Well, perhaps not quite, but this game finished up with a scoreline that more than flattered the Premiership side, as Walsall gave as good as they got for most of the 90 minutes.

Dicky Dosh decided to line up with the 16 from Saturday, with the one change of Kinsella for Picken, who Money had said he wants to play in the reserves tonight to build up his fitness. That left:-

Ince, Pead, Westwood, Roper, Taylor, Wright, Dobson, Keates, Fox, Butler Sam. Subs: Gilmartin, Dann, Bedeau, Kinsella and Demontagnac.

Bolton were taking the game reasonably seriously, lining up:-

Walker, Hunt, Meite, Fojut, Ivan Campo, Teimourian, Giannakopoulos, Speed, Tal, Anelka, Vaz Te, with a strong bench of: Al-Habsi, Nolan, Diouf, Blazej, Jamieson.

As might be expected, Bolton had the better of the possession in the first half, but, mostly, to no avail. With the Saddlers maintaining an excellent shape, the Trotters just didn’t look like opening the home defence up on any regular basis. The shape was so good, I lost count of the number of time Bolton had a long spell of possession which just lead to a pass back to the ‘keeper. Anelka was dropping off deep, which gave the centre halves a little difficulty, but Keates changed his game slightly to drop back and help neutralise that particular threat.

Anelka broke clear once, to pull the ball back well, but was frustrated to see Stelios and Vaz Te both miskick completely, Vaz Te was left clear by Taylor once and Ince blocked his shot well, Speed arrived late at one set piece, but put his header over and he was also given far too much space to shoot on another occasion, but blazed over.

At the other hand, however, Butler hit a shot on the turn which Ian Walker did well to tip around the post, Sam went close with a header, Dobson hit a piledriver just over and Westwood crashed a superb header against the post with Walker static and well beaten.

Westwood was looking superb against the multi million pound threat from Bolton, Dobson (especially) and Keates were as good as they were bad on Saturday, against far better opponents, and the Fox, Sam, Butler and Wright creative partnership was giving Bolton real problems.

The second half saw a change in the pattern of the game, but not the one people were expecting, as the Saddlers took a grip on proceedings.

Bolton almost drew blood, when Meite’s header was tipped onto the bar by Ince and the rebound scrambled away, but Walsall then started to make the better chances. Wright produced one superb run and cross, which Butler should really have done better with, as he headed just wide, Keates had one shot saved by Walker, when he could have done better, Butler misheaded another superb cross from the left into Walker’s grateful hands, Butler flashed a ball across the face of the goal and Wright narrowly failed to connect on the far post (by millimetres), Sam went close with a curling shot, Pead shot wide from a good position and, after replacing Fox, Demontagnac skinned Hunt a couple of times to produce crosses which we should have done better with.

At the other end, Bolton were looking threatening from set pieces and Ince produced another superb tip over from a header, parried away an Anelka free kick and produced another good save low down, but Walsall were producing the better chances.

Allardyce was now starting to get concerned about other things than what was being said on Panorama and changed his formation, bringing on aspiring England International Nolan. It looked like panic stations.

Goals had to come, but it was a surprise that it came, in the end, in the home team net. Walker gave away an unnecessary corner, Keates’ kick was cleared, Bolton broke with the pace you would expect of a Premiership side, and, when Anelka crossed, Stelios and Vaz Te both mis kicked yet again, but this time Nolan was behind them to side foot home.

The crowd reaction was superb, as they tried to lift the lads. It worked. Five minutes later, Sam won a free kick on the edge of the box (which looked less of one than the one the bewildering Mr D’Urso didn’t give against Campo on Wright a minute earlier). Dobson hit a superb curling free kick against the inside of the far post and, when the ball rebounded across goal, Butler (who else), was on hand to head home.

Allardyce now panicked completely, bringing on twice African footballer of the Year Diouf and going 4 3 3.

