Walsall will be desperately trying to get their season onto some kind of proper track tomorrow, but many football fans will be hoping for a spanking of the opposition because of who they are as well!

It’s been yet another up and down fortnight in the history of Walsall football club, as the green shoots of recovery witnessed at Scunthorpe felt the autumnal chill against Brentford, then the first winter gale at Port Vale. Almost poetic that! Paul Merson, however, will be facing some severe selection dilemmas.

Oakes is still out and awaiting a prognosis on his wrist, so, presumably, Ruddy will continue in goal, despite his almost un-noticed second half rick last week. Pead will return from suspension and Fox will be at left back, but central defence is a problem, with Saunton and Roper not match fit and Gerrard carrying a knock. Clive Platt may have a field day.

In midfield, we will be without Daryl Taylor, Wrack and Merson. The player-manager has, however, recalled Joe Broad from loan, as he has intimated (in the Express and Star earlier this week) that he’s unhappy with Standing’s form and Kris Taylor seems out of favour, so the line up there is very problematical.

Up front, at least, he can choose from Fryatt (if fit again, as he is to have a fitness test), Leitao, Larossa (pushing for a place after his brace for the reserves), Husbands and Demontagnac, who Merson said would start in the Express and Star earlier this week.

Manager Danny Wilson will be without midfielder Wade Small, West Ham loanee defender McClenhanen and experienced defender Ben Chorley. Their danger men will undoubtably be former Saddler Clive Platt, who always seems to play well against us, and their whippet Izale McCleod, always known from his Derby days to Saddlers’ fans as “that diving barsteward”.

I’ve given up predicting, as our ever changing line up precludes any sensible assessment of our chances and Franchise have won their last two games, after a disastrous start to the season. I know what I’m hoping for, though. Double figures and one more nail in their coffin as they descend the leagues to meet AFC Wimbledon coming the other way. It couldn’t happen to a nicer “club”.