Can the Saddlers banish their away day blues in the League? Let’s home so, as it’s a trip to play-off chasing Chesterfield tomorrow and an afternoon at one of the last of the old fashioned scrap heap grounds!

The Walsall line up seems to be problematical for the game. Murphy should play what is due, at the moment, to be his last game for the club, unless Sunderland find a replacement for him. Ian Roper is missing for around another week or two, following his hamstring strain picked up on Tuesday, and should be replaced by Westwood, so impressive when he came on against Barnsley. Fox is suspended, however, so the club has recalled Scott Dann from his loan as cover in the middle and are trying to loan in a full back from Everton (probably young Matthew Holt). If we do, one of the other loanees (probably Murphy) will have to step down, as we are only allowed 5 in the 16.

In midfield, Osborn also has a hamstring strain and will be replaced by either Smith or Standing and Merson also has to try and fit in Devlin, who said yesterday that he’s come for first team football. Demontagnac or Wright seem to be the most likely to suffer there.

Up front, Merson has Constable available again, but the James and Timm option would seem more likely away from home, but you never know! There is still no sign of a striker being signed, so that shouldn’t complicate matters.

As for Chesterfield, Roy MacFarland is hoping to resign loanee Kevan Hurst from Sheffield United in time for the game and they have also recently bought in Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara on loan. Both were needed as they lost out on the possible services of former Wolves loanee Sammy Clingan, who is being chased by Forest.

Their major injury problems will be the absence of two experienced defenders in Reuben Hazell (so keen to join the Saddlers in the summer that he issued a “come and get me” plea in the press) and Steve Blatherwick.

Their dangerman is, without a doubt, former Saddler Paul Hall. The winger/striker is their top scorer since his summer move from Tranmere and is likely to give whoever plays at left back for us a difficult time, especially considering that the player concerned will not have played there before for us!

The other man to watch has to be Wayne Allison. In the home game, his introduction to the game when the Spirites were 2 – 0 down, completely changed the match. He held the ball up well and gave the centre backs a torrid time, culminating in him easily outjumping Gerrard to get the winner.

Predictions? Roy MacFarland’s team, by his own admission, are punching above their weight this season, following their struggles in the previous two. They are currently 6th, with 43 points, but that is courtesy of having the fourth best away record in the league. At home, they are only 13th, with 4 draws and 3 defeats. The most amazing thing about their record, however, is that they have drawn 9 of the last 10 games!

There ought to be grounds for optimism with Chesterfield’s average home record, but, despite the improvement on Tuesday, I have to look at our appalling away record and the current form table of 4 points out of the last fifteen available and say a home win. If the improvement continues, however, we might just see the Spirites 10th draw in 11 games.