In the end, however, superior strength and fitness told when Bolton wrapped the game up in the last five minutes or so. First Campo headed home a Speed corner with 4 minutes to go, exploiting again our lack of height on the far post and Anelka fired home a completely undeserved third deep into injury time after a goal mouth scramble.

All round, a superb performance, in which we matched the Premiership team fro long spell, especially in the second half. There were two MoMs announced on the night, Butler and Dobson, but it almost seems churlish to pick any single individual out. If pushed, I’d have to give a special mention to two players, however, who get far too much stick at times, Westwood, who was magnificent in the first half and Wright, who was equally superb in the second.

It’s Tuesday night, it’s the second round of the League Cup and it’s a Premiership team at home and the opportunity of adding to the club’s giant killing tradition. The big question, however, is likely to be, which Bolton Wanderers team is going to turn up, literally?

Richard Money will have, hopefully, have most of his squad available for the game. Wrack and Nicholls won’t be figuring, of course, and we still haven’t had any indication as to whether James Constable will have recovered from his injury. Hector Sam picked up a knock on Saturday, as did Martin Butler, but both are likely to be OK for the game, as is Clayton Ince, who has been struggling with a strain for a couple of games now. Anthony Gerrard will be missing, through suspension.

The sixteen is likely to come from Ince, Gilmartin, Pead, Westwood, Roper, Picken, Dann, Taylor, Wright, Kinsella, Keates, Dobson, Fangueiro, Demontagnac, Fox, Butler, Sam and Bedeau.

Bolton have, of course, an embarrassment of riches, as befits a Premiership side. Jaaskelainen, Diouf, Anelka, Campo, Stelios, Nolan and Speed are all household, or near household names, but the question is, with Sam Allardyce’s attitude to this competition at this stage in the past, you do have to question just how many of those stars are likely to appear.

Striker Kevin Davies is out injured, so one would think Sam is unlikely to risk his prize asset up front, Nicolas Anelka. With the player still trying to achieve match fitness, however, the odds may be in favour of him appearing. If he does, we may have real problems coping with the somewhat enigmatic wayward French genius. The strike force is also likely to include Portuguese youngster Vaz Te. As for the other first choice players, Stelios seems the most likely to turn out, as he is just recovering from injury. The last time we met them in this competition, remember, Allardyce used the game to help some players towards fitness, notably Mario Jardel, whose goals made all of the difference.

Other fringe players likely to be figuring are ex England International ‘keeper Ian Walker, Iranian International midfielder Andranik Teimourian, Nicky Hunt and young Polish defender Jaroslaw Fojut. American forward Johann Smith was sent off in the opening reserve fixture and is looking to redeem himself at the moment, but there is talk of him going out to Chester City on loan.

Basically, their probable line up is in the air, although it has to be said, they have tended to field a stronger line up in the last couple of seasons, as the competition does offer a route into Europe, a target Bolton now set themselves every year. The equation has been complicated by a series of defensive injuries, though. Quinton Fortune (ankle) and Abdoulaye Faye (groin) picked up knocks against Middlesbrough at the weekend and Allardyce is not prepared to risk the duo ahead of next Monday’s return to Premiership action at Portsmouth. Tal Ben Haim will face a fitness test on Tuesday morning, which could see the defensive unit get completely reshuffled with players from the Club’s Academy included.

Allardyce said: “From a defensive point of view, it’s looking like I’m going to have to put one of the scholars straight in. This will mean that the defence will be quite disrupted. Hopefully, though, we’ve got enough experience and talent to compete against Walsall, as long as the attitude is right.”

For what it’s worth, they lined up against Boro at the weekend like this:

Jaaskelainen; Ben Haim, Faye, Meite, Fortune; Nolan, Campo, Speed, Diouf, Anelka, Giannakopoulos. Subs: Walker (gk), Hunt, Teimourian, Tal, Vaz Te.

