I tend to feel sorry for Chester City fans. Not only has the club suffered from languishing in the lowest reaches of the Football League, received bad press for one reason or another and had numerous financial worries, but also, one of the City’s more famous sons is Talk S***t’s Mike Parry. Mike, of course, as befits a plastic Scouser (Everton fan) and armchair football supporter, likes to mention Chester every now and again as his local club, but does so, of course, in the most patronising terms imaginable. And we think we’ve got problems putting up with Tony Butler! Still, I hope we give them a good stuffing tomorrow.

Definitely out for the Saddlers will be long term injury victim Ian Roper, who may now be out for the rest of the season, and Allan Picken, who the club say is improving and should be able to play a part before the campaign is over. Michael Dobson and Chris Westwood are both fit again, so the Nuneaton and Australian born centre backs are our only injury problems.

Craig Pead and Darren Wrack gave a good account of themselves in place of Dobson and Westwood last week and there are hints on the Official Site that Mark Bradley may well play some part, given his excellent performance against Forest for the reserves.

I would still suspect that we’ll line up very much like:

Ince, Westwood, Gerrard, Dann, Fox, Harper, Dobson, Keates, Cooper, Butler, Sam

With a bench containing a choice from

Bossu, Pead, Wrack, Bradley, Wright, Cederqvist, Taylor.

Cederqvist has been suffering from a slight knee problem, which has been threatening to keep him out.

Chester go into the game with one or two injury problems of their own. Experienced striker Simon Yeo, formally of Peterborough amongst others, will be missing after picking up an ankle injury against Torquay and defender David Artell missed the game at Mansfield after getting a bad cut against the same opponents. He might well be back for the game, however.

Manager Mark Wright has quite a few loanees in the squad, as he tries to find a winning formula and save some cash. It is noticeable that, of the number 1 to 11 in the original squad this season, five have disappeared. Of those loanees, Brad Maylett scored his first goal for the club in midweek following his arrival from Boston United, Australian target-man, Royce Brownlie joined the club from Swindon Town at the start of this month and they also have Alan Kearney (from Everton) and Alex Meechan (from Forest Green Rovers).

Predictions?

Chester go into the game in 14th place, with 47 points, but that doesn’t tell the story of their season by a long way. On their home record, they would be 17th in the table, but, on their away form, they’d be a creditable 11th, having won 6, drawn 5 and lost 7 on their travels. In those 18 games, they have conceded a miserly 16 goals, equal best with Hartlepool and one better than we’ve managed ourselves. Having said that, they did let in 2 in the week against the Stags, without the influential Artell, so they will be hoping that he is fit and they haven’t managed a win in four.

All in all, I’d go for a close run thing here, but, as long as the wingers are operating at full throttle, I’ll say a home win.