Thetownend.com

Well its getting closer to the 1st match of the season after a long Summer.

We will be backed by over 2,000 travelling fans to this our closest away game of the season against last seasons long term leaders and play off final failures Walsall.

Some big decisions by Ollie on the line up, which formation and who plays where.

Personally I thought we didnt play enough pre season games but Ollie knows the job way more than any of us do.

We only had  5 official games and won 4 and lost 1 scoring 17 goals and conceding 5.
Walsall played 6 official games and won 4, drew 1 and lost 1 scoring 14 goals and conceding 3 albeit with 2 games against Villa and Derby in there.

In our last 6 visits to the Bescot we have won 3, drew 1 and lost 2 times.

In all games vs Walsall over the years we have won 51 times drawn 30 and lost 38 times, scoring 163 goals and conceding 161 goals. So pretty even.

I still expect both teams to add to their squad this week so it could be difficult to even fully judge yet.

Think it will most likely be a dour affair with both teams not firing effectively and making lots of mistakes. Wouldn't be surprised with a 0-0 or conversely a whalloping of one team by the other if one of them gets things right!

Thats the joy of opening day games.

Look at Colchester vs Norwich in 2009 when favourites Norwich got battered 7-1 and still went on to walk the win the league at a canter.

In 1985 under Macari we got 3 wins in the first 11 league and cup games and also won the league with record points.

I hope we get off to a great start but I wont be slashing my wrists if we dont manage a win or even a draw.

Walsall add to their squad today with Australian midfielder Jake Hollman from MacArthur FC who play in the Australian A-League.

Australian international, no less  -  I'm sure he will enjoy the acclaimed sunshine of the West Midlands.

All the sun sea and surf of Bilston, they sold him the dream.

Bilston hasn't been the same since the blast furnace was demolished.

Norwich did sack their manager after that first game, to be fair. And appointed Colchester's.

I found out this year my Grandfather was from Bilston, maybe I should have Wolves as a second ream  :hmmm:

Just in case anyone’s not aware. The A417 will be shut between Cirencester (Burford Rd Jct) and The Air Balloon this weekend (and again on the weekend of the Crewe game).

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/a417-closures-over-three-summer-10368576

Stroud way instead.

Game is live on Sky+

No place to put this but Barnet play Newport tonight in the 1st round of the Carabao cup, bit of a weird one, especially as most 1st round games are not for another 2 weeks.

It's a preliminary round game.

When do the Walsall tickets usually land on the doormat?

I've clearly missed something. When the hell was a preliminary round added? and why? It's 2 league sides playing so this isn't some sort of FA cup rule with non-league teams.

What is the Carabao Cup Preliminary Round?

“The format of the Carabao Cup has been amended to introduce a four-team preliminary qualifying round, to reduce the number of Clubs in Round One and Round Two in order to accommodate all Premier League European Clubs in Round Three.

The Preliminary Round consists of the two promoted Clubs from the National League (Barnet and Oldham Athletic) and the Clubs finishing in 21st and 22nd place in League Two (Accrington Stanley and Newport County). The ties are regionalised North and South as per Round One, with Accrington playing Oldham and Barnet playing Newport County.

A Preliminary Round was last required in the EFL Cup for the 2011/12 season due to holders Birmingham City's participation in the Europa League whilst in the Championship, and Fulham's qualification through the Fair Play league.”

The schedule for the Preliminary Round and Round One of the Carabao Cup has been confirmed, with all 37 ties set to air live on Sky Sports+ or Sky Sports Football.

As announced in June, this season’s Carabao Cup requires a Preliminary Round ahead of Round One due to nine Premier League teams being involved in European competition in 2025/26. More information is available here.

In the Preliminary Round, Barnet will host Newport County (Tuesday 29 July, 19:30), whilst Oldham Athletic face a trip to Accrington Stanley (Tuesday 5 August, 19:45).

The date and kick-off time for the two Round One ties involving the winners of the Preliminary Round will be confirmed following those fixtures.