Predictions? It’s “you must be joking” time! Dicky Dosh’s men will want to give a good account of themselves, so a lot depends on the attitude of Bolton. If their fringe players see this as an opportunity to force themselves into the reckoning for the Premiership, then it’s difficult to see anything other than a Bolton win. If, as Sam points out himself, the attitude isn’t right and they see this as a chore turning out at a bottom tier club, then a surprise might just be on the cards. Old Trafford in round three anyone?

It was a little of “after the Lord Mayor’s Show” at Bescot stadium yesterday, following the scintillating demolition of Peterborough, as the Saddlers spent a fair proportion of the game, especially the second half, huffing and puffing. It didn’t matter in the end, though, as Dicky’s men made it five home games, five wins and five clean sheets.

Brian Horton’s sides haven’t been known for their footballing prowess over the years and, as the opposition lined up with what looked like six or more 6 footers in the side, including McNeil up front, so tall that his height isn’t listed on Soccerbase, you got the idea of what sort of game this was likely to be. The last time I saw anything like him, it had telephone wires coming out of the top.

The Saddlers lined up with Craig Pead in for the suspended Gerrard, with Westwood in the middle and Butler (recovered from his slight knock on Tuesday) and Sam up front. With Constable’s injury, there was no out-and-out striker on the bench.

Despite the awkward opposition, Walsall played nearly all of the football in the first half, with plenty of possession. With The Silkmen already fighting for their survival, however, we found it difficult to make that possession count. Roper and the magnificent Westwood coped extremely well with the big, awkward McNeil and the tricky Forest loanee, Spencer Weir Daly. Up front, Butler’s movement was a constant threat and Sam was having a superb game, holding the ball up well and spreading it wide, where Wright was showing some good form. The main problem seemed to be in central midfield, where Keates and Dobson were struggling to get a grip, as Dobbo had one of his least effective games so far.

Taylor was well set up for a chance on his right foot, but side footed it straight at the keeper, while Fox had a pile driver flash just wide and another well saved by Lee. At the home end, Macclesfield had one golden chance, naturally from a set piece, when defender Scott fired over from close range from a McNeil flick on.

Eventually, however, Sam’s excellent play was rewarded with his first goal for the club. Wright broke well down the middle, Butler and Sam made the correct runs, Wright released the pass at just the right time and Sam gleefully hammered home.

The second half always looked like being a backs-to-the-wall job, as Macclesfield launched ball after ball into the area. Eventually, Money bought on Picken for Pead, moving Westwood to right back, to give up more height, to cope with the onslaught, but despite the pressure, the defence held up really well, giving few clear cut chances, most of the threat coming from distance. At the other end, Keates flashed a drive narrowly wide with the keeper beaten, Butler curled one just over and Wright failed by millimetres to connect with a flashing cross from Butler.

Perhaps the key moment of the half came in the 83rd minute, when Ince did superbly well to tip over a flashing drive, but, significantly, it was his only really difficult save of the afternoon.

Mush to the bewilderment of some elements of the crowd, DD decided to replace the excellent Wright with five minutes to go with Scott Dann, presumably to give us a little more presence up front. Whatever the motives, it worked. With injury time looming, Dann released Butler with a superb reverse pass inside the defender, Bedeau and Dobson, queuing up on the far post for the cross were narrowly thwarted by a defender, but the ball broke to Dann who fired home from 10 yards, courtesy of a defelction. Job done.

Macclesfield fought well, we didn’t play well, but this was a case of never mind the quality, feel the points, especially with Swindon losing at home.

Man of the Match? For me, it had to be Hector Sam, for some great hold up play, capped with his goal, but the man who ran him closest was Chris Westwood, who had probably his best game for the club.

Saddlers will be without the suspended Ant Gerard this afternoon after the package containing the evidence for his appeal against his red card was delayed beyond the specified deadline. Roy Whalley revealed that the club will now seek compensation from the Royal Mail, and that Gerrard must serve a three game suspension commencing this afternoon.

