Games don’t get much more important than this one. Normally, with our record, you would think that the team would be either well clear of the pack, or in a breakaway, with promotion looking a near certainty. The fact that it isn’t just goes to show the poor standard of most of the Division this season, as there are still six teams in with a realistic shot at the automatic spots and another with an outside chance. That seventh team is Wycombe, tomorrow’s opponents, so the game is vital for them. A Walsall win and, not only will our chances of going up automatically be greatly enhanced, but theirs will be virtually over.

Richard Money’s defensive options will be increased with the welcome news that Chris Westwood was back in full training last week and is available. Allan Picken is making good progress now from his knee injury, but this game is still way too early for him, though he could feature before the end of the season. Ian Roper, however, won’t, of course, be seen again until next season now.

The rest of the squad has no injury worries at all, as Darren Wrack has recovered from his dead leg received last week in that horrific challenge from Artell of Chester City. The two Kevins, Harper and Cooper will be hoping to make a good impression, as the club will be entering negotiations with Stoke and Cardiff next week to extend their so far successful loan spells.

The official site has again mentioned Mark Bradley in the match build up, so I expect he’ll be travelling with the team, if not appearing on the bench.

I’d expect a starting line up of:

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

The bench could be any from Bossu, Pead, Wrack or Sam, Cederqvist, Bradley, Wright or Taylor.

Wycombe have a few problems of their own going into such an important game for them. Central defender, Williamson, is out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury and Will Antwi, another rdefender, will also be missing.

In midfield, former Saddler Stefan Oakes is also struggling and likely to miss the game, as are midfielders Sergio Torres and Tony McParland and striker Fola Onibuje (hamstring). Onibuje will probably have his mind elsewhere, however, having been called up to the Nigerian under 23 squad.

The dangermen are, of course, the experienced Tommy Mooney, scorer of 11 goals this season. More surprisingly, however, is that his partner will possibly be Scott McGleith, as Jermaine Easter has been a sub for the past four games.

Predictions?

Wycombe go into the game in seventh place, desperate to hang on to their chance of making the automatic spots, especially following their explosion post Christmas last season. They have been having a strange sort of season, having won eight games both at home and away, but losing 10 away and drawing 8 and losing 1 at home. Goals have been the problem, with only 22 scored in those 18 home games (and 21 in 19 away), but only 9 conceeded. This game has 0 – 0 written all over it, which means, with my prediction record, we’ll probably get a 4 – 3 win!