All Round One ties will take place from Tuesday, 12 August and Wednesday, 13 August. The full schedule can be found below.

Well mine just arrived today, having ordered them on the 15th even though the envelope showed they were posted 1st class on the 18th - 11 days ago - along with my Cardiff tickets. I had phoned the club earlier today and they were going to arrange for duplicates to be printed by Walsall for collection on the day from the away ticket office as they were assumed lost in the post due to the delay. Thankfully the original tickets arrived about 2 hours after the call was made. Laura at the club was particularly helpful on the phone sorting things out.

I also spoke to Laura, mine were still in the club shop after being bought on the 15th. Don't live anywhere near local so looking likely that I'll have to collect them from Walsall

Laura is brilliant, never let me down.

What a crock of shit. Typical of modern football.

Ordered my tickets on line last Saturday. Got confirmation email. Phoned ticket office number - Open from 10am-4pm - closed when I called at 11am.

Phoned reception - no answer. Got no idea if my tickets are ‘in the post’ or what.

If they physically don’t arrive where do I get them - if at all.

Don’t the supporters coach automatically take any uncollected tickets and you pick them up at that ground.

Yes collect from away ticket office at Walsall if you don't get them. My issue was if Ii didn't receive them and they're lost in the psit what happens if I went to Walsall and there was no tickets held for me.
Keep chasing, it took me over 30 minutes waiting when I was 1st in the queue.

It's more because this year has an unprecedent amount of Premier League clubs playing in Europe. Clubs qualifying for Europe always enter at round 3, so fair that they have to re-arrange schedule to make that work

Anyone any ideas what pubs are allocated for away fans this Saturday?

Looks like away parking at the stadium has sold out, anyone parked in the yellow carpark there before, or any advice on where else to park? £120 for me and two kids on the train isn't really a go-er... Ta!

Don’t think there is any, Brum centre is where most will go for a drink pre match

I’ve parked on nearby side streets before and was fine. There was also a (ropey but acceptable) hotel next to the ground that everyone piled into before the game when we had >50% of the crowd!

From the “Fans Guide…..”

Where is the best place to park for the Walsall game?

There is a good-sized car park located on the ground behind the away stand. It costs £4 for cars and £6 for minibuses. The entrance to this car park is off Bescot Crescent next to the Park Inn Hotel and is signposted as ‘Blue Zone’.

The car park, which is for visiting supporters only (there are two other car parks available at the ground for home fans), normally lends itself to a quick getaway after the match. More or less opposite the away end is Bescot Railway Station, which also offers pay and display car parking for £2. Alternatively, there is some street parking to be had off Wallowes Lane.

If the 2 alternatives mentioned are no good, it’s probably best to look for something further away in Walsall centre.

If you get there early the train station pay and display is ideal.

If you are time pushed see if they've got any more space at Morrisons Car Park - Wallows Lane. You need JustPark app or similar. It is a 15 minute walk if your kids are up to it. Think it was about £2.50

edit: bugger, looks sold out too

Looks like we’ll have to go early to park up. Leave at 10am.

https://upthesaddlers.com/t/swindon-town-h-sat-2nd-aug-3-00pm-league-two/13014

Just booked a parking space on someone’s drive - £6 midday-6pm. 20 minute walk.

What app is that Audrey please?

Just Park

I've used that, great idea...

Not many available, mind. Everywhere looks booked.

Just how many are we taking for Gods sake!

According to that web site we lost 5-0 at Swansea in pre season! wonderful imaginary results.  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

That was 2 years ago twats.

My god that was a difficult read.
More ads than actual content.

150 tickets still available

How many in total did they send us?

I heard we have sold over 2k but I havent seen an actual figure of tickets sold.

Think the 150 left is part of the 3rd tranche of tickets.

1650 1st
500 2nd
No idea what the 3rd lot was

Guessing total of c2500

Heard 2112 sold with only a few left in the side stand.
Don't know the source so can't confirm.
Still over 2000 away on the opening day is quality.
If you read all that saddlers page they think the crowd will be a massive 6k with our 2000+.
I would love a team to come to town and bring 2000.

