A busy week at Bescot and UTS has been behind with bringing you the news on the front page, although all these stories were of course broken first (probably) on the message board:
No doubt there will be further developments before (cliche coming up) the window slams shut at 11pm tomorrow.
Just when things were going so well, along comes something to rock the boat. In the Saddlers case, of course, it’s the departure of Richard O’Kelly to Bristol City. There was little that Walsall could do about it, to be sure, but O’Kelly’s decision does seem a little strange. Granted he’s going back into his comfort zone, working with O’Driscoll, but that is to ignore Bristol City’s current predicament. They are sitting in bottom position, a full ten points short of safety, thanks to their God awful goal difference, and look like they’ll be playing in the same Division as us next season (assuming we dont go up, of course!). On top of that, they are another of those teams that are spending well over their means and relegation will mean a drastic rebuilding of a currently very expensive squad. Perhaps he likes a major challenge?
Dean Smith will have some decisions to make. Febian Brandy is suspended, of course, following his somewhat harsh sending off last week (he was, after all, only trying to play the loose ball for the second yellow and would have got a mouthful from the Manager if he hadn’t tried!). Also missing, with injury, will be Richard Taundry, so, thankfully, Smith won’t be tempted to bring him back! Will Grigg will play celebrating another International call up, to the Northern Ireland Under 21s.
Colchester will have two new signings, Jabo Ibehre and Sam Walker, in contention.
Ibehre completed his free transfer from MK Dons on Tuesday, having spent just shy of three months on loan at the club before Christmas during which time he scored four goals in 14 league starts and Chelsea goalkeeper Walker arrived on loan last week but was denied to chance to make his bow when the U’s trip to Hartlepool was postponed.
Anthony Wordsworth will again look to serve the final game of his two-match ban for accruing 10 yellow cards. Fellow midfielder Kem Izzet (ankle) will once more be assessed along with winger Jack Compton (stomach).
Predictions
Colchester have lost the last nine, and twelve of the last thirteen, whereas we have won six of the last seven. this ought to be a win and anything less than a draw would be a poor result, even with Brandy’s absence.
The fantastic efforts made by everyone at the club to get this fixture on were more than rewarded tonight, with the Saddlers sitting just two points outside the play offs, following a deserved 3 – 1 win against the supposed form team in the Division.
DIY Saddler with the report:
A simply stunning result that carries on this remarkable run and a faultless start to 2013. Before the game I would have been more than happy with a point but to take all 3, and thoroughly deserved might I add, was a bonus. Thought we dominated the first half – looked a lot sharper than Bournemouth, created the better chances despite them hitting the bar and we looked solid. Mantom’s goal was a cross come shot but found it’s way through the group of players and past calamity James who had a horror show for the majority of the game. Will Grigg was superb yet again today and I think can easily go on to get 15+ goals this season as I previously stated – made something out of nothing to win the 2nd penalty and deservedly put us 2 up despite it not being the greatest penalty. The first 20 mins of the second half was tough, B’mouth came out fighting and got an early goal which I thought would inspire a comeback and potentially lead them onto victory, but it wasn’t the case. The lads showed great determination and fighting spirit even when going down to 10 men. The 2nd penalty decision was hilarious, Grigg got brought down just outside the box, Eunan O’Kane thought the ref had blown for a foul so picked the ball up when he hadn’t and subsequently the ref gave a penalty for hand ball 
it was quite something. Cool, calm composed finish from Grigg and could have picked up his hattrick but flashed wide after a quick free kick. Player ratings:
McLoughlin 7 – Like the look of this lad as I did at PNE – Safe hands from crosses, has one hell of a kick on him and couldn’t really do much with their goal. Seems to have built up a decent rapport with the squad aswell.
Benning 7 – Really one for the future, didn’t put a foot wrong today as far as i’m concerned against a high quality player like Grabban.
Butler 7 – Solid, commanding useful performance from the skipper
Downing 7 – As above, superb partnership between him and Butler – baring a bad injury/suspension can’t see Holden getting a sniff for a long time
Purkiss 7 – Had my doubts at the start of the season but he has come on leaps and bounds, in a different league to @Taundz
A Chambers 8 – The man is on fire – workhorse, strong in the tackle, just what we need and put in another blinder today – close behind Grigg for my MOTM
Manton 7 – Good performance from Sam, passed the ball around nicely, dangerous ball in the box for his goal, great acquisition to the squad.
Paterson 7 – Quietish game from him but didn’t really do much wrong and continues to look threatening – still a key player in my eyes because I think he has still got so much to give.
