Blackpool (H) League One 23rd Jan, 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

The improving Tangerines come to Walsall on Saturday, no doubt looking to reverse the 0-4 drubbing they received at our hands way back in August. That game put us on top of the League One table while casting Blackpool adrift at the bottom, and the degree of their improvement is seen not only in their League One position (currently 2 points above the relegation zone) but also in some of their recent results........

12 Dec Wigan Athletic (A) League One, Won 0-1
19 Dec Peterborough Utd (H) League One, Won 2-0
28 Dec Barnsley (A) League One, Lost 4-2
2 Jan Burton Albion (A) League One, Lost 1-0
9 Jan Port Vale (H) League One, Lost 0-1
16 Jan Scunthorpe Utd (H) League One, Won 5-0

Mark Cullen is Blackpool's leading scorer to date with 7 League One goals, followed by Brad Potts with 5. Scoring would seem to be Blackpool's achilles heel - in their 26 games they average exactly a goal a game (the worst ratio in league One) and then they go and put 5 past Scunthorpe last weekend!! Far more worrying than that is their ability to come away with 3 points at Wigan, and get the better of Peterborough (and prevent them from scoring, quite an achievement against the Posh).

So, although the relative League One positions would suggest a nailed-on home win, I don't share that viewpoint. Hopefully if lessons have been learned from the home game against Rochdale then we should be able to add 3 points to our tally come 5pm on Saturday, but I think a nervy 2-1 is more likely than a repeat of the Bloomfield Road scoreline.

Walsall team selection? Well, we know we haven't got George Evans (unless he's cheering us on from the stands), but Sam Mantom appears back to full fitness now, as does Andy Taylor, so the defence and midfield virtually picks itself. Forde's goal at Gigg Lane is a powerful hint for him to start in a 2-upfront arrangement with Tom, but we will have to wait and see what Sean decides. I'll stick with a 2-1 forecast, goals from Bradshaw and Sawyers.

[Magic Man Fan]

Andy Taylor is never fully fit.

[otiswfc]

5-0 Walsall because Cesspool will actually think they are decent now after their last result but they are not they are rubbish.
Bradshaw * 3
Forde
Lalkovic
Att:5250 / 500 Tangerines.

[coop63]

A wee bit nervous about this one...

If Romaine turns up and he should do after a couple of dodgy halfs v Cov & Bury then we should do them 3-1

Tom with 2 and Milan with one

5866 with 660 Dutch shirts...

UTS

[scott_powell]

6-1 Walsall

Bradshaw 3
Forde 1
Sawyers 1
Mantom 1

[deldras]

1-0 - Chambers

[Fish]

6-1 Walsall

Bradshaw 3
Forde 1
Sawyers 1
Mantom 1

I doubt it.

A tricky one this. Of their last 7 they have lost three and won 4 including Posh at home and Wigan away (1-0) a few weeks back. According to the press their midfield was outstanding last week when they put 5 past Scunthorpe and they had a fair bit of Bradshaw-like mobility up front.

6-1 might have been right early in the season but they are at long last on the mend. A midfield battle - 2-1? but we might just scrape 1-0

[scott_powell]

6-1 Walsall

Bradshaw 3
Forde 1
Sawyers 1
Mantom 1

I doubt it.

A tricky one this. Of their last 7 they have lost three and won 4 including Posh at home and Wigan away (1-0) a few weeks back. According to the press their midfield was outstanding last week when they put 5 past Scunthorpe and they had a fair bit of Bradshaw-like mobility up front.

6-1 might have been right early in the season but they are at long last on the mend. A midfield battle - 2-1? but we might just scrape 1-0

It wasn't a serious suggestion

[chunkster]

tricky one after their form upturn. it all depends on how they approach the game. to many teams come to the bezla. not to play football. but to stop us playing it. because half the time they can't handle us. if they come to play footy then we will beat them 3-1. if they come to park the bus then 0-0 :( unless s o d can do what deano couldn't. and find a plan b :wink:

[Darth Vader]

4-0 Walsall !

Just over 5,000 with about 300 at best from Blackpool

[BathSaddler]

Any team that wins at Wigan deserves respect, and this will not be another 4-0 like it was in August. That said, if we play to our abilities we should have enough but the fact we have a mixed record against the so called strugglers is reason enough to be cautious.

So, a narrow 2-1 win, with Sawyers and Lalkovic for us, in front of 4,916, including 507 Seasiders.

[Andy W Taylor]

Any team that wins at Wigan deserves respect, and this will not be another 4-0 like it was in August. That said, if we play to our abilities we should have enough but the fact we have a mixed record against the so called strugglers is reason enough to be cautious.

So, a narrow 2-1 win, with Sawyers and Lalkovic for us, in front of 4,916, including 507 Seasiders.

