The Fat Controller is reporting in from the ground.

After all the discussion on the board about whether he should play or not, Ian Roper was not fit enough even to make the bench this afernoon.

The Saddlers lined up, as predicted by Stonnall Saddler yesterday, Oakes, Pead, Westwood, Gerrard, Fox, Wright, Leary, Smith, McDermott, Timm, James.

Subs: Gilmartin, Bradley, Osborn, Standing, Nicholls.

Walsall matched the team from the higher division well in the first half, apart from one important consideration - up front.

Stoke were playing like a team short of confidence, hardly surprisingly, in view of their terrible recent home record. The Saddlers, accordingly, coped well with the fairly punchless attacks of the home side, although Sidibe had one golden chance. However, Walsall, despite plenty of possession, were themselves looking unlikely to create anything, with young McDermott looking out of his depth.

The last twenty minutes of the half saw the home side getting more of a grip on the game and keeping the majority of possession. The defence was, however, still coping well.

As the half passed into injury time, Oakes came for a cross and failed to clear the ball properly. A shot came in from distance, Gerrard blocked it on the line and Sidibe knocked in the rebound.

This is one of those games where we desperately need a “plan B”. McDermott is looking out of his depth, Demontagnac is missing from the 16 completely and our only options for change are more of the same sort of thing.