Despite fielding a team containing two men with 69 International Caps between them (Merson and Kinsella), Walsall went down 4 - 0 to Chasetown last night.

Granted this was mainly a team of youngsters, but the report from LeamoreSaddler suggests that this was a terrible performance, with several players (Harkness, Constable, Larossa, Kris Taylor, Bradley) who are in the first team squad, looking either completely disinterested or out of sorts. Leamore’s report is on the message board.

It’s a bit long this week, and I, for one, am not surprised, as it’s a city I’m very fond of (although I can take or leave the football supporters!). The only thing I’d add is that, if you are a real ale fan, take in the Victoria in Beeston (next to the railway station) on the way there or back, as it’s one of the country’s finest real ale and real food pubs, owned by CAMRA Investments.

I have to confess one thing as the opening line to this guide, I dislike the East-Midlands, basically because as a West Midlander I’m just hopelessly prejudiced, and secondly because I’ve been to Leicester, twice.

That said, you really can’t fault Nottingham for a drink, apart from when Forest are at home that is, when for some bizarre reason many pubs become out of bounds to out of towns, like us.

However, an honourable mention must go to one of the greatest pub names ever, especially at this time of year the one and only “Bar Humbug” on Friar Lane just off Maid Marian Way heading into the town from the station – where Nottingham middle managers go to have affairs with their secretaries, a lovely secluded modern little watering hole, despite its pretentious overtones, I quite like it.

Certainly Nottingham boasts contrasting establishments, and when the Walsall boys play away some of them demand scantily clad women to serve pre-match ale. So Hooters Bar was raised.

Notts County versus Walsall was undoubtedly in the original business plan, but ho hum we went up and then Forest came down so on it thrives. Lots of dangerous looking glass, weak lager and tasteless food, but as much twenty-something pierced belly-button you can shake a fluorescent spare rib at, assuming you can tear yourself away from Sky Sports.

Conveniently situated for the station as well, just right and right again, straight down and over the main road, sort of on the way to the ground, but who cares?

There is however a sobering experience at the City Ground, that being the painful wait in the ticket queue that can take anything up to 30 minutes, so if you are ticket-less go there first on your way to “The Larwood and Voce”, (right next to the cricket ground in Fox Road off Radcliffe Rd.). This will give you a realistic idea of available drinking time in what is really the best choice for away fans, at a mere six minutes walk.

Unlike most of the other pubs around the ground the bouncers at The Larwood positively welcome well behaved visiting fans, and more or less give us our own bar, to the right as you walk in. The atmosphere generated in there as we watched Wolves blow promotion against Man City one Easter Monday set the tone for later in the day when we undertook the essential “do or die” element of the great escape.

One of my favourite beer facts about Forest though is the way they serve the lager in the ground (Fosters). Several pints at a time from machine looks like it’s been lifted from a dairy farm. I long for the time when I can go and order 8 pints and get served in seconds; sadly I haven’t got that many mates.

Two words of caution, the stewards; already mentioned on the message board, standing up will not be tolerated to Monty-Pythonesque extremes, so no funny walks either.

Secondly the Bentinck Hotel (immediate right turn out of the station, on the road you walk down for Hooters). It’s Pink, but not “pink”, but “eh-up duck” it’s strange. If you like eccentricity with your beer, go in here for one, and I mean one, although I wouldn’t recommend drinking the draught unless you want to spend entire afternoon rubbing cold meat pie into your gums to mask the taste.

This pub should be in Royston Veysey, or vice versa looking at the regulars. But at least you can get served as I don’t think anyone in there has heard of Nottingham Forest, and even if they had it would be quicker to evolve another life-form than to make the connection between the Railway station over the road and the fact that it’s Saturday afternoon. Quite touching, and worth patronage for that reason alone.

Forest Fan Lee Walker emails UptheSaddlers to add: I’m a forest fan and read your report on beer drinking with interest! Just to let you know, Bar Humbug is now a lapdancing club due to a giant error by the city’s licensing team - apparently they submitted the application as part of their licence renewal, and some clerk missed it. Anyway, it probably won’t be open…

Quite a few supporters have been asking for detail on tonight’s game, as Walsall take on Chasetown in the Staffordshire Senior Cup.

The game is away at the Scholars Ground at 7.45 and there have been no problems reported with the pitch, so it should go ahead.

Admission is £4.00 (adults) and £2.00 (concessions).

The team will probably be the usual mixture of fringe players, reserves and youth teamers, although Paul Merson himself may well be playing, as he wants to use the game to get himself match fit for the Christmas period.

It’s back to League action for Walsall tonight, as they desperately try to improve their away form with a trip to Oldham Athletic. The Saddlers are 18th in the Division’s away form table, with 5 defeats from 9 games and that is not the kind of form that is likely to lead to a play off push.

Paul Merson has goalkeeper Joe Murphy (who, of course, failed to get a contract at Boundary Park after a trial in the Summer), Eric Skora and James Constable all available again after they were Cup Tied at the weekend, so his options will be increased, especially in the crucial midfield area. However, Mark Kinsella (calf) and Michael Standing (hamstring) are still not available following yet more injury problems and Merson himself is unlikely to be ready yet, so, with the continuing absence of Wrack (out for another few months) and Wright that means that experience there is limited.

Steve Staunton went off on Saturday another injury (calf and hamstring problems seem to be following him this season also) and is very doubtful, so Gerrard will get a call up to replace him, as Chris Westwood (hamstring) will be out for another couple of weeks.

Up front, there are fewer problems. It turns out that Larrosa picked up a knock towards the end of last week that kept him off the substitute’s bench for the last game, but is likely to be fit again, so all four strikers should be available.