But their recent form should mean they are no longer one of the so called strugglers and so we ought to do well! :D

As has been said by others, if they try and play football against us then that will allow us to as well - and there's no one better at it in this division than us (remember that it was only on the slide Scunthorpe they knocked 5 past last week, not Barcelona!) However, if they've done their homework and seen how other teams have managed to frustrate us by not playing themselves but concentrated on stopping us getting into our stride, then it will come down to how up for it our players are on the day and SOD's tactical nous to implement a Plan B if things aren't going our way. This is the stage of the season where the fitness training, mental strength, and quality of the bench, become more important - especially for those of us with smaller squads and less money to bring in fresh players.

Think 2-0 (don't care who) to us but might have to wait until late in the game for them like against Doncaster and Peterborough.

[funk_hits_the_fan]

3-1 victory

5568 / 458

Super Tom 2, Sawyers

[reedswood sadler]

Could go either way depending on which teams turn up on day,the blackpool team who beat wigan and peterborough or the one that lost to port vale and many others so far.The same applies to us is it going to be team who lost to rochdale and terrible second half bury or team we have seen in most games including first half at bury.

We have to realise if we want to continue our push for promotion there are no easy games.the top teams want to take points of us to reel us in, the lower teams want to beat us to bring us down a peg same as we have always wanted to do in our seasons of strugglee.

[SoccerHQ]

They've still lost 10 of their last 14 games....conceded 5 at Barnsley recently...imagine the meltdown on here if that was Walsall's form.

To me this is the easiest game of the run in...3-0 win.

[Ancient Moaner]

Don't usually bet on Walsall, they always let ya down, however, I've placed a wedge on 0-0 half time, 2-0 to us full time. Would pay for our Greece holiday in May! However this IS Walsall, so 2-1 to Blackpool it is then. :?

[chestersaddler]

They've still lost 10 of their last 14 games....conceded 5 at Barnsley recently...imagine the meltdown on here if that was Walsall's form.

To me this is the easiest game of the run in...3-0 win.

Indeed. Lost 3 out of the last 4. However, as I'm gooin tomorrow well probably lose (fudge, I'm turning into AM)

2-0 to we. Bradshaw and Cooook

[Ancient Moaner]

They've still lost 10 of their last 14 games....conceded 5 at Barnsley recently...imagine the meltdown on here if that was Walsall's form.

To me this is the easiest game of the run in...3-0 win.

Indeed. Lost 3 out of the last 4. However, as I'm gooin tomorrow well probably lose (fudge, I'm turning into AM)

2-0 to we. Bradshaw and Cooook

You haven't got the bus fare mate! :lol: :lol:

[Welsh_Saddler]

They've still lost 10 of their last 14 games....conceded 5 at Barnsley recently...imagine the meltdown on here if that was Walsall's form.

To me this is the easiest game of the run in...3-0 win.

Indeed. Lost 3 out of the last 4. However, as I'm gooin tomorrow well probably lose (fudge, I'm turning into AM)

2-0 to we. Bradshaw and Cooook

You haven't got the bus fare mate! :lol: :lol:

He hasn't got the bus pass (yet) either....... :mrgreen:

[Barren Flak]

There's definitely been some improvement by the Seasiders, and their side will be much changed from August (whereas only Flannigan is the biggest changed from our first XI), but if you watch the goals from their mauling of Scunthorpe it says much more about why Robins and Kelly were sacked rather than a Blackpool revival.

Surface will play a part today. Remain strong in the air, and Etheridge continues his good form, we should sneak this one in off Bradshaw's behind.

O'Driscoll to suggest that their are lots of tangibles to consider in ethics of donkey rides and make tactical changes that Garry Kasparov will stand and applaud from the OAP stand.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Blackpool:

Etheridge

Demetriou
Downing
O'Connor
Taylor

Mantom
Chambers
Forde
Henry

Sawyers

Bradshaw

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Lalkovic, Preston, Flanagan, Morris, Cook, Kinsella

Blackpool's leading goalscorer (Cullen) starts on the bench.

[Super Gabor]

Lowest Blackpool following I've ever seen at Bescot. 250 or so by look of it.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Very early goal in Clayhead country..... Port Vale 1 Bradford City

Also...... Sheffield Utd 1 Swindon Town 0

and Barnsley 1 Rochdale 0

Oldham 0 Bury 1

Crewe Alex 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Burton Albion 1 Sloppies 0


Yellow card for Norris (Blackpool), 20 min

[Welsh_Saddler]

Southend Utd 1 Coventry City 0 :D

Chesterfield 1 Millwall 1 (edit)

[Darth Vader]

Lowest Blackpool following I've ever seen at Bescot. 250 or so by look of it.

I was baffled people predicted much more. Thousands aren't bothering until things change.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Gillingham 0 Peterborough Utd 1 (30 min) :D

Southend Utd 2 Coventry City 0 now :D :D

[SWS1]

Dominating possession but Blackpool more shots :shock:
Is Smithout in? :shock:

[Super Gabor]

Chambers booked for handling ball after being tackled

[Welsh_Saddler]

Adam Chambers booked for handball, 33 min

Andy Taylor booked, 45 min

Half-time and it's 0-0. Perhaps 2 up front for the second half?

Rivals doing their best for us.... Gillingham and Coventry both losing, Wigan being held at Crwho 1-1.

[SuperDon]

With results going as they are, this really is a must win.