Cheltenham? They don’t play football in Cheltenham, do they? Surely the town has more to do with elegant Georgian terraces, up market shops and wine bars and the Ladies’ College? Oh yes, and some four days of boredom every spring when there’s something called the Cheltenham Festival (not to be confused with the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, which is marginally more interesting). But football? Really? Don’t the locals object to the oiks enjoying themselves in their town? Anyway, we’re apparently off tomorrow for our first ever League visit to somewhere called Whaddon Road.

Walsall Manager Richard Money will be missing a couple of players through injury. Left back Paul Boertien’s seemingly career long spell of back luck means he’s out with a broken toe. Richard Taundry is probably the favourite to take his place. It also seems the years are starting to catch up with long serving midfielder Darren Wrack, who will also be missing with a niggling calf injury.

Alassane N’Dour’s man of the match performance against Tranmere means that he’s likely to make his second start, so I’d expect a 4 5 1 of:

Ince, Weston, Gerrard, Roper, Taundry, Betsy, Sonko, Dobson, N’Dour, Holmes, Mooney.

Ishmel Demontagnac will probably be on the bench, after proving yet again last week that he can have an impact late on. Doubts still remain about him starting, however.

The opposition Manager, ex Dingle Keith Downing, has far more problems.

John Finnigan, Michael Townsend and former Saddlers’ youngster, Gavin Caines are all ruled out for the rest of the season through injury, as might Damian Spencer.
On top of that, they have injuries that will require fitness tests on Alex Russell (stomach), Alan Wright (achilles) and Craig Armstrong (ankle).

Predictions?

Cheltenham go into this game 4 points above the relegation places, in eighteenth place. That does not tell the whole story, though, as they have 9 wins at home and only 3 away. Indeed, they have lost just one of the last 10 at Whaddon Road

Walsall’s plight, however, is such that only a win will do, so here goes, three points to the Saddlers!

Don’t forget, by the way, that this game is all ticket for away fans.