had to work with them.

[scott_powell]

Imagine the scenes ...

1-0 down with 10 to go.
85th minute, Oztumer with a low drive into the bottow left
90 +2 minutes, FITZZZZZWATERRRRRRRRRRR WITH A BULLET HEADER

Mayhem ensues.

That'll do.

[SoccerHQ]

Increased fines for mass pitch invasions now.

I can genuinely see the club using that as an excuse next season for the annual 50p budget! "Well we'd have given Dean a competitive league one budget if you oiks wouldn't have run on the pitch....."

[tinned]

They won't do a lap of honour (or "lap of appreciation" they do after a poor season) will they? Surely not :? :roll:

[funk_hits_the_fan]

They won't do a lap of honour (or "lap of appreciation" they do after a poor season) will they? Surely not :? :roll:

I doubt it - they will have to clear all of the celebrating fans off the pitch first. Mind you, they will have to get their trains back to Northampton at some point..... :lol:

[tinned]

They won't do a lap of honour (or "lap of appreciation" they do after a poor season) will they? Surely not :? :roll:

I doubt it - they will have to clear all of the celebrating fans off the pitch first. Mind you, they will have to get their trains back to Northampton at some point..... :lol:

:mrgreen:

[swampysaddler]

They won't do a lap of honour (or "lap of appreciation" they do after a poor season) will they? Surely not :? :roll:

I doubt it - they will have to clear all of the celebrating fans off the pitch first. Mind you, they will have to get their trains back to Northampton at some point..... :lol:

:mrgreen:

Need to send this to NTFC maybe.

https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2018/ap ... ncursions/

[boringteacher]

If I had religion, I'd pray. My last ST game until Bonser fudge off, desperate for the win but I really can't see how. Shout the lads on, then shout at the leech outside the ground at the end. UTS, love walsall, hate bonser.

[Ancient Moaner]

Very nervous...Walsall back in the 4th Division...unthinkable, but a realistic outcome...We can't score, Northampton can all of a sudden, scored 3 against Bury, and beat play off contenders Plymouth, the omens are not that great.

We all hope for a win, but where are the goals gonna come from? If not, a draw in desperation, lose and we are in the 4th Division...simples.

Those folk talking about getting points from Bradford & or Fleetwood are living in lala land. We are powder puff cannon fodder away from home.

Surely we possess at least someone in the team that realises that you have to belt that leathery thing into that netty thing (at the right end of course).....come on lads, we need a hero, anyone will do, in-off the refs bum will do.

Come on me babbies, we HAVE to do this!

Stayup The Saddlers................ so that Keates can build his own squad for next season!

Please give 'em a shout for me, don't want to be sitting head in hands at Bradford on Tuesday, or hoping for a miracle at Fleetwood.

[chunkster]

If we do lose tomorrow i just hope that the 7,000 plus fans give Bonser both barrel's :|

[Eccentric_Viewer]

I've consulted the Oracle of Wishful Thing and Blind Optimism and it predicts a convincing win for the Larry Addlers.
0-0 at half-time, Cobblers having missed a late penalty. Second half brings a very silly O.G., another from any old defender, and a late one from BakaYokoOno, the man wot broke up The Beatles.

[Cowshed]

Northampton to get an early goal

Devlin bound to get over excited about the big crowd and get sent off

Northampton to comfortably win 0-3

We’ve only scored 4 in the last 8 games

Confidence is in tatters

Saddlers fans to start singing we’ll meet again followed by we want bonser out

Then an announcement over the tannoy that spectators are asked not to go on the pitch which as per ritual will be duly ignored

Cor weight

[swampysaddler]

If the lads need any motivation they need to watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8OPQbV_QBY

[Cowshed]

If the lads need any motivation they need to watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8OPQbV_QBY

Leito ,Mathias and Aranalde Christ we were good - what happened?

[Ancient Moaner]

If the lads need any motivation they need to watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8OPQbV_QBY

Ah! the good old days when we had players with guts and determination that would fight for the shirt!
How we could do with a few of 'em out on the pitch thisafter, instead of the current squad, most of whom aren't fit to clean the boots of that memorable winning team (remember winning? Remember scoring goals? Seems so long ago......)

We need hero's out there today, wimping out just won't wash any longer..................

[swampysaddler]

For those that like the women of Sky Sports it is Michelle Owen there today :D :D :D

[Ancient Moaner]

Roberts in defence (big mistake for a BIG game) 'the wind' on the bench. But worst of all Bakayokonoshow back in up front! Won't be a popular choice with the fans methinks! We need goalscorers and Ngoy is on the bench.
Just hoping Keatesy knows what he's doing, thankfully Ozzy is in, lets hope he remembers what he is there for, cus it's no good relying on Baka for goals!

[hullsaddler]

Roberts in defence (big mistake for a BIG game) 'the wind' on the bench. But worst of all Bakayokonoshow back in up front! Won't be a popular choice with the fans methinks! We need goalscorers and Ngoy is on the bench.
Just hoping Keatesy knows what he's doing, thankfully Ozzy is in, lets hope he remembers what he is there for, cus it's no good relying on Baka for goals!

My feelings too. Just hoping my current pessimism proves unfounded!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Northampton Town:

Roberts

Fitzwater
Roberts
Guthrie
Devlin

Dobson
Chambers
Morris
Leahy

Oztumer

Bakayoko

Substitutes: Gillespie, Cuvelier, Kinsella, Flanagan, Ngoy, Kouhyar, Candlin

[Welsh_Saddler]

Northampton hit the post, 2nd minute ....... :? :?

[SaigonSaddler]

Northampton hit the post, 2nd minute ....... :? :?

:| That bodes well ...

[chunkster]

You can tell it's a nervey start there are no goals anywhere yet :|