PNE V Walsall

[SF_]

Dean smith has had the edge over Grayson this season but we're in decent form at the moment.

We could really do with grabbing 3pts here to put some pressure on but it's hard to be overly confident against Walsall when looking at the previous performances.

One of our centre backs will have to make way as we can't be playing three at the back at home, it's shite and twice now he's had to change it at half time. I think Bailey Wright is the most expendable despite playing well on Saturday.

Gallagher went off with a knock to the ankle so might be missing, massive loss if so, he's probably more key than Garner at the moment. Hopefully he's fine to play.

Johnstone
Wiseman, Clarke, Huntington, Laird
Welsh, Johnson
Humphrey, Gallagher, Robinson
Garner

Stuckmann, Wright, Buchanan, Kilkenny, Reid, Davies, Ebanks-Blake​

 

[Rochdale White]

Is there any chance of Beckford coming back to the bench in place of SEB?

 

[SF_]

Possibly, would be harsh on Ebanks-Blake though, he's only getting the odd 5 minutes here and there so he has little chance to impress.

Took his goal well against Yeovil though and hit the bar against Walsall.

We probably don't need both at the moment but it's nice to have options.

 

[Destruction]

We really struggle against teams that play it on the deck, hence "lesser" sides like Walsall and Crewe so often getting results against us. Not surprising one of our worst defeats came at Rochdale who dicked us 3-0.

I sort of want to go on this but I'll probably wait until the last minute to decide.

 

[SF_]

Is Bradshaw going to be missing for Walsall? Good news if so, I rate the guy.

Don't know anything about Walsall's other strikers though.

That Sawyers is someone who enjoys playing against us, need to get tight on him.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Bradshaw was declared fit on Saturday, but didn't feature in the squad at Bradford so he may not be quite ready for this. We have 18 year old Jordy Hiwula on loan from Man City and he has 3 in 5 games, been very lively actually, quite impressive. Not sure Bradshaw would just drop back in straight away even if he was fit. It will be a 4-5-1 without the ball with Sawyers playing at the top of a midfield and then attempting to link the midfield/forwards when we are in possession.

We were rubbish at Bradford on Saturday on a dreadful pitch that didn't suit us at all. It will be nice to play on a pitch with grass. We haven't been very good in our last 2 and a half games to be honest. We can't keep beating Preston either and with you in good form, us not playing so well.. then I reckon our very good run against you will come to an end on Tuesday.

2-0 PNE.
Garner and Gallagher.
148 Saddlers.

 

[TomPNE94]

Our pitch isn't that great at the moment tbh, very bobbly and bare

 

[Saddlerrad]

Our pitch isn't that great at the moment tbh, very bobbly and bare

It physically cannot be as bad as Bradford, it's the worst pitch I've seen in years.

 

[TomPNE94]

No, it's not even close to that bad, but it's not ideal for playing passing football

 

[SF_]

Our pitch doesn't look particularly good at the moment but I think it still plays quite well.

 

[Geosaddler]

Well even if the pitch isn't perfect I hope its still good enough to attempt to keep the ball on the deck. As Rad says the Bradford pitch was one of worst i've seen in a long time which suited the Bradford 'lump it and knock down' style of play. Horrible style of football on the eye but if its what works then you cant knock it. From what Ive seen of Preston so far this season I'll be expecting a higher standard of game.

Hiwula has stepped in superbly for Bradshaw (who I expect will miss the game unfortunately) and I fancy him to chip in with a goal. Very similar type of player to Bradshaw. The kid is lively, fairly quick, doesn't stop working hard in the thankless 1 up top role and has this nice knack of right place right time.

I'll go for 1-1. Generally even when up against it on the road we have found a good habit of at least leaving with a point.

 

[4froale]

how has Danny Johnson done so far?

 

[4froale]

double post

 

[TomPNE94]

how has Danny Johnson done so far?

I've only seen him twice and he has looked very good both times. Doesn't do anything special but always picks the right pass and gives us a lot more tempo which is what we have lacked all season.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Going to this tomorrow, I'll go for a 0-0, Preston will tighten up at the back because of the previous games and we will be more cautious of Garner but at least we won't have Davies elbowing our defenders in the face all game.

 

[TomPNE94]

Going to this tomorrow, I'll go for a 0-0, Preston will tighten up at the back because of the previous games and we will be more cautious of Garner but at least we won't have Davies elbowing our defenders in the face all game.

