Tuesday night’s home debacle against Yeovil has put the spotlight (and the pressure) back on Walsall’s home form and the lack of a goal threat. Kevan Broadhurst has brought in Steve Claridge on loan to try and give us some “stickability” up front, but the much travelled veteran striker will not be able to play tomorrow as Bradford still hold his registration. Problems, problems.

Oakes is the only real choice in goal, despite his unconvincing performance the other night. Pead may return, as Wright picked up an injury, which is why he went off, although he could play on the wing as well, if fit. The rest of the defence is available, other than the suspended Mills.

In midfield, it’s bare bones time. Wright will have a fitness test, as will Smith, following his substitution with a groin problem on Tuesday, and Keates, who may be fit again. Osborn will be sitting out the second (and last) game of his ban and Demontagnac the first of his, as the “7 day rule” on suspensions starting does not apply to red cards, only to the totting up of yellows. I suspect the choice will, therefore, come from Wright, James, Devlin, Timm, Leary, Keates and Smith, with Standing as back up if any of the injured players don’t make it.

The fact that Devlin and James may be needed in the middle of the park does restrict choices up front, where Barrowman, Constable and Fitzgerald will compete for the spots, as Atieno has gone out on loan.

As for Bradford, the fans are starting to put pressure on manager Colin Todd. There have been rumblings of discontent on the message boards, some of which revolve around our latest loan signing and rumours of rifts with the manager and Claridge not being given a proper chance. Let’s hope that team spirit isn’t very good!

They will be missing dangerman and leading scorer Dean Windass, currently serving a five game ban for abusing a match official in the car park after a game, so he is likely to be replaced by Saddlers loan target Aaron Wilbraham, who MK Dons refused to loan to us, as we are rivals at the bottom of the table. Former Manchester City star Richard Edgehill will be missing from midfield with a broken ankle.

Predictions? A funny side, Bradford. They are sitting in 13th place, just six points ahead of us. They do have, however, a better away record (5th in the table, won 6 drawn 5) than home record (22nd in the table, won 5, drawn eight), so are dangerous on opposition teritory. Their main goal threat, Dean Windass, is missing, however, and they will even miss Claridge, as all five of his goals this season have come away from home!

The Saddlers’ problem, however, does lie in that midfield. No left winger, as Merson left us with only one anyway, and two first choice midfielders suspended (Osborn and Mills) and two others doubtful (Keates and Smith). If the latter two are fit, then I’d expect a starting eleven of:

Oakes, Wright or Pead or Westwood, Gerrard, Roper, Fox, James, Smith, Keates, Devlin, Barrowman or Constable, Fitzgerald or Timm.

If that’s the case, I’d go for a narrow home win as that team just might have some goals in it.