Still a great turnout by Town fans.

Official club twitter just posted -

Just 2 hours left to grab your tickets for tomorrow’s trip to Walsall ❤️

An amazing 2,112 supporters are already hitting the road with us for the opening fixture — make sure you’re part of it:

It makes you appreciate the TEF Forum with no ads.

Largest Walsall crowd in 21 years according to twitter.

Not sure about that, the last game of the season at Walsall under Garner there was 9,089 there including 3,590 Town fans.

Cant see it being near 9k.

Maybe it was the highest opening day of the season crowd for them in 21 year?

21 years was 11,049 Walsall vs Rotherham 2004

But that means they are expecting (at least) more than 9,089? as that was the attendance vs us only 3 years ago.

Their forum suggest its likely to be just over 6k which is not even close to the 9,200 they had last season vs Wimbledon.

Walsall sign 22 year old midfielder Lewis Warrington from Orient.

Surely they must get more than 4,000 home fans expected - they’re not that tinpot. And they were so close to oromotion last year. I reckon 8-8500

Happy New Season Fellas! 

A new season brings new hope!   

For me, I hope the club continues to improve like they seemed to overall with the new coach last season

I hope for a new owner with the resources and drive to compete and build a club that doesn’t have huge ups and downs and can eventually move up.

I hope my shitty teaching life doesn’t stop me from being able to watch the matches regularly this season.  Last season my work was non-stop so missed a lot

And finally I hope Venkman re-grows a gorgeous head of hair….well not all hopes are possible!  😂😂😂

Let us hope for a positive fun season from the club and the supporters!

Don't know why but quite confident. Not sure if it is due to the optimism in the squad this year or thinking Walsall may have a playoff hangover and fanbase opinion on their manager.

Get an early goal and their fans may turn straight away.

3-0 win (Smith scoring first)

Away fans: 2,115

Hes back!! :)

Good to see you post, hope your enthusiasm is matched on the pitch tomorrow.  I think it will be.

More confident than this time last year.

Not sure we are the shoe in for the playoffs most do, but certainly a possibility. Hell I wouldn't rule out autos, but I also wouldn't rule out 12th.

At least we are going into a season where I feel we are giving it a proper go this time
.

Lets at least hope for a strong start and get the monkey off our back asap.

Past seasons i have felt the buzz sucked out of me...the shit way the club was being run ref shop and grub....Blue Coat attitude at games a disgrace. The events on the pitch thankfully turned around.

Threw in my season ticket this season and will go match to match (attending the majority of home games of course), if it wasnt for the lads and the pub, i would miss more for sure.

Holidays mean i will be back for the Barnet clash.

Feeling confident. Also feel like it’s not going to be a disaster if we get beat.

Going to go for a 2-1 win, Tarbor and Smith.

Moonraker Team Prediction is:

            Ripley
  Wright Clarke TWB
Snowdon            Munroe
      Oldaker Kilkenny
  Nichols Smith Drinan

Which looks hard working but not especially skilful. Perhaps sensible for the first day of the season.

Got 45 games to put it right! (If my maths hasnt let me down)

Dramatic 3-2 victory, after a poor start and going 2 down before HT. Tabor to score the winner.

Despite all the positivity around the team at the moment I'm going with a typical not particularly good first game 1-1. Smith with an early tap-in

1-1 draw

Does anyone know what the vibe within the Walsall fanbase is? Have they had a good transfer window or not?

Think they’re ready to get on the manager’s back - 1 win in 21 at the back end of last season.

Get a goal up and they’ll be turning.

How many tickets have we sold, any idea?

Over 2k according to the club's twitter.

Super Saddler Seb who does the vlogs (and admittedly I’ve only watched them when he’s vlogging games against us) did a video about his L2 predictions for the season & has Walsall in 13th.

How representative of the entire fanbase that is - I don’t know…

We all know the script though don’t we.

