There was a surprise in the Walsall line up at Bescot this afternoon with Ian Roper passed fit to play. Saddlers also included Julian Bennett and Steve Staunton in the starting 11 and lined up in an apparent “4-4-2ish” formation with Fox in midfield and James Constable on the bench. Larossa was absent from the 16 with Leitao up-front and Demontagnac on the right.

Team:

Murphy, Pead, Fox, Roper, Bennett, Staunton, Demontagnac, Leitao, Osborn, Skora, Fryatt.

Bench: Constable, both Taylors, Gerrard, Gilmartin.

Match details courtesy of Martin at Bescot.

Yeovil will be quaking in their gloves after The Saddlers notched an impressive fourth straight home win against haplass Rotherham at Bescot. Walsall’s first double of the season duly arrived courtesy of a Matty Fryatt brace in the three minutes before half-time, although up until then the game had been a fairly subdued affair.

Once in-front the Saddlers controlled large parts of the game with Roper effective against the threat of Burton and Jorge Leitao added a third with a neat header mid-way through the second half.

Skora was once again influential in the middle and he along with fit-again Osborn contributed assists although Jorge took the sponsor’s man of the match for another industrious performance.

Bennett looked a little ill at ease at left-back and it was disappointing to concede a sloppy goal to Rotherham substitute Hoskins 12 minutes from time.

But this has been a good week to be a Saddler, and we look forward to next week’s cup encounter with renewed optimism and the hope that this season is finally about to come to life.

Saddlers are at home again following this morning’s draw for the area 1/4 finals. Wycombe, managed by John Gorman will be at Bescot in the week commencing 19th December. The Chairboys have had a record breaking unbeaten start to their League Two campaign, although they were soundly beaten by Northampton in the FA cup, and trounced by Villa in the League cup.

Wycombe edged passed Gillingham courtesy of a penalty shoot-out in the last round, and have some familiar names in their line-up with Tommy Mooney, Rob Lee, and ex-Saddler Stefan Oakes all currently plying their trade at Adams Park.

Despite Wycombe’s formidable league form, a home tie against League Two opposition represents a great opportunity for the Saddlers to get within two rounds of the final.

Elswhere in the Southern section favourites Swansea host Peterborough, and Franchise are at home to Colchester.

On a more sombre note it has been announced that a one minute silence will be observed this afternoon before all games to mark the passing of the one and only George Best.