That could mean a recall to the squad for Aussie Allan Picken but I would expect Craig Pead to be recalled to right-back with Westwood starting at centre-half.

The visitors are rooted to the foot of the table with huge pressure reportedly on manager Brian Horton who has chopped and changed the line-up without success so far.

They turned in a reasonable performance at Lincoln and just failed to emulate the Saddlers’ comeback when denied by the woodwork late on.
Former Saddlers veteran Ian Brightwell is out injured along with Andrew Smart, but I wouldn’t expect this to be an easy game. As we know all too well when the manager’s job is on the line it has been known for a decent performance to materialise out of the blue.

Walsall 5 Peterborough 0.

Dicky Dosh’s Saddlers passed their first “bouncing back from defeat” assignment with flying colours thanks to this annihilation of Peterborough.

Following an impeccable minute silence for Matty Gadsby the present incumbents of the red shirt produced their own fitting tribute thanks to goals from Fox, Dobson (2), and Butler (2). Another clean sheet to boot making that six in nine competitive games this season, and the best goal difference in the division. All in all a good night’s work.

The only blemishes for the home side were the sending off of Ant Gerrard for a high kick, and what appeared to be the withdrawal of the unstoppable Butler with a niggling injury.

Victory for the Saddlers enabled them to re-establish fourth place and importantly keep in touch with the top three who all won.

Reaction from those present from the message board include:

Registered Saddler:
“I don’t really know what to make of that much other than it was a tremendous way to spend a Tuesday evening. Peterborough were atrocious at the back but we exploited it ruthlessly. We scored from our first three attacks but then became profligate otherwise it would have been a cricket score. Sam missed a free header, Wrighty and Fox missed clear chances in the first half. In the second Butler and Taylor had shots saved and Wrighty hit the bar. Have I missed any more?

Westwood and Ropes were superb at the back. Keates was industrious in midfield and really shone as the match wore on as he and Wrighty were the only ones to be able to cover the gaps when we were a man light. In fact it reminded me of the way he kept going through extra time in the play-off final, a timely comparison considering the week’s events.”

And WFC_Rob:
“Terrific performance tonight. The ball was moved fluently from back to front throughout the game and we could have won by more without much more effort.
Westwood had his best game for the club in my opinion and should have got man of the match. Mark Wright proved me wrong tonight. I thought he should have been dropped, but he did play very well indeed and his ball across for Butler’s second was top drawer.
The only thing missing from tonight’s performance was a Hector Sam goal.”

After a gloomy few days surrounding the club its back to League Two action at Bescot tonight and a tricky looking encounter with Peterborough.

The Posh are yet to lose or even concede on their travels this term, so with Saddlers having done likewise at home surely it’s a nailed on nil-nil?

Well probably not looking at the way both sides defended on Saturday, the Saddlers as we know were woeful, while Posh leaked 3 in the first 24 minutes against the same Darlington side that couldn’t hit the proverbial cow’s backside at Bescot two weeks earlier.

The Posh’s manager Keith Alexander has vowed to make changes with popular winger Jamie Day likely to be recalled following successive home defeats during which he was sidelined due to illness, while defender Ben Futcher is out.

As for the Saddlers well who knows? We’ve already seen that Dosh likes to mix it up both in terms of starting line-up and substitutions. He has hinted at Ishmel getting a start soon, and with Fangueiro withdrawn again on Saturday that wouldn’t be a surprise. Tony Bedeau and James Constable are surely pressurising the out of sorts Hector Sam. The game will probably come too soon for Alan Picken.

Whatever the team selection though the basics require better execution than in the last two games. There is a definite need for better tempo and creativity in possession, better passing, and greater conviction in defence. It’s time for the players to step forward and make a collective statement in the style of genuine promotion contenders.

Two home games this week presents an ideal opportunity to keep up with the pace, because as our visitors have discovered it doesn’t take much to slip down this league.

