It’s a return for some of our more welcome guests tomorrow, as Hartlepool return once again to the Banks’s.

I don’t know why I always feel some affinity for the Monkey Hangers. It might be the fact that the two clubs were always vying for two of the more unwanted records at one time – the most Managers post war and the most applications for re-election to the League – or, more likely it’s because of the good natured banter that grew up between the UTS message board and the Poolie Bunker during the promotion season the year before last. That turned into an example of how good friendly rivalry can be in football.

Mostly, I suspect, is that neither town is exactly classically pretty in any remote way.

Where do we start with the Saddlers?

Last week’s below par performance at home to Peterborough must surely lead to changes. Assuming fitness, a back four of anything other than Weston, Gerrard, Roberts and Boertien will make me think someone down there has taken leave of their senses.

Ince may return in goal, but he has played two Internationals this week and, if he is suffering, I don’t think Gilmartin did anything wrong last week.

Ricketts will be up front, but it’s at that point changes will have to come in. Jabo Iberhe is almost certainly out and it’ll be interesting to see who gets the nod up front. Personally, again, I thought the major problem we had last week was lack of penetration down the flanks, so I’d go for changes in midfield too.

I don’t know which way Mullen will go, but the two boldest decisions might be a 4 3 3, with Taundry, Mattis and Hughes in midfield and Ricketts, Nicholls and Demontagnac as the front three, or a 4 5 1, with Bradley (who, despite the club saying he has been injured, was fit enough to play well as a sub for Wales under 21s on Tuesday night) joining the midfield and, maybe, Palmer and Demontagnac as the wide men. One man who won’t figure (yet again) is Zaaboub (also injured). We shall see.

As for the opposition, Manager Danny Wilson has a fully fit squad to choose form, with the exception of long term injury victim, midfielder Will Boland.

Amongst the familiar names for them will be former Rotherham winger Andrew Monkhouse, former Sheffield Wednesday winger Ritchie Humphreys and striker Joel Porter.

Predictions?

The two teams have similar records at the moment, but a lot depends on whether Wasall’s Plan A will work. We have struggled this season whenever it hasn’t, as the tactics have not been changed. In fact, Hartlepool’s last visit came in Mullen’s first game in charge as caretaker, when a tactical switch by Danny Wilson at half time was not countered and the ‘Pools went on to get what seemed at one time, a very unlikely draw.

(See your thoughts at the time here: http://www.upthesaddlers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=25501&start=0).

This, for me, will boil down to how well Mullen can adjust to the loss of his first choice strike force and whether Wilson can pull another cat out of the bag. It should be a home win, but . . . . . . .