“I went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
I went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
Asked the Lord above, have mercy now,
Save me, if you please”.

I said before the last home game versus the Franchise that Paul Merson’s Walsall had reached a crossroads in the season. After scraping a point, with an injury time equaliser in that game and then losing the next away at high flying Huddersfield, this Saturday sees what may well turn out to be the crossroads for Merson, as he reaches a defining moment in his managerial career. There is unrest on the terraces and wins and performances are vital.

“You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown
That I got the crossroad blues this mornin’”.

So, what shape are the Saddlers in? It’s difficult to say. Goalkeeper John Ruddy has been despatched back to Everton, seemingly for his part in last week’s defeat, and back comes loanee Joe Murphy. Westwood is out with injury, so Roper will start, according to Merson, and Gerrard will most likely be fit, so we have the option of dropping Bennett, at fault in all three goals last week, and using the partnership that was so successful at the end of last season.

In midfield, of last week’s starters, Broad and Kinsella have picked up injuries, but the return of player of the season so far Simon Osborn will balance that out, Standing and Wright are fit and there is at least a possibility that Larossa will get his chance up front, at last.

“Standin’ at the crossroads, tried to hitch a ride
Standin’ at the crossroads, tried to hitch a ride
Didn’t nobody seem to know me, everybody pass me by”.

So what of Donny? Ay first glance, this is a very winnable game. A team at home, just three places and one point ahead of us? Surely a chance to make up ground? Uinfortunately, of course, appearances can be deceptive. Rovers are on a run of three straight league wins, having recovered from a poor start, beat high flyers Southend 2 – 0 last week and, on Tuesday, made 11 changes, went to Barnsley (who had only made four) in the LDV and won 5 – 2. They have also dispensed with Manchester City in the League Cup. No mugs, it would appear, although their away record isn’t all it should be.

Old friends and acquaintances at Belle Vue include the always awkward Leo Fortune West, but he’s unlikely to start, and, of course, Jermaine McSporran, but he’s usually injured, having played only 15 League games in total for them. The main danger man is probably Jonathan Forte, on loan from Sheffield United (just how many strikers has Warnock got?), who has scored 4 in 5 games.

They do not seem to have any major injury worries, according to their official site.

“Standin’ at the crossroads, watch the sun go down
Standin’ at the crossroads, watch the sun go down
I believe to my soul now, po’ Bob is sinkin’ down”.

Predictions? Walsall’s alarming slide just has to be halted, before they are dragged, like it or not, into yet another relegation scrap. The Division is still tight enough that a decent run will keep the team in touch with the leaders, but there has been little sign of it of late. Who knows, though, the letters in the press, the phone calls to the radio stations and the unrest on the terraces might just engender the “siege mentality” that could help them along. Certainly, circumstances have forced Merson into most likely playing what many would see as his best partnership in the centre of defence tomorrow and the last time he was forced into a corner by injuries was when we went on the run at the end of last season. I don’t think Rovers can be as good as their current record and fancy a 2 – 1 home win tomorrow.

Lyrics: From “Crossroads” by Bob Johnson, courtesy of Cream.