Still no league wins for the Saddlers, and Money’s men sit at the foot of the table just above 100% Leeds, a club who haven’t paid their debts. You can read reflections on the action at Bescot on the message board.

http://upthesaddlers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=498096

Last season proved once and for all that winning can become a habit. Thanks to the excellent start we made, confidence got so high that we managed to get away with wins when playing badly. Manager Richard Money has now got his work cut out in the first really big test of his worth in making sure that the opposite doesn’t become the case this season and we end up getting into a losing habit. The poor start needs to end tomorrow against the Fail and a win is needed, no matter how it is achieved.

The whole situation is not helped, of course, by selection problems.

Ince should start in goal and Weston (against his last employers) and Boertien should be at full back. Our defending so far this season has not been up to scratch and he does have a dilemma of who to play in the centre, out of Dann, Gerrard and Roper, returning from suspension. Roper and Dann look like favourites, but Money has hinted that we might well see strengthening next week in those positions when we are allowed to make loan signings.

Sonko, who may well have got a start after a good performance last week as sub, is away on International duty, and Money will be praying for Dobson and Sonner to be fit. Sonner will, of course, be desperate to play against his old club. If either are out, Fox will step in, but, if both are, the cover is severely lacking. Another are to be looked at for re-inforcements, methinks. The wide positions are between Fox (if Dobson and Sonner are fit), Wrack, Hall, Nicholls and Demontagnac.

Up front, Butler should start as he recovers from his illness and he could be joined by Mooney, coming back from injury. Again, if his not yet seen first choice pair aren’t available, Deeney, Carneiro and Demontagnac are the possibilities.

As for Fail, they don’t have any real injury worries, other than long term absentee Richard Walker. Their predicted line up is:
Anyon, Miller, Westwood (no, not that one), Pilkington, Edwards, Tudor, Rocastle, Harsley, Whitaker, Rogers, Richards.

Luke Rogers will be seen as the main danger, of course, as the ex Shrewsbury man is back at his proper level, and, after our reported interest in the Summer, it will be interesting to see what ex Dingle Tudor looks like. Older Saddlers will also be worried to see a Richards up front for them! (Younger readers, ask your father - or even grandfather!).

Predictions?

I can’t predict anything other than a win in this win - basically because we can’t afford anything else.

This was a much improved second half performance, but it wasn’t enough for the Saddlers to get a share of the points.

Sonko had come on for Dobson in the second half and had a good game, as the possession improved and the pressure was taken off the central defenders.

Royce, in the Gillingham goal, decided to have an excellent match, adding to his superb first half save from Deeney two more in the second period, Butler being especially unlucky.

Darren Wrack even found time to hit the woodwork just before the end, but the Saddlers just couldn’t find that scoring touch again. The chances were arriving, but just not being taken.

The problems of not having enough cover for Dobson and Sonner was obvious again, however, as Bradley and Wrack would seem to be our only alternatives.

The Fat Controller reporting from the ground.

Whatever the reason for leaving Danny Sonner out of the 16 for this game, it’s certainly backfired so far, as we’ve failed to get any meaningful possession in midfield and the ball just is not sticking up front.

Bradley has been looking as if this is a step too far for him at the moment and Deeney, in for Demontagnac, has also struggled to make an impact, although he did force the keeper into one great save, tipping the ball onto the post.

Fox, returning to the left wing and taking Hall’s place in the team, has been the pick of the midfield by some distance and scored a superb equaliser out of nothing, lashing the ball home from 25 yards.

The central defenders have been under real pressure in the air and that has led to a lot of uncertainty with Ince as well.

Things need to improve second half, although, with such an attacking bench (all wingers and strikers), that might be difficult.