Following the sad occasion of the funeral of Oli Hewitt this morning, it’s time to get back to the more normal activities of the site. I’m sure, however, that everyone will spare Jolysaddler a thought at 3.00 pm tomorrow.

Do you remember the days when we went into April with nothing left to play for and, as the days grew warmer and the sunshine more common, games meandered along in a meaningless fashion while you dreamed of what would be likely to happen next season to make the team into promotion possibilities? You do? You must be a damn site older than you look, then! Nicholl’s last season in charge wasn’t it? Yes, folks, it’s another “must win” game tomorrow.

The problems for the Saddlers, as far as selection is concerned, revolve around the midfield and, of course, the strikers.

At the back, the defence will come from a choice between Westwood and Pead, Gerrard, Mills, Roper and Fox, with Oakes in goal.

The midfield will be without the long term absentee Wrack, plus hamstring victim James (although he may be fit for Tuesday) and Grant Smith, as Bristol have refused permission for him to play. With Wright having had yet another mare last week and the return of Demontagnac from suspension and Leary looking better for the reserves, Broadhurst has some conundrums to solve. If Osborn has recovered from his sore ribs (he will be having a fitness test), I’d expect Devlin, Osborn, Leary or Keates or Mills and Demontagnac or Keates to be the line up, but anything could happen, even the return of the long absent Michael Standing.

Up front, Broadhurst has shown signs of wanting to use the creativity of Timm in home games, but, with Constable having scored twice for the reserves in the week, the temptation must be to play him and Claridge in an attempt to find a winning partnership. Either way, Barrowman and Fitzgerald will only make the bench, I’d have thought.

Bristol City manager Gary Johnson also has selection problems up front, but of a different nature, as he is short of resources. Scott Murray, so often the scourge of the Saddlers, continues to suffer from the knee injury picked up at Millmoor a fortnight ago and it’s also unlikely that the club’s leading scorer Steve Brooker will have recovered from the knee injury picked up in their game against Yeovil. With Marcus Stewart having gone on loan to Preston, City have just three strikers with first team experience to choose from. Mark McCammon will probably, therefore, be up front, with Welsh International Dave Cotterill.

City have few injury worries in the rest of the side, with only long term absentee, former Swindon defender Matt Heywood unavailable. The back four pick themselves and have been ever presents for sometime.

Prediction time, then.

Bristol City are currently 11th in the table, a full nine points ahead of the Saddlers and there’s been a lot of gloom and doom around at the prospect of playing them. The stats, however, make interesting reading. Away from home, they have achieved precisely the same number of points that we have (admittedly from two games less), so they don’t seem to travel too well. Even a comparison of the current form seems to suggest that there isn’t much between the two sides.

City:- Played 6, Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 2, For 6 Against 7, Points 8.
Walsall:- P 6, Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2, For 3, Against 9, Points 6.

The real problem with the Saddlers has been that loss of home form, bought about by the lack of goals. That’s something which has been endemic all season, but we were being protected from the consequences by the prowess of Matt Fryatt. Find that goalscoring touch once more, no matter how it comes, and we will pull clear. Tomorrow is as good a time as any to start. Home win.