tape66 wrote:"Jesus is a Saddler, Jesus is a Saddler" :lol:
Yes, with God's number two on our side, how could we possibly fail? "Jesus, Jesus, give us a wave!" - and Cheesebag duly did. :D . All in all, a very pleasant afternoon out. Lovely weather, a superb stadium, with easily the best seats outside of the Emirates, 3 points for the Saddlers, a clean sheet - and we denied MK Franchise automatic promotion (pity the Posh went up, as a result :( ). Willy-Nilly went as a pirate, Kiansmom as a 1960's slapper, cto as Jimmy Clitheroe, OldPenkSaddler as a Mexican - and that's just from the Willy wagon! Big Baz and I felt under-dressed. Mickey and Minnie Mouse were there, as well as Superman, Superwoman and some very scantily-clad young ladies (you can guess what was chanted at them :mrgreen: ). The fancy dress, coupled with the conga, lent a carnival atmosphere to the proceedings. Asps managed to keep most of his clothes on, this time.
Oh yes - the match. We just about deserved the win. The only time that Franchise were on top was in the last 10 minutes (+loads of stoppage time). If that is typical of their current form (which I doubt) then they will be slaughtered in the play-offs. No, Mark Wright did not cause us too many problems. It would be harsh to say that he played badly but he didn't do a lot. Ricketts missing because of an Achilles tendon problem, apparently - oh, and Tor Andre Flo is a donkey!
Ince - a comfortable return to the side. He did not have a save to make until the 77th minute and then Franchise piled on the pressure but he was equal to all of it.
Weston - positioning and tackling generally good but his passing is poor.
Gerrard - very sound throughout and just did what he had to do without fuss.
Smith - see Gerrard
Palmer - I refuse to jump on the "slag off Palmer" bandwagon because he is being played way out of position. Yes, he is weak at left-back but what do you expect from a right-winger? Rarely troubled by Wright.
Bradley - again, he was not involved enough, apart from a couple of goal attempts, early in the second half (replaced by
Nicholls)
Mattis - steady without being outstanding
Hughes - as Mattis. His lack of pace is exposed by quick-footed opponents and his yellow card could easily have become a red, as the game wore on (replaced by
Davies).
Zaaboub - Franchise had clearly done their homework on Sofie and he always had two markers on him. Put in some good crosses.
Deeney - grafted hard as usual but with never really looking like scoring.
Ibehre - I think that he definitely wants a new contract. Like Deeney, he works his socks off. Took his goal superbly, out-muscling Stirling who was fouling him (again!). Replaced by
Taundry when he suffered a hamstring injury.
The substitutes all did their bit (a very small bit in the case of Davies, who came on in stoppage time).
Unused subs:- Gilmartin, Boertien.