The current bad run officially turned into a slump last night, with a home defeat to Lincoln City, who closed to within two points of the Saddlers in the process. It wouldn’t have been so bad, if not for the fact we played better than in recent home games in the second half and that both goals were self inflicted.

The Saddlers lined up: Ince Pead, Roper, Westwood,Taylor, Wright, Dobson, Keates, Fox, Butler and Sam.

The game started in an even way, but with Lincoln, if anyone, having the slight edge, as Jamie Forrester’s replacement, Forest loanee Weir-Daley, gave the Walsall defence real problems with his pace. There were no real chances for either side, however, as they sparred for possession until a mad couple of minutes around the quarter of an hour mark.

First Chris Westwood, out in the left back position, played the ball inside to Dobson, who had a man right on his back. He lost possession and Frecklington found Weir-Daley, who slotted the ball just inside Ince’s left hand post. Terrible pass, terrible defending.

Within a minute, however, a ball was floated into the box to find Hector Sam, running right to left away from goal and he, somehow, turned and shot left footed just inside the keeper’s left hand post. Excellent finish.

Walsall were still second to most things in midfield, with Dobson, especially, seemingly unable to find a man, Keates being completely anonymous, Wright being powderpuff (I could have marked him first half) and Fox and Taylor looking completely out of sorts and contributing little. Despite that, and a Pead tackle on 20 minutes looking a nailed on penalty from my angle, Walsall still contrived to make the slightly better chances.

Sam was unlucky when Marriott just managed to fingertip away one shot and Fox and Butler (twice) went close.

With the Saddlers starting to get on top, however, with five minutes to go, Dobson tried a cross field ball in the opposition half, only to pass straight to a Lincoln player. They broke and the ball arrived at the feet of Weir-Daley, who scored an identical goal to his first, from an identical spot. Dobson at fault, but, from ten yards outside their area, we should have defended the break better.

Changes had to be made and Money decided to take off Dobson for Dann, to release Pead to play in midfield. To be honest, any of the midfield four could have gone, but Dobson had been having a poor game.

Immediately, Pead added far more energy to the midfield and the Saddlers got on top, helped in no small measure by Weir-Daley, the main threat in the first half, vanishing into his shell.

Butler was the first to have a chance, only to shoot tamely. Then Sam won a great flick on and Marriott saved at the second attempt from Butler, although he might have done better.

More changes were made as Cederqvist came on for Sam (although it might seem sacrilege, I thought he took off the wrong striker) and Wrack for Taylor (Fox moving to left back).

Cederqvist started to make a nuisance of himself and he ball fell to Pead on the edge of the box, only for Marriott to make a superb save from his piledriver. It was a save of the very highest quality.

Then Cederqvist again caused panic in the Lincoln defence, the ball fell to Scott Dann and his shot from 6 yards was well saved by Marriott right on the line.

After that, in the last five minutes and injury time, the pace started to fall, after the effort that had been put in, and Lincoln held on.

Money has said more than once that he thinks the squad is good enough, but this team last night looked like one in need of freshening up. If he has a couple of loan players in mind, this is the time to bring them in, as the need for midfield and wide man reinforcements was obvious last night. Dobson had a poor game before he was taken off, Keates barely got a tackle in all night and his passing was wayward too, while there was little or no threat down either flank.

Man of the Match went to Pead, but I thought the excellent Hector Sam just shaded it from him. They were easily the pick of the outfield players, followed by Scott Dann.

Well, I suppose that this has to be classed as a dip in form, although, to hear some, you would think there was some kind of major crisis on at the moment. There isn’t, but three points would be very welcome tomorrow night, with the game being sandwiched between away games at two of the form sides in the Division, Hartlepool and Stockport.

Not that I’ve ever liked Friday night football very much (not that it’s happened too often over the years). To me, like many supporters, the game is all about 3.00 pm on a Saturday afternoon, but, let’s face it, the game is no longer run for the benefit of the supporters, but for the TV companies, especially Sky. Never mind, let’s take the money and run!

There was a time when, having said that I thought he’d never make a footballer while he had a hole in his backside, I never thought I’d hear myself saying this, but Richard Money must be desperately hoping for the return of Ian Roper. The big defender has turned into one of our very best players over recent seasons and the defence has been looking fragile in his absence, whether it is the Dann/Gerrard or Dann/Westwood partnership.