Baxendale 7 – Worked hard throughout and always on offer to receive the ball – can add a lot to the squad.
Brandy 4 – Disappointing end to his game, didn’t have his usual spark today – will just count it as an off day as I still think he is a class act that has a lot to offer.
Grigg 9 – My MOTM, superb display and he continues to look like a new player, just shows what confidence can do for you. Poor 1st penalty but he had no right to win it in the first place, brilliant work and commitment. Can’t sing his praises enough today and if he continues developing could easily get 15-20 goals this season.
Subs:
J Chambers 6 – Didn’t have much time to make an impact.
Played 4 won 4 in 2013 and 6 wins in the last 7 – the stats speak for themselves and the great run continues – how far can this side go? I’d still settle for a 10th-12th placed finish but you can’t help but think of a late play off push!
Professional determined performance today that clearly warranted 3 points against a side that hadn’t lost since October – quality stuff saddlers. UTS
The major talking point about tomorrow’s clash with Bournemouth has almost certainly stopped being what’s likely to happen on the pitch and more whether anything is likely to be going on at all! Looking out of the window at the moment, the chances of the game going ahead look about as likely as finding 100% beef in a Tesco Value range burger, or Roman Avramovitch actually giving a manager time to rebuild an aging side and bring in some players of his own choice (that is, of course, none at all). I’d say we have two hopes, no hope and Bob Hope, and Bob Hope’s dead.
Still, it’ll be a shame if it doesnt go ahead, as this is a clash between the two form teams of the Division. Bournemouth are undefeated in the League since Eddie Howe went back to the club and have won four and drawn two of the last six games. The only reason they aren’t top of the current form table is, of course, because we sit there, having won 5 of the last six.
Dean Smith’s men must be full of confidence, as everything seem to be going right on the pitch all of a sudden. Even the fans must be wondering what’s going on, as the club have signed a promising young player after a successful loan period, in Mantom, and have turned down a bid for one of the players, in Andy Butler! The news also has come out today that Craig Westcarr, who played a big part in the revival, is training with the club while he decides on his options.
Smith will have no injury worries ahead of the game, with a fully fit squad to choose from. His major decision may well be whether to give Malvind Benning a rest, as Taylor is back fit again, having already given the young left back a confidence boost by starting him at Preston.
As for the opposition, they do have three players with injuries, who may not make it if the game goes ahead. They are dangerman Lewis Grabban, forward Josh McQoid and midfielder Eunan O’Kane. They have just bought in on loan defender Danny Seaborne from Southampton. The reason for that may well be their away form, as they have the second worst defensive record in the top half of Division one, after Yeovil.
Predictions?
I still have to go for P – P! If it does go ahead, however, I think we may well sneak it, as their run has to end eventually.
Convincing. No other word for it as Walsall cruised past Preston this afternoon to make it five wins out of six and send the Saddlers up to the giddy heights of 12th place just 5 points off the play-offs.
Mossa was at the game and as you can tell from his message board post, the lad was impressed:
Not long been back and from our first goal to the final whistle we were superb. Ever player contributed today and our fans have every right to feel proud tonight. Preston were perhaps the better team to start with and could have had a penalty which may have have resulted in a red card for us as well. Within a few minutes we had taken the lead and never looked back. Have to say though as good as we were Prestons defence is the worst I have seen in the leage. They didn’t have a clue how to deal with our pace and movement and at times it looked an unfair game. They only really played the long ball which Butler and Downing defended very well.
Mcloughlin- 7 Good debut for him. Great save from a free kick in the second half was vital.
Purkiss- 7 His usual self, solid in defence and got forward well to support attacks as well.
Benning- 7 Think they targeted him today and the whole he dealt well. 1 0r 2 shaky moments but quite carm for his age and a nice composure on the ball
Butler 7 Typical Butler, put his head in whenever it was needed. One mistake in the first half could have been costly but other than that solid.
Downing- 8 I’ve said it before, i’m really impressed with him. Won nearly all his headers all afternoon and looks good on the ball. Him and Butler complement each other well.
Chambers 8 Great again, looks a totally new player for us. Broke up so many of their attacks and this role suits him.
Manton 9 My MOTM. Always had space on the ball and genearlly passed it round lovely. So happy we have signed him up
Paterson-7 Quiet in spells but a threat when he was involved. Better decision making than usual and when involved dribbled with the ball well.