Prediction? Dare I go for a win after Saturday? That’s between me and my bookie as requested I’m not tempting fate! However, a return to home soil should see an improved performance and I doubt Peterborough will be relishing a trip to Bescot after no win in three. I always get the impression in this division the outcome depends on which Walsall turn up.

Remember there is a minutes silence for the late Matty Gadsby before the game, let’s hope the current team produce a performance fit to honour the memory of one of our Millenium Stadium heroes.

Saddlers first defeat of the season was overshadowed by the news that former player and hero of the Play-Off final Matty Gadsby had collapsed and died during a game for Hinckley United.

Gadsby although never a regular for The Saddlers owned his own little piece of Saddlers history as he ws the man who laid the ball off to Darren Byfield for our dramatic winner at Cardiff on that never to be forgotton day.
Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family and loved ones on this sad day.

Likewise to the friends and family of UTS member “Saddler Jim” (Bob) who last night lost his battle with cancer just a few weeks after expressing his determinati0n to get himself strong enough to attend Bescot in the near future.

I think in the circumstances it would not be appropriate to disect yesterday’s performance on the front page but to leave this message as the headline for a short while.

There is an excellent match report by Geoff Whiting on the match section of the message board for those that are interested, suffice to say it wasn’t very good and changes are needed. Geoff pretty much hits the nail on the head with his report.

Saddlers travel to Blundell Park for what should be an interesting encounter between the teams currently fourth top and fourth bottom of League Two. Fit again Tony Bedeau and Mark Kinsella are pressing for recalls to the squad, with Dick Dosh hinting that Bedeau will feature at Blundell Park as he intends to make full use of his senior squad during September’s congested fixture schedule.

No sign yet as to how the defence will line-up following Ian Roper’s injury last week, but should Westwood continue at centre-half we should see Pead at right-back and therefore a more attacking option on the right flank.

Saddlers’ manager has also revealed that Ishmel Demontagnac is closing in on a starting place having shown greater maturity during recent substitute appearances, and gave an insight into his tactics for away games saying “We must make sure we can withstand the first 20 minutes of pressure and then gain control of the proceedings”.

Grimsby although unbeaten at home in the league, have not won a game of any sort since the opening day of the season, and have failed to beat the bottom team in the division over the last two weekends. Their fans are clearly unhappy looking at what’s been posted in their local media with the chairman already issuing a public plea for patience with manager Graham Rodger.

They are short of options up front with only two fit strikers, one of whom is the often troublesome Isiah Rankin, and Rodger confirmed both his and our interest in Carl Asaba telling the local press: “Carl Asaba is another I have spoken with but I know Walsall are also interested so we’ll have to see what happens”.

Man to watch for the opposition? Veteran Peter Beagrie always has the ability to produce a moment of magic, while youngster Peter Bore has impressed despite their poor start and could be recalled after being rested last week.

Prediction? With Grimsby’s state of unrest I can’t see beyond a Saddlers win if we perform anywhere near our best. Dobson should be sharper for his game last week, and with Bedeau adding another forward option I hope we go there and get at them from the off. That said we probably won’t looking at DD’s comments! But I’m still going for 3-1 to us followed by a nice portion of haddock and chips to round the day off.

As an inhabitant of run-down seaside town on England’s rain-lashed North Sea coast, I’m probably not in a position to criticise, but…. Cleethorpes makes Whitley Bay look like Accupulco.

Still, Blundell Park was raised just yards from the sea-front, so if the match is rubbish you can always watch the oil-tankers on the distant sea that apparently does exist on the other side of the seemingly endless mudflats.

The other good news is that Grimsby away boasts a very basic, but always welcoming away pub in the shape of the back bar of The Leaking Boot Hotel, about 7 minutes walk up the main road heading away from the ground towards Cleethorpes town centre. Let’s hope they still have “Punk Hits of The 70’s” on the juke box, as it’s always a nice livener to blast one’s eardrums with the Sex Pistols before the match, loosening the tonsils with an impromptu karaoke, which one year turned into a full-blown mosh-pit.