The other question is the perennial one of the midfield. It seems to be certain now that Money’s preferred option is always going to be the solid central midfield, with the creativity coming from the wings. The downside of that is the need to always have two wide men in good form. It is interesting, therefore, that all three of his possible right wingers (Wright, Wrack and Bedeau) played for the reserves in the week (Bedeau scoring) and that all three were withdrawn early on in the 2 – 2 draw with Leeds. The other candidate for wide right, Geordie Lyall, also made an appearance in that game, while Demontagnac played all 90 minutes, as he vies with Fox for the starting role on the left.

All the options make the starting line up almost impossible to predict, so there’s now way I’m going to try!

As for Lincoln, they will be without leading scorer and former Saddlers loanee Jamie Forrester, scorer of 16 League goals so far this season, following his sending off at Notts County last week. Mind you, his record doesn’t look quite so good when you realise that 10 of those 16 goals came in just three games, against Mansfield (4), Barnet (3) and Rochdale (3). Perhaps more of a threat is Mark Stallard, with 13 in the League, all much more evenly spread out.

Predictions?

I’m not really too sure what Lincoln’s mind set for this game is. Captain Paul Morgan was quoted in the Press as saying, on the subject of the Championship:-

“Defeat by Walsall on Friday would, realistically, put us out of the race. But a top-three spot is all we want, I would settle for that, especially when you consider the disappointment of the last four seasons when we failed to go up via the play-offs”.

That doesn’t sound like a team going into the game with confidence. Their record of nine defeats this season, six of them away from home, might well be the reason for that, as they are having a very up and down time.
The key to this game will be Richard Money’s ability to lift the team following last week’s poor result. So far this season, under par results have usually been followed by good ones (Macclesfield away in the League, anyone?). Bouncebackability is the quality that needs to be shown and I think it will. Home win.

It’s something of a clash of the Titans tomorrow, with the Saddlers going into a game in the somewhat unusual position of second favourites. It’s not often that that has happened this season, but a trip to Hartlepool, weather permitting, is not one to be faced with relish at the moment, as they are on a very, very good run.

It’s a very rare occasion, but it is quite possible that the four teams to return to Division 1 next season could be the four who came down last season, thanks to the ‘Pools current run of form.

Allan Picken played a full 90 minutes for the reserves in the week, but still won’t be risked in a League game, so the Saddlers only injury doubts concern Ian Roper, who will be having a test on his knee and Anthony Gerrard, who came off with an ankle knock last week. Hints on the Official Site seem to suggest that Geordie Lyall and Mark Bradley may be in with a chance of making the 16, and both have travelled with the squad, which has gone up to the frozen North East today, in order to have the best preparation. As it happens, the weather is better there than here and the prospects for the game are very good.

Hartlepool United will also be at full strength. Their Irish International and former Cardiff midfielder Willie Boland should be available again, after missing four games through injury. They were also missing their big signing from Mansfield, Richie Barker, through suspension last week, but he is now available again. His absence didn’t seem to make a lot of difference, however, as that game was a 1 – 0 win at Swindon Town, at Paul Sturrock’s January Manager of the Month Award took an early toll, even before it was announced!

Their main danger man is likely to be the aforementioned Barker, who has got 16 goals so far this season and, at £80,000, looks like being a bit of a bargain signing.

Predictions?

Hartlepool started off the season badly and were struggling towards the bottom of the table, but that has all changed now. They are lying in 3rd place and have an exceelent home record with nine wins from their 15 home games. They seem to be a reflection of us, as they have conceded eight goals in those home games, only one more than The Saddlers.

They have gone 12 games since their last defeat when Macclesfield Town knocked them out of the FA Cup (another thing they have in common with the Saddlers, but haven’t lost in League Two since Barnet went home from Victoria Park wth a 1-0 win way back on the 4th November.

Both sides don’t score many goals and concede even fewer, so this really should be a very tight game. A 0 – 0 is far from inconceivable, and I, for one, would take that now.

Well as there is already a pub-guide to Hartlepool this years version is by way of an update!