Brandy 8 constant threat all afternoon. So quick and trickery that I imagine his a knightmare to mark. Very important to us as he is the pace upfront we desperately need,
Baxendale- 8 Slow start but got better and better and deserves an extra mark for a brilliant strike. Lightweight at times but the skill is there.
Grigg- 8 Worked so hard again. Looks calmer and stronger than earlier in the season. 2 good assists as well
Dan Smith has managed to get the first of his up and coming stars to sign a contract extension, as Malvind Benning has penned a two and a half year deal.
Benning has broken through into the first team this seaosn, as cover for the excellent Andy Tayor and has been an instant success.
Benning told the Express and Star: enning said: “At the start of the season, I wanted to establish myself and do well for the reserves, but things have gone really well so far and to get my chance in the first-team at this stage of my career has exceeded my expectations.
“I have been pleased with my performances so far. Each game has been a learning curve for me, but I’d like to think that I have proved what I am capable of.
“It’s not often that a first-year professional gets handed such a deal after just a handful of first-team games. I know that the hard work is only just starting for me and hopefully I can get a run in the team and continue to make progress.
“Walsall have a reputation for bringing through young, local talent and the fact that so many of the first-team squad have come through the ranks here made it easier for me to settle in and certainly helps with the spirit and togetherness.”
First – a request to our readers. After the game a visiting Portsmouth fan was viciously attacked near the railway station in town. If you saw anything or know anything about this incident, in which a middle-aged chap who was in our fair town for the match had his jaw broken in two places by some young thugs, please come forward. The rabble were ravelling in the front car of the train to town, the victim and his wife in the rear.
If you can help, please call the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or contact the West Midlands Police on 101. Please help bring the perpetrators to justice, or this little gang of scumbags will carry on their cowardly assaults and things might be worse next time.
In the meantime on behalf of UTS we extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the victim.
On to the game, which unfortunately the victim suffered too. UTS regular ihatethecorps was there, and had this brief word to say:
Excellent performance today hugely impressed by Darlow, Westcarr (great footballing brain), Brandy (pace that scares the life out of defenders), Chambers, Grigg (best game i’ve seen him have) and Benning (looked like a seasoned pro). Infact the whole team were blooming brilliant
I think it’s fair to say he enjoyed it. I did!
We never win in front of the Sky cameras, do we? Well, tonight the Saddlers will have a chance to put that right with a home game against the latest team to try and fly in the face of economic reality, in the shape of Portsmouth. Quite how unrealistic football has become is shown by the previous manager, Michael Appleton, complaining when his playing budget was cut from 4.5 million. Four an a half million in the third tier? Just what planet are some of these people living on? Of course, we have already beaten them once this season, but, even then, there were quotes from Pompey fans about how poor there standard of players were, despite the fact that the likes of Howard, Harley, Mischelek, Gypes and Mc Cleod, when he was there, would walk into many squads in this Division. They have just lost McCleod to MK Dons, to be sure, so who do they bring in as a replacement? David Connolly, who cant come that cheap. The “big club because we’ve been in the top flight” attitude still seems to prevail, without any recognition of the fact that being in the top flight and trying to compete with the moneybags are at the root of the problems the club are in now. That and the fact that the FA and Football League’s “fit and proper person” tests just aren’t fit and proper for purpose. Oh, and appointing Harry Redknapp as Manager!
Dean Smith will have some choices to make tonight. Florent Cuvelier’s first start after injury lasted just eight minutes before he aggravated the same hamstring, Taylor has a groin strain and is unlikely to be fit (Benning seems the most likely to deputise) and Holden is still out, so Downing will continue to try and cement a permanent place in the centre of defence. He will, however, have the in form Fabien Brandy back after serving his one match suspension.
Portsmouth caretaker manager Guy Whittingham has one reinforcement, other than Connolly, as striker Paul Benson returns to the squad after missing the defeat against his parent club, Swindon, due to the terms of his loan agreement.
Defensive due Ricardo Rocha and Gabor Gyepes are both rated as unlikely to play, while midfielder Brian Howard is also struggling with his groin injury.
Predictions?
Portsmouth have lost their last three games, to Yeovil and Crawley at home, culminating in a 0 – 5 capitulation against Swindon last week, a defeat which saw them slip back into the bottom four. They are looking doomed already, should the ten point deduction for coming out of administration happen before the end of the season. Their last win actually came back in October at home to Shrewsbury, although they got a couple of creditable draws just after that. With the Saddlers having won three of the last four, you would think that we would be firm favourites, but we never win in front of the Sky cameras, or do we?
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