PORTSMOUTH v WALSALL League One – 15 September 2012 Link to BBC Preview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19528098 Last meeting at Fratton Park 30 November 2002 – Div 1 [Championship] Pompey 3-2 Walsall Who are Ya? Walsall joined the league in the Second Division in 1892 but failed re-election in 1895. They returned in 1896 but failed re-election again in 1901, dropping into the Midlands League. They moved to the Birmingham League in1903 and were elected into the Southern League in 1910. They returned to the Football league in the Third Division North in 1921. They remained in the 3rd tier for its entire regionalized existence, flitting between Third Division North and South. A bottom half finish in Third Division South in 1958 meant they played the next season in the Fourth Division. In 1961 they finally made it back to the 2nd Tier, but were back in the Third Division after just two seasons. They reached the Second Division again in 1988 and 1999, but only stayed the one season on those occasions. Their longest stint at the 2nd level was three seasons, 2001-02 to 2003-04. They left Fellows Park for their current Banks Stadium (previously Bescot Stadium) home in 1990. Walsall have been in League One since 2007. Highest League Finish: 6th in Second Division [Championship] 1899 Lowest League Finish: 16th in Fourth Division [League Two] 1991 Honours: 3rd Tier [League One] runners-up 1961, 1999; playoff winners 1988, 2001 4th Tier [League Two] winners 1960, 2007; runners up 1980, 1995 Yesteryear 18 August 1962 – Second Division [Championship] Pompey 4-1 Walsall This opening day fixture was The Saddlers’ first ever League visit to Fratton Park, in a season that saw them relegated on goal average. Pompey had a ‘quiet’ season, finishing 16th. Silver Stats – Walsall 5 seasons ago [2008] – 12th League One 10 seasons ago [2003] – 17th Div 1 [Championship] 15 seasons ago [1998] – 19th in Div 2 [League One] 20 seasons ago [1993] – 5th in Div 3 [League Two] – playoff semi-final 25 seasons ago [1988] – 3rd in Third Division [League One] – playoff winners Random Fact: Walsall were founder members of THREE different divisions: The Second Division in 1892 Third Division North in 1921 And The Fourth Division in 1958 Oh, and I seem to remember my ‘A’ Level Economics teacher was a Walsall fan Match Odds (Tues 11th at Skybet) Pompey: 6/5 Walsall: 9/5 Draw: 12/5 Mystic Devo Crawley were down to 9 men by the time Pompey took the lead on Sunday, but a win is a win and it will have been a great confidence booster. Walsall have a win and a draw on the road so far; their draw being at Oldham, who beat us at Fratton. There is no such thing as an ‘easy’ game for Pompey at the moment so the twelfth man will need to be in full voice at Fratton Park. This is the sort of match we need to win in order to stay up, because let’s take of the blue tinted specs for a minute – THAT’S the target this season as things currently stand. Devo reckons: Pompey 2-0 Walsall
Good thread as usual, devo 2-0 would be nice. Wallsall have ex Pompey youngster - Belgian born Florent Cuvelier - playing for them on loan for a second season running from Stoke City.
The last two games we played will get us going. Portsmouth 3-1 Walsall, with McLeod on the scoresheet!
These so called lesser sides will always come to FP and raise their game especially if there is a decent noisy crowd. On that basis and the fact we only got going when Crawley lost a man late in the first half, I reckon it will be close but a 2-1 win for Pompey.PUP
On that score, there was an interesting quote from Brian Howard on the PFC website - for those of you who haven't seen it here's an extract.
Another comment Brian made today was that he thinks Portsmouth need to adopt a big club mentality. He said: Brian Howard believes Pompey need to adopt a ‘big-club mentality’ if they are to succeed at Fratton Park this season. The Blues host Walsall on Saturday on the back of their first League One win of the campaign at Crawley. But Howard is well aware that Pompey are one of the biggest scalps in the division. The Blues skipper feels that opponents will view a victory at Fratton as a feather in their cap. He said: “Not many will have seen it, but down in the tunnel after the Oldham game their lads were celebrating as if they had just won the FA Cup. “Sheffield United would probably also make the claim, but I believe Pompey are the biggest club in this league. “We have to get used to the fact that the mentality of most sides will be that coming to Fratton Park is their cup final. They will pull out all the stops to win. “We have to maintain that big-club mentality and know that in some games it might not be until late on that we make a breakthrough. “Opposing teams will come here, press us and make themselves horrible to play against. A lot will be happy to go away with a point. “So we have to make sure, even if it’s a scrappy game, that we stick at it and come away with the three points. “If you look back to the first two games of the season against Bournemouth and Colchester, we probably deserved more than two points. But then we didn’t play as well in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match and got a win. “We have to learn to go on and win the game when we play well, but also find a way of taking points when we don’t. “When I was at Reading last season, they weren’t the better side in about 70 per cent of the games, but won a high percentage of those games. “It’s about being efficient. We want to play a certain way and the players coming into the club will learn that. The more we stick together, the better we will play and the more points we will collect.” Howard hopes that Pompey’s off-field problems can be sorted as soon as possible to catapult them upwards. ------------------------- Read more here: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Howard-We-re-A-Scalp-3695.aspx Without being over confident/cocky. I agree we our one of the biggest- if not the biggest- clubs in the league. We need to play like we are as well!
You never know Mark, and I reckon Saints will lose 4-0 at The Emirates Stadium against Arsenal, with Guly do Prado being caught drink driving both going to the match, and driving away afterwards - oh, wait a minute, he has already been caught and banned...........Silly, silly Guly, eh ?
He could always take up cricket; he already got his fielding position. He'll have to bat down the order though as he will be playing off the back foot seeing as he can't drive.
Well i didnt bank on twinkle toes mcleod working his magic so ill take it on the chin.This week really is a banker away win.Go £10 double on walsall away win + saints draw .........................Like printing money ..........
How much are you in for if your bet comes off, Mark ?? TBH, I can't see that realistically happening. I think we play well at home- I think it's unlikely we'll lose many games at home this season. As for the result a draw would do nicely, but a win would be great! And about your game at Arsenal- I hope you take some points off them. If you live in London like myself- everyone supports them! it does get rather annoying- and their bad excuse of a manager doesn't relieve my dislike for them whatsoever! I support them in Europe- as I do with every Champions League competing team representing our nation- but in the Premier League- I hate 'em! I still think Arsenal will win 2-0 though, they've being playing well recently- and are still to concede a goal this season!
walsall are 9/4 for the win and saints are 8/1 for the win ...£292.50 for a tenner stake .......... Improbable but you never no ....
Guly do Prado is 6-4 on, for being a bit squiffy by half time, and 8-1 on for being totally legless after 90 minutes. Nice little earner for a £20 wager, eh Mark ?
Wooperts- I challenge you to make a sneaky line for this story! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17781842 Ched Evans .. the reason everyone was Sheffield United on online modes for months! ..
I haven't last so much since Larry David's last effort. Thanks for that, pure comedy gold. Dear oh dear, talk about arrogance. "Cup final, Nortarf, you couldn't make it up............
Friday is usually a good day because the weekend is nearly upon us, so even i tend to have a little movement in my laughing lines but this was a classic funny and as LD has said, Comedy gold, you couldn't make that up I think i might be ready for a weekend drink now with my mate Guly.
His words mate, not mine. I said this was slightly arrogant, but it's nice to see the player's thinking/saying that. Good Luck tomorrow against Arsenal
