By Neil Ravenscroft
October 15 2004

Walsall make their annual pilgramage to the Principality tomorrow. Will it be a first away win, or is a draw the more likely outcome? Things have the appearance of changing at Bescot Stadium. Last Saturday's win against Colchester at home was a lot more comfortable than the 2 – 1 scoreline suggests, players were playing (in the main) in their preferred positions and we had a goalkeeper who looked capable of bossing the back four, the one real complaint about Paston being that he's a bit quiet. How much these changes had to do with the departure of first team coach Iffy Onoura is the question that is likely to be answered tomorrow, as the Saddlers make the trip over the border into North Wales.

Paul Merson is again (at last) talking in terms of an unchanged team for the Racecourse Ground clash, with Joe Murphy's groin strain being the only problem with any of last week's starters. Of the fringe players and those pushing for a place, Kofi Danikah is some weeks away from being fit and Joe Broad is doubtful with a "niggle", while McKinney will be out for some weeks, leaving a position where, if Paston has to take Murphy's place, there will more than likely be no keeper on the bench.

Wrexham, in turn, are missing experience in goal, with Andy Dibble a long term injury, and up front, where Chris (sicknote mark 2) Armstrong is doubtful.

Wrexham have suffered only one defeat at home this season, as they lie in fourteenth place, but that was a disastrous 0 – 3 spanking from a not very impressive Sheffield Wednesday in Paul Sturrock's first game in charge.

Predictions? A bit difficult this one. Personally I have seen nothing that should frighten our squad this season in terms of opposition defences and Walsall's major problems seem to have been with team selection and tactics. I don't really like the 4 3 1 2 formation away from home, especially as it leaves too much dependent on the form of one man, in the shape of the player manager. However, with a performance that meets the much higher standards he set last week, we should be looking for a point at least. 2 – 2.