This used to be one of those magical football days – first round proper of the FA Cup. Unfortunately, like so many things in the game, it’s not the same as it used to be, with games put back to Monday night in the interests of making more money from the TV companies – not that we will say no to the extra cash, of course, but knowing who you’ve drawn in the next round before you even play your tie, just doesn’t seem right.

Still, on to business.

Richard Money has taken Walsall away for this weekend, for training and team bonding at Lilleshall, in order to have the best possible preparation. The difference this year, in going to somewhere without bars, is noticeable.

Dicky will have a full squad to choose from for the tie, with the exception of Gerrard (ankle) and Picken (knee), both of whom, however, may be fit for next weekend. Westwood has recovered from the strain which made him come off at half time last week.

It’s probable that the Saddlers will line up much as usual, with:

Ince, Pead or Westwood, Westwood or Dann, Roper, Taylor, Wright, Dobson, Keates, Fox, Sam and Butler.

The player under the most threat is, probably, Hector Sam, as the now fit again Darren Wrack could drop into that role.

The Silkmen’s new manager, Paul Ince, has, in the meantime, started to change things at the club. There’s a new Assistant in the experienced Ray Mathias and a couple of new players, in John Murphy and Simon Wiles. Both should be in the squad tonight, as Macclesfield are reporting a clean bill of health at the moment.

Predictions?

The two teams have already met once this season, of course, a game at Bescot , which resulted in a 2 – 0 win for the Saddlers, with goals from Hector Sam (his first for the club) and Scott ZiDann. That didn’t tell the whole story, however, as Macclesfield looked very neat and tidy, if punchless. It has to be said that I don’t think they’d have scored that day, if we’d have still been playing at midnight.

That seems to tell the tale of their entire season so far, as they haven’t got a win under their belts at all yet and have scored just 15 times in 17 games.

Ince has made a difference at the moment, with them getting a creditable 0 – 0 at Wrexham last time out, but you’ve got to fancy the Saddlers to progress, even if it means bringing them back to Bescot.

One last point is that Jeff Stelling’s guest in the Sky studio is non other than Paul Merson, who refused to go “up the jungle” because of his fear of spiders, he admitted at the weekend. I’m sure Saddlers’ fans will want to give him a warm, appreciative welcome.