Walsall produced arguably the biggest promotion bottle job of all time. Manages to just hang onto a play off spot. Got to the final - just to bottle it again. 1 win in the last 21 (I think) & a manager who is probably on borrowed time already. Fans not particularly confident.

Swindon on promotion winning from from January - April. Finished the season well, kept the manager, kept the majority of the squad. Raised expectations.

….3-0 Walsall win incoming.

I know every club has their morons on twitter but theirs really do seem next level thick.

Genuinely think I see their fanbase trying to “rattle” or get “nibbles” from us more than any other fanbase including Scum, Rovers etc. No one is interested in them, biggest bottles of all time in L2. Won’t go on Twitter for a few days if we lose as they will be everywhere trying to wind us up - childish bunch of fans.

Fuckers have cancelled parking spaces twice now. Still available but pricing going up.

Bollocks to them. I’ll find a housing estate and park on the road.

That’s what you call taking the piss because demand is high.

That's pathetic. They shouldn't be allowed to do that

I have this horrible feeling they know they can’t win, so will niggle Smith all day and he gets sent off. We hold on for a 1-1. He stays on the pitch we win 2-0

.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aOs1pw5QmBo

.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ5GK2DmRug

You know the address drop a bag of dog shit on the drive

There’s a retail park nearby. Anyone know if long term parking is on a first come first served basis?

My mate has booked parking at the Morrison’s which is about 10 mins away

Pre match can you help me, occupy my brain? Oh yeah, in The Briar Rose.
RIP Ozzy.
Hope that the streets of the Black Country will be similarly lined as and when Noddy Holder kicks the bucket but not for a while yet.

Anyway, a long slow summer draws to a close and the quest for a minimum 73 points is about to begin.
Makes a change to join the match day thread on page 6 & not 1 or 2.

Wouldn't normally set much store by the result or the performance in the first game.
Think that it does have importance this time though, given 2k plus away fans in attendance and a testing looking set of fixtures in August.
So a decent start could be quite important this time, just to maintain & heighten the interest particularly if the team looks like it might mean business for a change going into September.

Looks like a much of a muchness league this season but it should be very competitive.
Consistency of fitness, organisation and getting the basics right will prevail.

There were some genuinely thrilling moments in the latter part of last season.
Just more of the same please & keep some clean sheets.

Didn't learn much new over the summer apart from a collective of ladybirds is called a loveliness and that was while watching test match cricket on the box.
Only in England.

Might be stretching it to describe a Swindon away following as a loveliness.
Lovely to be part of at times, for sure.
A fragile optimism of Swindon fans might be appropriate going into the first game?

Still, it will be good to get back into it and see some familiar and not so familiar faces today.

The moaners, the groaners.
The thinkers, the drinkers.
The Morfuni martyrs and the smelly beer farters.
The goggle jacket scrappers and the stay behind clappers.
The obsessive latchers and the 40 winks snatchers.
The half time pie munchers and the stats number crunchers.
The sly vape inhalers and the just one line cravers.
The chanters & singers and the nervous hand wringers.
One common source of glee and that's our STFC.

Sorry.
Time for another beer.
Have a feeling that it might be an enjoyable ride on the 2025-26 rollercoaster.

Most of the standard parking has been booked and is full.

Setting off now, hope to get a space before hordes descend.

One of your best Wobbly Bob...great start to the season which is hopefully reflected on the pitch :clap:

Poetry in motion…excellent read keep on wobbling Bob  :pint:

There's a station called Tame Bridge Parkway that has trains every half hour to the Bescott that has a car park apparently, 2 minute journey.  No idea if that fills up on match days though.

Only concern for me is Walsall were a wingback setup team last season with some decent wingbacks if memory serves.

Hope there’s a plan for that if it continues as our wingbacks will likely be a young pairing of Munroe and Snowden so they’ll need adequate defensive cover from the CB’s/midfield.

I prefer to have them worry about us :)

I always get concerned for the 1st game of the season and am never overly confident as you wonder if the players have blended into a team over the Summer, the same applies to the opposition who must be pretty confident after a solid pre season playing against far better opposition than we did.

