One of the favourite days of the year for most true football fans crops up tomorrow, with the romance that is the first round proper of the FA Cup. Trouble is with giant killing acts, of course, is the possibility takes on a different feel when you are the giants.

Most non League teams would fancy a home tie against League opposition, but the draw hasn’t been that kind to them this year, with Salisbury at Accrington, Kettering at Hartlepool, Staines at Shrewsbury, Sutton at Hereford, Fleetwood at Northampton, Oxford City at Burton, Tooting at Stockport, Woking at Swindon, Stevenage at Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon at Millwall, although Bath will probably fancy their chances at struggling Grimsby.

When the tie is the other way around, however, it’s a different story. Amongst those are Colchester at Bromley, Brentford at Gateshead, Rochdale at Dicky Dosh’s Luton, Exeter at Nuneaton, Yeovil at Oxford United, Norwich at Paulton, the lowest placed team left in the competition, Crewe at York, Charlton at Northwich, Rotherham at Wealdstone and, of course, stuck away in there, the Saddlers at Stourbridge.

Let’s get one thing straight from the start. Walsall, even ignoring the 1933 win against then mighty Arsenal, since the sixties, have a giant killing record second to none. In various competitions, against top flight teams, we’ve seen off the likes of Charlton, Stoke, Leicester, Newcastle, Manchester United (yes, I know they were in the second tier at the time, but what the hell), Arsenal and Coventry, and got draws against Leeds and West Ham, as well as at Anfield. The last time we went on any Cup of note, however, is beginning to fade into the past. That is something we can’t afford now.

Whatever the arguments about the stewardship of Jeff Bonser, the falling gates and the falling turnover on the commercial side (partially due to the recession) mean that the club is struggling financially. Supporters of the Chairman know that isn’t good from their point of view, while the rest probably realise that a sale is less and less likely when the club is losing money. A decent cup run is needed, not just for the revenue, but also to try and attract back some of the missing fans. Not all are staying away because of the Chairman.

Hutchings does have one or two things to sort out for this one. Hull have rejected the Saddlers’ request to include loan goalkeeper Mark Oxley on the bench, meaning 18-year-old Tim Cooney should be included, but Manchester City are willing to let Clayton MacDonald play.

Jamie Vincent and Richard Taundry are sidelined with respective calf and hamstring injuries, but Peter Till’s hamstring strain will be assessed today. Sam Parkin has recovered from a back spasm, but Hutchings revealed Taundry could be out for another two weeks. The manager added: “I am hoping it will be ten days or maybe two weeks and then he’ll be back in the fold again.”

That means, if Hutchings goes for a full strength line up (and I certainly would) a likely line up of:

Ince, Weston, Hughes, MacDonald, Sansara, Jones, Bradley, Mattis, Richards, Byfield, Deeney.

Personally, I might be tempted to try a 4 3 1 2, with Jones in “the hole” and would also consider Parkin, because of the physical threat, but I think he’ll stick with his normal line up.

As for the Glassboys, I know bugger all about them, so I’ll just refer you to the official site: http://www.saddlers.co.uk/page/News/0,,10428~1840056,00.html

Predictions?

Predicting the unpredictable? Not an easy job, but I’ll say here and now that anything other than a win ought to be unacceptable, considering the difference in levels. Earn the right to play, then let class tell should be the instruction – pity Merson didn’t realise that at Slough. Away win.