Walsall tomorrow

The Saddlers travel to the Smoke tomorrow and will try to avoid their second defeat in a week. They are sitting in 10th place after a 1-0 opening day win at Brighton and a last-gasp 2-2 draw at home to Southend. Having lost at home to Leeds in the week 2-1, Saturday's visit to theValley will balance their home and aways and perhaps give a more accurate reflection of their early season table position.

I had a quick look at the Walall playing staff and, er, I have to say I am none the wiser. They are a club that it's fair to say, have done very little since we last played them in this division in the 80-81 season when we beat them at the Valley 2-0 and took a point at Fellows Park in a 2-2, both matches being night games.

According to Up the Saddlers, they have not been creating chances despite dominating possession and they went down to ten men in the Southend game. This augers well for the Valley because I can't see us not scoring. Our five man midfield should be unchanged and we should play with plenty of confidence and be looking to attack from the off for the opening goal. Deon Burton will also have a spring in his step and might be extra keen to net at the Valley having scored two on the road. Another goal tomorrow might make him top scorer and give him the lift I think he needs to focus on goal-scoring as opposed to leading the line and enabling the midfield to get further forward which has been his forte since joining us. It might also, finally put some intense pressure on his striking colleagues who have all struggled to get goals at Charlton.

I expect us to play an unchanged side and to score first. That would make the Saddlers open up. If that happens then I see no reason why a confident and capable Charlton side shouldn't get a second to allow us to settle down and play the game in their half. If we get a two goal lead, Deon Burton could be rested and Andy Gray given another chance. Wade Small could also be given another go to show us what Parky has seen in him. Heaven forbid, if we could get a third, then perhaps one of the youngsters, like Tamer Tuna could get on and we could play 4-4-2.

As you can see, I am expecting a win by a couple of goals at least. Leeds have a very winnable home game against Tranmere but Colchester have a tricky trip to MK Dons. We will need the win to stay at the top but we could be sitting level with Leeds points clear of the field, which would represent the near-perfect start.

Phil Parkinson must be feeling more sure of himself after three wins in-a-row which begins to address his dismal record since taking over the reins. He's felt confident enough to tell the Newsshopper that he needs to strengthen but that his hands are tied until something breaks with the takeover. Speaking of which, Peter Varney and Alan Curbishley were spotted at Orient in the week which has fuelled that particular line of rumour (The Curbishley's with PV back in the harness).

The attendance on Saturday should be interesting. There is an expectation that we should see a healthy increase in the 16,552 for the Wycombe game but I am guessing Walsall will be 500 down on the Chairboy turnout and that we will do well to attract another 6,000 pay-on-the-day ticket purchases at what is largely £25 per seat. The holiday season is still in full flow, so my guess is that we will do very well to break 17,000.

Come on you Reds!