As for Oldham, defender, Will Haining will be out for up to six weeks after injuring his hamstring at the weekend in the 1-1 FA Cup second round draw with Brentford and defender Chris Swailes will miss this game also.

Manager Ronnie Moore seems to be under some pressure from the Oldham fans, hardly surprisingly in view of the money he spent in the close season and the heightened expectations of the fans. He’s been quoted on their official site as saying:

“It will be a difficult game there is no doubt about that! This game is so important; and the start of what could be a massive week. If we can win these two games at home it will put us in the ideal position of where we want to be going into the Christmas period. It’s all about us, we know what we have to do and I would like to think that our front three can get out there and cause Walsall some problems.
We have to take the game straight to Walsall, our home form is not brilliant and we have to start winning games here, there is a certain fear factor amongst the players, they seem to feel more comfortable when playing in away games.
On Tuesday we have to go out there and just get on with it. We have to win the crowd over and get them on our side, the only way we can do that is by showing some effort passing, crossing and getting our shots in.”

Predictions? Oldham are in 16th place in the table and have won only four of their eight games at home in the League, losing the others. Their away record, however, means they are only one point behind Walsall, so this could be considered a key fixture for both teams. Like us, they score plenty of goals, but, like us, also leak them for fun. Despite our current decent run of clean sheets lately, we have conceded only two less than them (29 to 31). All in all, if Merson is serious about making a concerted push for the play-offs, then this is exactly the kind of game we need to take something from. Even a point would be welcome, considering the fact a then struggling Oldham side did the double over us last season. A 2 – 2 draw looks likely to me.

A visit to one of the country’s most improbable ex-premiership grounds usually affords the opportunity to contrast the warmth of the welcome with the chill of the weather that rolls in off Oldham Edge.

I will therefore just mention the pubs that are in close proximity to the ground as I doubt many will attempt the complexities of the “Oldham loop” train conundrum on a freezing December evening, nor the pleasures of the town centre.

The Clayton Arms is right next to the ground and is a very compact effort, mainly for home fans. There used to be some excellent pictures of Neil Pointon in action at Wembley in here, but it’s nowt special to be honest.

A better bet is from the main entrance (main stand) head up the hill (Sheepfoot Lane) to the top. There used to be a splendidly named club shop “The Latique” on the way (sadly shut last year).

Upon reaching the main Road you have a choice of turning right for The Queens, or left for the Old Grey Mare. I recommend the latter, especially if you require food.

The Beer is a bit more pricey, especially the strong lager (Kronenberg if memory serves), but it tends to be easier to manoeuvre and get served than the other two pubs. No good having cheap beer if you can’t get served.

A quick word about the stewards at BP as well. Friendly and helpful to a fault in my experience, a good example to others that we encounter.

Paul Merson seems to have confirmed the rumours that one of the main suitors for the hand of star striker Matty Fryatt is Preston North End.

It came after he had revealed his asking price for the home grown England under 19 International: “I would say that £250,000-£300,000 would be about right, but there would have to be quite a few add-ons to take the price up if he did well and scored goals.”

Fryatt has been linked with a number of Premiership and Championship clubs, including the likes of West Ham and Birmingham, and Merson confirmed that Preston were one of those teams interested in the teenager.

If Fryatt were to move to Deepdale, Merson would be keen to take Skora as a makeweight in any deal. Certainly, the boss has been delighted with the on-loan midfielder, saying:

“I’d love to keep him. He’s one of those people who make things happen.”

As for a permanent deal for the 24-year-old, Merson confirmed, “That all depends on the Fryatt situation.

“They’re interested in Matty and I’m interested in Skora.”

The Frenchman himself appears interested in remaining at the Bescot too, saying, “There is a strong possibility my future could be at Walsall. Everything has gone very well for me here.”

In some ways, tomorrow will see one of the most important games of the season for the Saddlers, as they take on Yeovil Town in the second round proper of the FA Cup. The prospect of a possible money spinning tie in the third round is there, as long as Walsall manage to keep some consistency going at home. A big fund raising draw would surely give the opportunity for the team to push on in the league from the current unsatisfactory mid table position.

Walsall have received a couple of blows ahead of the game, with Preston and Sunderland respectively refusing permission for loanees Eric Skora and Joe Murphy to play. Murphy will be replaced by Gilmartin, of course, but Skora’s natural replacement, Michael Standing, is injured again. With Osborn, D Taylor and Demontagnac presumably making up three of the midfield, the temptation for Merson will be to go 3 5 2, with Pead and Fox supporting from wing back and Roper, Bennett and Gerrard or Staunton at the back, Westwood also being out with hamstring problems. If a 4 4 2 is preferred, Kris Taylor is likely to step in.

Up front, it’s difficult to see any change in the Fryatt/Leitao partnership.

As for Yeovil, they have injuries to midfielder Daren May and Fulham’s on loan midfielder Liam Fontaine, who will both be missing, although defender Miles, who has also had problems, should be fit. They have, however, had a boost in that West Ham have given permission for loanee Chris Cohen to play and will also have midfielder (and son of the previous manager) Lee Johnson back following a one match ban.

Predictions? Cup games are notoriously difficult to predict, but here we have a team below us in the table, who struggled to get past Macclesfield in the previous round. In our previous Cup meetings, we lost to the then non League team on both occasions, the last being on a bitterly cold night at Bescot when neither side really deserved anything, but we deserved it the least. Perhaps the away game in the league is the best measure, in that, if the Walsall team from the first half turns up, we’ll be comfortable winners. If the team from the second half turns up . . . . . . . . . . .