Match Preview: Walsall Vs Bury

My god it`s good to be home. As you all know we are yet to play a game at home this month and it will be nice to return to the safety of a crap pitch and a giant green turtle that can be seen by anyone and everyone on the M6.

Despite not winning in 5, we have had two very positive results in the last 2 games and not losing to Huddersfield is a massive indicator of the quality that we have in this side. There are few teams in this division who will go to sunny Yorkshire and hold the Terriers. The other positive to take from that game is Jamie Paterson finally opening his league account; the goal has been coming and let`s hope he can build on it and get a few more before the end of this season. More recently, we drew with an Exeter side that beat us not too long ago which is indisputable proof of improvement. Either that or Nardiello chose not to beat us single-handedly again. It is gutting to lose the lead in the last seconds and it is something that Walsall fans of all generations have got used to. Traditionally, games go down to the last seconds with us because we have a ridiculously annoying knack of throwing away points due to lack of concentration and inability to deal with an all-out opposition attack for more than 17 seconds.

So what do we know about Bury? Firstly, they`re probably about as inconsistent as we are even if they slightly more successful in being so. Secondly, they possess the one who got away. Andy Bishop is easily the most frustrating transfer target in the bottom two tiers of the football league. He performs far beyond the level he`s playing at every season yet he still refuses to leave Bury and that kind of loyalty is commendable considering he could be playing for a far bigger side at the top end of League One if not the Championship. We released him and he`s now one of the best strikers in the football league; typical. Something else to look forward to will be the return of Efetobore ‘tea-towel` Sodje; known to you and I for his tea-towel like bandanas in the colours of whatever club he`s playing for he is easily one of the most disappointing centre-halves we`ll come up against this season and we need to exploit the fact that the best thing about Efe Sodje is his dress sense.

For us, it is all about building. We need players to build on their recent good performances, we need the team to build on our current unbeaten run and we REALLY need to build a brick wall in front of our goal. If we can stop Bishop scoring, we can beat Bury and beat them quite convincingly but we will need to be on our game and no one more so than our defence. Walsall 2-0 and a third game unbeaten. COME ON YOU SADDLERS!!!