But there is always the unkown element, 1 player starts the season like he has a flaming piece of loo paper tied to his arse all game, a regularly reliable player makes a bad error or gets sent off costing us the game.

But of course this applies to both teams.

At this stage I would love a win, which we are more than capable of but would be happy with a draw.

1st games of the season often flag up very wierd results as I mentioned before about the likes of Colchester 7-1 Norwich and us losing 5-0 at Gills and making the play offs etc.

As Tom says we need to give them more to worry about than we need to worry about them.

They lost Liam Gordon (left wing back) to Port Vale who played basically every game last season, albeit I thought he was shit. Replaced with Vincent Harper who played 50+ games in League One for Exeter City across the last 2 seasons.

Avoid M5 north. Crash near Frankley services.

Apparently according to the Walsall local media it seems thier line up is likely to be:

Roberts; Barrett, Flint, Hancock, Harper; Comley, Lakin, Jellis; Hollman; Matt, Gordon

If this is the line up....

Roberts in goal will be making his EFL debut with just 19 games at league level with Partick previously.

Flint will be making his Walsall debut after signing from Mansfield.

Hancock will be making his debut in defence after signing from Airdrie.

Harper will be making his debut after signing from Exeter.

Hollman will be making his debut after signing from Macarthur FC.

Barrett is starting just his 2nd season in league football.

Gordon is entering his 2nd season at Walsall.

Lakin is in his 2nd season at Walsall.

Jellis is starting his 3rd season at Walsall.

Comley is in his 3rd season at Walsall.

Matt is starting his 4th season with Walsall.

Thats likely 6 players making their debut for them today, hopefully they havent melded together (especially in defence) yet.

Start of a new season,feeling very optimistic  a 4 nil win today will be a very nice start to the campaign, 15 points clear by christmas and the bookies paying my bet out early will do very nice thanks.championship in 2 years. Its time to be positive  and dream, COYR

That's the NowTV subscription sorted, excited for the season ahead.

I really like Charlie Lakin. I thought he would have been a perfect signing for us last season.

Is this one on Sky today?

Think so, no Prem games so think 3pm doesn't apply?

Team news - 75 mins before KO this season.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GxWMZvlW4AAcxO3?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

Decent line up pretty much as expected and a strong bench.

Wish we’d do the graphics in a formation rather than a numerical order grid.

The words ‘strong’ and ‘bench’ were not often applied in rapid succession to Swindon squads last year (as far as I recall).

On the train, load of dickhead Swindon fans chanting about Tommy Robinson.  How has it come to this?

It seems to be pretty endemic now all accross football sadly.

Almost made me regret travelling from France to be here tbh.

TBH it looks one of the strongest benches we have had since Clem arrived. A good mix of youth and experience.

So Munroe, Wilson-Brown and Snowdon all making their football league debuts today and Oldaker making his Swindon debut.

Absolutely. There’s quality all the way through it. Very refreshing to see.

No Bodin in squad then, maybe not up to fitness level's yet.

Saw somewhere him and McGregor are fitness doubts. No point risking him when we have such good attacking options anyway.

In the presser Ollie said it was unlikely Bodin would play due to an injury.

This.

Also the heads are appearing next to the player aboves numbers. Bit of a mess that.

Disagree, the sentence "that isn't a strong bench at all" has been used many times, not only last season but for long time  :D

Its a really scrappy looking format this season.

Smith is a doubt

Harry Smith may not be starting.

Be a major blow if he is not fit enough to play.

Will mean pushing Drinan to CF and play Glatzel IMO.

True, but would throw out Walsall's game plan.

There is that.

He just took part in the final sprint

Hawes suggesting he didnt look happy doing them, could maybe start and see how it progresses. Not sure I would risk him though if theres any doubts.

Hmm, obviously wasn't paying any attention to him before seeing the news on here so can't really add much more unfortunately

Hawes suggesting he may start but maybe suffering from a hip injury he picked up at Eastleigh.

Smith is starting.