The long thirst inducing trek North to Hartlepool, which if you are “training” it via Newcastle includes a picturesque coastal bit past Blackhall rocks, scene of the demise Jack (Michael Caine) at the end of the film Get Carter.

Hartlepool has brightened up since those dark days in the early 70’s and is a good day out with a rash of pubs many of which seem to spring up, close down and most confusing of all, actually move around the town – honest! The train station exits onto Church Street which is the main drag for weekend circuit drinking and pre-mating activities.

There is a pub right next to the station called The Vault which is fine for a quick pint and a game of pool. They also sell cans to take away after the match. If you like standardised pub-chains you find all the usual firkin/fibber/sports bar themed stuff hereabouts. Yates’, Huxter’s and the Merchant Stores are mutually convenient when heading right up to Victoria Road, roughly on the way to the ground.

Although last year my advice was to flirt with their dubious charms (and avoid altogether those of The Office and Bikinis Fun Bar) I would like to say that I was pleasantly surprised with The Ward Jackson (Lloyds number 1 Chain) both myself and Booster Cogburn were suitably impressed if I remember rightly.

I always like to head to The Jackson’s Wharf on the Marina, visible via the tall ship mast. Car travellers will also find plenty of free parking here, only 6 minutes walk from the ground. The pub boasts excellent food and a broad selection quaffable beer, delivered via prompt, intelligent service.

There is also a genuine welcome for away fans. Two seasons ago they had window posters with Hartlepool and Walsall crests, a really nice touch. Although the football theme was dampened down a touch last season following a re-fit it was still the pick of the pre-match boozers. If you’ve got the kids with you and don’t mind wasting 8 minutes drinking time there’s an award winning maritime museum on the marina itself that includes the moored ship.

Adjacent to the ground try the corner flag club, again a friendly welcome awaits although there is the usual social club small door charge. It’s also handy for the away end. A few friendly visitors on the message board have recommended the Millhouse opposite the ground, which is traditionally the home pub but has a big screen in the bar for anyone who has egg-chasing inclinations.

Is it time to start to consider the position of England Manager Steve McClaren?

It wasn’t so much the defeat against a team that had lost three of its last four games (including one against Northern Ireland), it was the abject manner of it, with the team managing a grand total of one shot on target, from Michael Carrick.

Of course there were some excuses in the fact that England had lost players through injury, but Spain were hardly at full strength, starting without the likes of Torres and Joaquim, and were themselves very low on confidence, given their recent record.

McClaren had stated before the game that the result wasn’t as important as giving a good performance, but, instead, we got a bad result and a terrible performance. The Manager himself had, of course, changed his tune completely by then, quoting the absentees as an excuse.

Some of the team selections last night were as bizarre as anything Paul Merson had come up with at the Saddlers, with an utterly dreadful Shaun Wright-Phillips in the side, despite him having only started four games this season (and boy it showed), with Kieran Dyer disappearing for long periods (but he too has hardly played for months), with Peter Crouch making a pig’s ear of the lone striker role for hardly the first time and with Phil Neville, of all people, at left back. That was compounded when he bought on Gareth Barry at half time in midfield, as he had said beforehand that he didn’t want to play him at fullback, only to promptly move him there when he made more changes during the half.

The most bizarre decision of all was elsewhere, however. As Mark Lawrenson had said in the commentary, we’ve known that Gerrard and Lampard just don’t seem to be able to play together in the centre for months. Having experimented with Gerrard on the right wing, McClaren now decided to play Lampard down the left, where he was almost completely anonymous.

Lawrenson then went on to say that McClaren now needs to make a big decision about this pair and he is so right. John Motson then said that he agreed and that McClaren had already made one big decision by dropping Beckham from the squad. Trouble is, Motty, that was a dead easy decision for McClaren, as he was just trying to make a statement divorcing himself from Sven’s regime and it seems he is more bothered about his image than anything else. In the meantime, of course, with Lennon and Pennant out, we could have done with David playing, as we could the mysteriously absent James Milner.

McClaren said himself of the performance that it was better than the booing at the end suggested. He went on to say:

“Nobody is blind to the fact that we lacked quality in the final third — that final pass, that final cross and the final finish. That wins you matches. At times our approach play was good and patient — and the final ball let us down. And that’s key at any level of football.”

Of course, that begs the question, if that was the case, why didn’t he make changes there much, much earlier?