The beer too is pretty basic, and since the mosh-pit year has been served in plastic beakers that invariably leak, but if the sun is shining and the wind less than force 8 you can meander into the spacious beer garden that runs along the back of the bar.

The ‘Boot does have two other bars which are a bit more civilised (probably because we’re not in them), mainly for home supporters, and its also convenient for a chippy for anyone wanting to partake of the area’s excellent local delicacy.

That apart there’s not really much else to recommend near the ground. You can shoe-horn yourself into The Imperial which is further down Grimsby Road towards the Stadium but life’s probably too short to be honest. Leaving the Leaking Boot to go there gives you that hollow “why have I bothered?” feeling.

In the town and next to Cleethorpes station well, what can I say? Anyone who reads these guides will know I don’t like to be overly critical of particular establishments, however if garish karaoke bars allegedly once frequented by the infamous Maxine Carr float your boat then you’re in for a treat, otherwise just don’t do it! I was once chased right down the road to the station by a barmaid for the heinous crime of buying a bottle of pils to take away from one of them.

In-keeping with the general eccentricity of the place the station boasts not one but two real ale bars, called, wait for it… The Number One and Number Two Refreshment Rooms. They are both actually well worth a visit for a quiet pint and The Number Two has won a CAMRA award for its efforts.

If it’s a nice day (yes I know I’ve jinxed it now) and you find yourself on the sea-front you can walk down to the ground, or a street that leads you to the Leaking Boot along the sea wall rather than Grimsby Road. I usually bus it from the main Road by the station which takes five minutes rather than using up 20 minutes valuable drinking time walking it, but if you’ve got the kids or fancy some sea air it’s a pleasant and unique approach to a football ground. Have a good trip all, and remember the match report will be late this week as I’m actually going to the game, sorry!!

Both Mark Kinsella and Tony Bedeau pressed their claims for a first-team call-up in last night’s reserve game against Sheffield Wednesday. Bedeau got the Saddlers’ goal at Hillsborough before the home side came back to win it.

Meanwhile over 8,500 were at Bescot to see the England under 19 international against Holland.

Thanks to Warsawpact on the MB for the report.

The first half was pretty poor. England only created 1 chance - a cross from the left and a header back across the goal which went wide of the post. Other than that, there was no creativity from the left, nor from the centre, and just a bit of possession on the right which didn’t amount to much. Holland looked more comfortable on the ball, and created more - hitting the post with one cross-shot.

The second half was better, more penetration and more chances. There was a tasty challenge on the touchline, when one of the Dutch players got put into the Holland dugout (if you’re going to commit a foul, you may as well try to crock some of the substitutes too!) Ish came on with about 15 minutes to go, to a big cheer.

He didn’t touch the ball for the first 5 mins, then won the ball in the England half, skipped through a few challenges, then under-hit a pass back to one of the defenders - which nearly set up a goal for Holland. He then had two runs down the left - the second time beating about 4 defenders before making a good cross-field pass to the right, where England mucked it up and lost possession. He also gave away a couple of free-kicks on the left, but didn’t seem to get involved in any ‘afters’.

On the whole, I was rather disappointed in England, especially in the first half. The defenders got caught in possession on occasion, midfield seemed incapable of creating space for themselves, and the strikers weren’t able to get free of their markers. Even at this level, you can see that the Dutch players are more comfortable on the ball.

I’m biased of course, but Ish seemed the only English player with the skill and (more importantly) the confidence to take the Dutch on with the ball at his feet. Maybe this comes from his first team experience, which many of the players at Premiership clubs probably don’t have yet.

The only other England players that made much of an impression on me was Michael Mancienne (Chelsea centre-back) and Craig Lindfield - a tall black centre-forward at Liverpool.

For the rest, this was a poor show from the players at the Premiership clubs, who possibly need first team experience in the lower reaches in order to sharpen them up. On that showing, I wouldn’t swap Ish for any of them.