Here we go for the new season.

Got Walsall comms. Can tell they're going to annoy me already.

Alroyt skip!

Pretty scrappy start but lively, no quality yet.

Town win a free kick near the corner flag, good position, for a foul on Munroe.

Nice FK from Wright but the keeper just flaps the ball away.

Not much quality on display here yet!

W-B with a  good towering header cleared.

0-1 their first attack.

Garbage so far.

Decent FK but Ripley not close to it.

Damn that was a beauty

Except for that free kick! 😮

Initially thought ripley should’ve done better but on the replay it’s a hell of a free kick. Fair play

Well, the optimism lasted 7 minutes at least…

No need to give that FK away. Quality finish though

Currently sat bottom of the football league.

It's well placed but a two man wall there is a bit weird. We've set up for a cross but it really wasn't that far out.

2 man wall?

Ripley looks like he was taken completely by surprise running across goal. Probably could do with positioning himself a step or two to the end of the goal the shot was coming from

Our whole set up there looks like we assumed there'd be a cross.

Probably being wise after the event, but I did think the wall set up looked a little odd given how close it was.

Wonder who the applause was for at 11 mins?

I think Ripley and the defence set up for a cross and he surprised everyone by having a shot that went in, it was a good finish for sure but I feel we should have prepared for the shot as well as the cross.

An 11 year old Walsall fan who died of Leukemia over the summer.

A young Walsall fan who was 11 who died of cancer recently. It was on the 11th minute.

Nearly 2-0!

My word that would’ve been a gift

Superb free kick to score from but its been a poor start overall.

Come on.

Thank you (and to PV)

Horrible disease! 😢

Poor quality so far from both sides, we are creating nothing really of note yet.

But its early.

We've not really settled at all.

We don’t seem to have a formation. Everyone getting in each other’s way

Red card!

Red for the Walsall defender.

Seems the trend of teams going down to ten men against us has continued to this season

A gift.

Get in!!

That will make some space!

Thought the ref had bottled that but he was just waiting to see how it played out if any advantage.

Very good refereeing that.

Considering how many of these players were here at the end of last season playing this system, we look so absent

Poor FK by Wright.

Walsall taking off a striker and adding an extra midfielder.

Yeah you'd expect them to hit the ground running better than this. They look like an opening day team figuring themselves out still.

Gonna be 70 minutes of 9 men behind the ball & is passing sideways frustratingly

Good header by Smith but the keeper makes a meal of the save and it ends up an easy save.

We're already set up attacking. I wonder how extra we'll go.

3 football league debuts is bound to have an impact

So who said Smith was injured??

I thought we were fairly good at breaking down ten men under Holloway last season. Yes, new players but a lot of the same from last season too. Our strength against ten men last season was something I haven’t seen from past Swindon sides in a while

For me we are still missing that creative midfield chance taker/creator who can make things happen rather than just finding another Town player with an easy pass.

Some industrial language coming from the bench. Not sure which one though.

…that and a legit pacey winger / wide forward.

Hes nowhere near as mobile at the moment as he usually is, Drinan seems to be covering him.

Yes, lots of ‘workmanlike’ performers

Tabor has some pace and can beat his man, it could be a great chance for him/Ameen.

Someone else died?

I would have "bet on" Jellis winning that ;)

Neither Drinan or Snowdon have gone past their man so far today.

How else did Drinan win the pen?

Don’t think Drinan has found a pass either

Pressley goes to deck very easily, no need to put him into that position.

Bescot is a library

Not much quality up top so far. Aimless crosses into the box.

F*cking hell we are absolute dog turd. Kangaroo shagger has f*cked this club.

I meant down the right side, Drinan has looked better in the middle. And it was a free kick not a pen ;)

Pen?

Everything we're doing is so predictable, sideways, sideways, out wide, aimless cross, cleared, repeat.

Need more pace on the wing, Drinan and Snowdon too slow on the right

What pen? Did I miss something?

Totally aimless crossing by us and aimless passing, cut inside and try a shot from distance and hope for a rebound if its saved.