No, when Sven went, we were promised a bright new world. Let’s face it, we seem to worse now than we were under the much maligned Swede. Steve, you’ve given it a go, now hand it over to someone who knows what they are doing.

Walsall are set to sign Barnsley midfielder Dale Tonge.

Tonge is set to link up with the League Two leaders this week ahead of a loan move to The Bescot Stadium

The 21-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular place in the Barnsley side this season and his last appearance came in December against Sheffield Wednesday.

Tonge is expected to feature for Walsall’s reserves this week before signing a loan deal.

Saddlers boss Richard Money is keen to bolster his squad as he looks to maintain their push for promotion.

Richard Money has criticised his team for their performance against Rochdale on Saturday, but it is the team, not individuals. His attitude seems to be a “live as a team, die as a team” one, as he told the Evening Mail:-

“I like to think I am very honest in my assessment week after week,” Money said. “And I don’t need people to tell me that wasn’t good enough. It was not the type of performance we want from now until the end of the season.

We weren’t very good. We didn’t move the ball at all well and get it on the ground and play properly. If you were assessing our team you wouldn’t give out too many high marks.

It was a poor performance. You couldn’t say any of the players were anywhere near their best. But they stuck at it and picked up a point and have gained a point on Swindon.

The supporters helped. They were good and stuck with us and we need that from now to the end of the season.

Let’s also give credit to Rochdale who were terrific. They put us under pressure and played very well.”

It looks as if former Saddlers manager Colin Lee is about to make another comeback in a managerial hot seat – at rock bottom Torquay United.

The club have confirmed that boss Lubos Kubik has left Plainmoor, after “it was agreed between all parties that the current situation is untenable”.

The ex-Czech Republic defender replaced Ian Atkins in November, but has only won only one of his 12 league games in charge.

Lee, who managed the Gulls for a four-month spell in 2001, saving them from almost certain relegation at the time, returned to the club in January to assist Kubik.

This will, of course, also be be the third time that Lee has gone to a club as Assistant Manager, only to end up in charge himself (Wolves and Mr Magoo, Millwall and Steve Claridge and now Torquay and Kubik).

Well, this was a typical Saddlers performance this season.

Well organised, with two banks of four holding their position well, quick and sure to the tackle, giving the opposition no room in which to play, ultimately frustrating them into error after error. Trouble with all of that is that it was the team in blue that was showing all of those qualities.

It was easy to see why, in their last seven games, Rochdale have won 3, drawn 3 and lost only 1, as this was a competent, well drilled and well organised exhibition. In many ways, they showed the same physical characteristics as Boston had in the previous home game, but were a much, mush better outfit.

The game might still have been different, however, if Clayton Ince hadn’t chosen the fifth minute of the game for a complete aberration, punching a right wing cross from a free kick into his own net. The team continued to have problems with set pieces all afernoon, with Gerrard, especially, struggling to get into the game. If ever we needed the steadying presence of Ian Roper, it was now.

For the next 85 minutes, the Saddlers, starting with Wrack and Keates wide and Sam and Butler up front, just failed to make any impact on the game. Sure, Dobson bent one free kick around the wall, but it was saved comfortably, and Keates was unlucky to have a shot kicked off the line with the keeper beaten (but, to be fair, even that was down to excellent defending). The problem, however, was lack of space in the way we were being closed down, and the lack of width caused by there being no out and out wingers. Darren Wrack showed yet again why he hasn’t had the wherewithall for a couple of years to play wide right and Keates just hasn’t got the pace (or the change of pace) to play there.

At half time, it seemed that Richard Money was ready for big changes. His first was to take off the disappointing Gerrard, switch Westwood inside, Pead to right back, Keates to central midfield and bring on Ishmel Demontagnac. This did have some effect, with the Saddlers starting to get more possession, but by this time, anxiety had set in and just about everyone was misplacing passes, especially the two full backs, who seemed incapable of finding a red shirt.

With half an hour to go, off came Sam for Cederqvist and Wrack for Wright. Cederqvist looked completely bewildered by events on the pitch and made little or no impact, to the extent that Butler began to look uncertain and failed to make the most of a couple of decent half chances that fell to him.