Garner is actually worse for that, so unlucky you may even have both of them playing!

 

[JordanPNE]

Massively need to win this to put some pressure on the top 2.

 

[saddler_andy]

Not sure about this, our away form is superb. But Preston are no mugs, I will go for a 1-1 either side could snatch a win.

 

[SF_]

how has Danny Johnson done so far?

Both games i've seen him play in he has been anonymous in the first 45 minutes and then started pulling the strings and getting forward in the second. Maybe he gets instructions to sit deep in the first half, wouldn't surprise me with Grayson.

He looks like he could be a big player for us though.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Smith's finally shown he is willing to fiddle with things, go with 2 directly upfront away from home, instead of Sawyers playing as a 5. Big, brace call considering we haven't lost away since November. We've only conceded 3! Grimes in for Sawyers, Andy Taylor rested for 17 year old Rico Henry at left back and James Chambers back in for the injured Paul Downing.

O'Donnell

Purkiss
O'Connor
Chambers
Henry

Cook
Chambers
Cain
Forde

Hiwula
Grimes

 

[JJH]

2 in 2 for Johnson.

All 3 of the top 4 teams winning then.

 

[zanderpne]

2 in 2 for Johnson.

All 3 of the top 4 teams winning then.

Not bad for 50k

 

[Saddlerrad]

Seems like it may have been a foul in the lead up to the goal. Not surprised by the score though, it will probably get worse from here. Haven't played well since the opening 20 minutes vs Rochdale and we were pretty woeful on Saturday. Or I thought so anyway.

 

[zanderpne]

Seems like it may have been a foul in the lead up to the goal. Not surprised by the score though, it will probably get worse from here. Haven't played well since the opening 20 minutes vs Rochdale and we were pretty woeful on Saturday. Or I thought so anyway.

I can confirm from my armchair that it wasn't a foul

 

[Destruction]

Sounds like we made hard work of it but a win is a win.

 

[TomPNE94]

Definitely wasn't a foul, he fell over and injured his shoulder/arm.

Great performance first 35 minutes and then pretty average. Johnson is class.

 

[TomPNE94]

Why on earth did Sawyers not start? He always tears us apart and as soon as he came on you started to dominate. I was delighted to see he was on the bench before the game!

 

[SF_]

How the actual fuck did we only win that 1-0?

We were superb in the the opening 30 minutes and could have been 4 or 5 nil up, then hit the bar and post in the second half as well.

Walsall got back into it possession wise and pinned us back for the last half hour or so but I only remember them creating one real chance. No idea why Romaine Sawyers was on the bench, their best player by a mile.

Daniel Johnson was absolute class first half but faded in the second, Gallagher did well too but Humphrey had a stormer, quality play for our goal and bossed it down that right.

I still don't think we look entirely convincing but who can complain about 4 wins in a row with 0 goals conceded?

 

[TomPNE94]

Agree completely.

Completely pissed me off that our fans were getting on the players backs when we were pressing them pretty well. Restricted a good side to 2 long range shots and 1 decent chance. More than happy with that.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Sawyers was benched because he hasn't had a rest for a long time and after a leggy poor performance on Saturday at Bradford we instantly looked better when Henry and Grimes appeared and we went 4-4-2. He splits our fans down the middle. When the team is playing well, Sawyers is absolutely excellent, when we are under the cosh, he just trotts around, looking languid and asif he can't be arsed to dig in. Thankfully, it sounds like Smith got the right reaction out of him last night - I think because he has the languid (black man gangster) kind of look people wrongly throw the lazy/attitude tag at him. Which is wrong as from what I can gather he's quite clever and a proper religious lad.

Personally, regardless of how bad or good he is, he should always be in our team. Especially over the likes of Grimes, who are lower league cannon fodder. He constantly links the midfield to our forward and just through the nature of him being there, the team retain the ball 30 yards higher up the pitch. He's one of the first names on the teamsheet for me, even if he is annoying at times. He has been booed off 3 times this season by our fans but then cheered and given standing ovations on numerous others.

He is frustrating at times, because you know that if he could get some more consistency in his game, there's a top half, every week regular championship player in there. Some of the things he does, are a class far above this level. But other aspects to his game anger everyone.