This was the fear when they went a man down.

Get Ameen on for a bit of pace. If Smith isn't up for it replace him with Tabor as well. Pointless him being on if not fit.

Yea, not the greatest start this. Thankfully have options to change to as currently isn’t working.

Not just up top!

Reminds me of Gills away under Lindsey when we were playing against 10 men almos tall the game and all we did was the same strategy as this.

I am sure Holloway wont be pleased with what hes seen so far.

You have to hit the target there Drinan.

Kilkenny off for Ameen.

OK thats wierd.

Good cross from Snowden and close by Drinan

Ameen for Kilkenny!

You know what I mean! He almost scored then.

Ameen on.

Good change by Holloway

I would have taken off Oldaker who has done nothing so far today rather than Kilkenny.

That tactical foul by Walsall is looking like a good one right now even though the guy got sent off.

Agreed. Kilkenny keeps us ticking over, not a player I’d be taking off

Clarke shot high and wide from 15 yards, one of our better moves.

Has Drinan even beaten his man yet? He’s looking poor so far

Walsall are dressed as AC Milan from the late 80’s, we’ve obliged in making them look like them…

Ok - might be a bit hyperbolic but I want Jake f’n Tabor in that penalty box…

Push Ameen into the middle and let Flint try and cope with his speed and control, he will win a penalty easily.

He'd have buried that header I think but then probably so would have have a not 100% Smith.

I agree, this is exactly the type of game he can create issues in the box, personally I would put him on for the 2nd half for Drinan.

3 mins added.

Not very creative around their box with a man up...
would like to see have a little 1v1 ability and then take a shot and look for rebounds

Not writing off Oldaker already because thats stupid but he is very Ray Wilkins type of a sideways passing midfielder. In a game like this we need more risk taking with passes.

HT 0-1

Not creative enough, needs changes 2nd half.

Early days as you say but I’d rather have Cotterill in there right about now…

How did Old acre pass the sprint test? Looks about 10lbs overweight. Like the look of Munroe though. Ameen already boosted us,think(hope) he can turn it round for us.

I'm sure that's how Chesterfield fans described him too.

To be fair, it's always hard to break teams down when they just sit ten men behind the ball. Drinan needs to come off. He's looked more like the old Kennedy Drinan than the Holloway version. It's a shame Butterworth isn't ion the squad. Might have been a good option with pace and creativity coming off the bench. Im sure we'll see Tabor sooner than later.

I like the way he plays but his final ball needs work, improve the crossing and theres a player in him for sure.

Two old fashioned CFs might be the way to go in this with Tabor and Smith. Just a question of who you sacrafice and what shape you go with.

I assumed that we would play with wingbacks. But we don’t seem to have anyone who can take on their man or dribble.

Agree that Oldaker looks like ‘the Crab’.

Ripley at fault for the goal. Didn’t set his wall and didn’t get across quickly. (Well taken freekick though)

Too much ambling around.

I have a feeling that Smith won't be back for the 2nd half

Just me that likes the look of Oldaker then :D

Think that's a bit harsh. It was just a great goal with a bit of pace right into the top corner

I would take off Drinan and replace him with Tabor, would like another midfield option and take off Oldaker too but we dont have a midfielder on the bench.

Nope im with you  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: i thought he's looked alright!

Looks like Glatzel for Drinnan

Yeah, I could see that as the game went on...

Glatzel on for Drinan.

Glad to see Ameen give us something attack-wise down the left. Nobody looked capable of causing any sort of danger prior to that on our left side.

Tactical foul has worked out for them so far. Not quick clicked in any respect yet. Could all be very different this half of course.

FK to town just outside the box.

Wright just wide.

Wright lovely pass to Clarke in the box and he turns but scuffs his shot from 15 yards at the keeper.

My god they have some gobby fucks for fans.

Walsall break with pace but his shot is shocking with just Ripley to beat, easy save.

That was never a foul by Smith, weakest free kick ever, Smith gets a yellow for arguing.