Even worse, we now had the wingers that a good few supporters had been calling for for weeks, Wright and Demontagnac. Quite frankly, we needn’t have bothered. Wright couldn’t get into the game at all and Ishy, despite the game beginning to open up as defenders tired, just kept running into blind alleys and producing crosses worse than anything Mark Wright has done wrong this season.

The crowd had all really given up before stoppage time arrived, but those leaving had forgotten the other trait DD’s team have been showing all season - resilience.

What the game had been crying out for had been a centre back to step out of the back for to make space for the midfield and for someone to take on the defenders. Enter Scott ZiDann, who decided to do both. He picked up the ball deep in his own half, looked up for the pass options, found none, so took on a beat the attacker marking him. Now on the run, he looked for the pass again, found no option again, so took on and beat the two central midfielders. Now approaching the edge of the area, out came one on the centre halves, leaving Dann a gap, which he promptly exploited by burying his shot into the bottom left hand corner. A goal of the season contender if I ever saw one and the relief on the players faces was incredible as all 10 others (even Ince ran up) mobbed the youngster.

All in all, a terrible performance against a good, well organised team and a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card played. On top of all that, Swindon managed to lose at home and the lead was extended by one point. Funny old day, really.

Westwood got the sponsor’s Man of the Match, which I can’t really argue with, as he, along with Dann and Dobson, probably made the fewest mistakes.

Gracie Fields or Lisa Stansfield. The Pioneers and one of the breeding grounds of the labour movement, or the constituency of a larger than life (and somewhat strange) Liberal MP. Bit of a contrast is Rochdale, isn’t it? No matter, they’re the visitors to Bescot tomorrow.

Walsall’s “dip in form” has seen them achieve 7 points from the last four games, which is play off form, but we still aren’t shaking off the chasing pack. That means that, to make sure of promotion, never mind winning the Championship, every home point is vital, and the failure to take all three against Boston means the pressure is on again. Ah, well, the difficulties of success.

As Richard Money has said himself, “This time of the year is all about winning and it doesn’t matter whether you are playing Rochdale or Swindon because everyone is as desperate for the points as each other for various reasons”. The Boston game certainly proved that, so there are likely to be a lot of twists and turns before this season is done.

The win at Macclesfield on Tuesday means that there is less likelihood of Money shuffling his pack for the game. Allan Picken will probably need another week or so, Martin Butler should have recovered from his “illness” on Tuesday (delicacy stops me from outlining his problems any further) and Hector Sam picked up a slight knock in the game, but was expected to be fit. That should leave Ian Roper as the only doubt, but he was also expected to be available for the game.

If that’s the case, I’d expect:

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

Whoever out of Gerrard and Roper, Wrack and Wright or Fox and Taylor miss out, they should form the bench along with Bossu and any two from Demontagnac, Cederqvist (one of these two is the most likely), Bedeau and Lyall.

If Roper isn’t fit, that should make DD’s job a little easier.

Constable’s Move

One player who won’t be appearing, of course, is the departed James Constable. Money had this to say on that subject:-

“The deal was a very good one for the club and we have a big sell-on clause. I could have brought him back here to sit on the bench but, quite rightly, he wants to push his career forward and that means playing regularly. In the end we all felt that it was the sensible decision for him to join Kidderminster, but at the same time we had to make sure that this club was well looked after now and in the future.”

Rochdale News

Recently appointed Rochdale manager Keith Hill has had an immediate impact on the team’s fortunes, but, during the transfer window, his main priority has been to trim down what was, in certain positions, an overstocked squad,. He did, however, bring in two late signings, goalkeeper Lewis Edge on loan from Blackpool, as cover for Matt Gilks, and Charlie Comyn-Platt, a 6 foot 2 inch left footed central defender. The team that will line up against up tomorrow will be completely different from that we faced on the opening day of the season, both in attitude and in personnel.

Predictions?

Rochdale should be brimming with confidence following last weekend’s game, when they did the Saddlers a huge favour by thrashing the Franchise 5 – 0. They go into the game in 18th place, with an away record of

Played 14, Won 4, Drawn 3, Lost 7.

That is only one point worse than their home record. Their latest form is even better, however, as they have won three, drawn two and lost only one of the last six.

I would expect this to be a tight affair, but I think the three points will be coming home.