The Dark Knight
New Member
Well, it certainly seems that this fixture has a lot of people excited...
A midday kick-off on a Sunday afternoon is exactly what football is all about, isn't it? I've got a feeling the rescheduled day and time has removed a lot of fans' desire for this game, as bar the odd exception, we usually take a healthy enough four-figure following and they're always tight and competitive games. I know a lot of people who are making the decision to stay at home (or at best, head to the pub) and save their money. I think the pricing could've been a little better with it now being a televised Sunday game and only five days before Christmas, but it is what it is! Can't imagine fans of either side are up for it.
Vale will again be without captain Carl Dickinson who serves the final game of his three-match suspension for his dismissal at Rochdale at the end of November. I actually think we've missed him, and I never thought I'd say that after how frustrating and brilliant he can be in equal amounts. Ryan McGivern has been excellent at centre half since breaking into the team, so I don't want to disrupt his partnership with Richard Duffy. However, Adam Yates at left back is a disaster waiting to happen. He may have experience playing in that position for us in previous seasons, but I think he's horrific there. Abysmal against Scunthorpe. Byron Moore will more than likely miss this game as he hasn't recovered from injury yet, which would indicate Chris Birchall starting again, which I don't mind as he's justified his place in recent games with two goals in his last four appearances.
Walsall have injury concerns over top goalscorer Tom Bradshaw who has a nasty gash on his ankle, I believe, and may be worse than initially thought, so fingers crossed he sits this one out as that'd be a massive boost to The Saddlers. A 75%-fit Bradshaw is probably a bigger threat than Jordan Cook, who, whilst a grafter and hard-working, he isn't really seen as a prolific striker capable of filling the gap left by Bradshaw's absence.
Vale are unbeaten in their last nine league fixtures against Walsall (W5, D4), which is an extremely impressive record but it's dismal reading for Saddlers fans. Walsall's last league win against Vale came on the opening day of the 2003/2004 season where there were five goals and four dismissals (two for each side). Goals from Matty Fryatt (pen), Leroy Williams and Daryl Taylor cancelled out goals from Billy Paynter and Lee Matthews, with Ian Roper and coach Iffy Onuora sent off, alongside Vale's goalscorer Paynter and manager Martin Foyle. 8,225 there that day (where have they all gone?).
Victory for Walsall would see them get their first win in this fixture in ten attempts, and would see them overtake both Coventry City and Gillingham to reclaim second place. An away win would see Vale move within one point of the Play-Off positions and dependent on the winning margin, could see them end Sunday in ninth place. This would set up a potentially big game at Coventry City on Boxing Day. A draw would see Walsall move up a place into third, and Vale move above Millwall into eleventh place.
Walsall are unbeaten in their last five home games in both league and cup, and have only lost twice at home in the league all season. Whilst Vale possess a poor away record and have only won two of their ten games away from home, yet strangely, haven't conceded more than two goals once this season.
It's always a tight affair when we meet Walsall away. Usually 0-0 or 1-1 with a few narrow wins thrown int the mix. Hoping we can continue having this hoodoo over them and we'll grind out a 1-0 win, but I have absolutely zero confidence of us keeping a clean sheet, especially away to one of the early pacesetters. I'd like to see Uche brought back in for this as his strength and physical presence could be vital for us on such a small and tight pitch. It'd suit him down to the ground. Dodds doesn't deserve to keep his place after three anonymous performances against Rochdale, Exeter and Scunthorpe. I'd put Foley on the left instead of Kelly, put Uche up top and have Ajay in the hole instead of Dodds.
Attendance - I'll hazard a complete guess at 4,349 with 587 travelling fans (we all know why that is..)
A midday kick-off on a Sunday afternoon is exactly what football is all about, isn't it? I've got a feeling the rescheduled day and time has removed a lot of fans' desire for this game, as bar the odd exception, we usually take a healthy enough four-figure following and they're always tight and competitive games. I know a lot of people who are making the decision to stay at home (or at best, head to the pub) and save their money. I think the pricing could've been a little better with it now being a televised Sunday game and only five days before Christmas, but it is what it is! Can't imagine fans of either side are up for it.
Vale will again be without captain Carl Dickinson who serves the final game of his three-match suspension for his dismissal at Rochdale at the end of November. I actually think we've missed him, and I never thought I'd say that after how frustrating and brilliant he can be in equal amounts. Ryan McGivern has been excellent at centre half since breaking into the team, so I don't want to disrupt his partnership with Richard Duffy. However, Adam Yates at left back is a disaster waiting to happen. He may have experience playing in that position for us in previous seasons, but I think he's horrific there. Abysmal against Scunthorpe. Byron Moore will more than likely miss this game as he hasn't recovered from injury yet, which would indicate Chris Birchall starting again, which I don't mind as he's justified his place in recent games with two goals in his last four appearances.
Walsall have injury concerns over top goalscorer Tom Bradshaw who has a nasty gash on his ankle, I believe, and may be worse than initially thought, so fingers crossed he sits this one out as that'd be a massive boost to The Saddlers. A 75%-fit Bradshaw is probably a bigger threat than Jordan Cook, who, whilst a grafter and hard-working, he isn't really seen as a prolific striker capable of filling the gap left by Bradshaw's absence.
Vale are unbeaten in their last nine league fixtures against Walsall (W5, D4), which is an extremely impressive record but it's dismal reading for Saddlers fans. Walsall's last league win against Vale came on the opening day of the 2003/2004 season where there were five goals and four dismissals (two for each side). Goals from Matty Fryatt (pen), Leroy Williams and Daryl Taylor cancelled out goals from Billy Paynter and Lee Matthews, with Ian Roper and coach Iffy Onuora sent off, alongside Vale's goalscorer Paynter and manager Martin Foyle. 8,225 there that day (where have they all gone?).
Victory for Walsall would see them get their first win in this fixture in ten attempts, and would see them overtake both Coventry City and Gillingham to reclaim second place. An away win would see Vale move within one point of the Play-Off positions and dependent on the winning margin, could see them end Sunday in ninth place. This would set up a potentially big game at Coventry City on Boxing Day. A draw would see Walsall move up a place into third, and Vale move above Millwall into eleventh place.
Walsall are unbeaten in their last five home games in both league and cup, and have only lost twice at home in the league all season. Whilst Vale possess a poor away record and have only won two of their ten games away from home, yet strangely, haven't conceded more than two goals once this season.
It's always a tight affair when we meet Walsall away. Usually 0-0 or 1-1 with a few narrow wins thrown int the mix. Hoping we can continue having this hoodoo over them and we'll grind out a 1-0 win, but I have absolutely zero confidence of us keeping a clean sheet, especially away to one of the early pacesetters. I'd like to see Uche brought back in for this as his strength and physical presence could be vital for us on such a small and tight pitch. It'd suit him down to the ground. Dodds doesn't deserve to keep his place after three anonymous performances against Rochdale, Exeter and Scunthorpe. I'd put Foley on the left instead of Kelly, put Uche up top and have Ajay in the hole instead of Dodds.
Attendance - I'll hazard a complete guess at 4,349 with 587 travelling fans (we all know why that is..)