By Neil Ravenscroft
September 3 2004

It's downstream from Sheffield and far too close to Rotherham for comfort. Doncaster Rovers must be next on Walsall's travels this season. Walsall set off for Doncaster tomorrow with the main questions still hanging over their defensive performances. They gave Swindon a two goal start on Bank Holiday Monday, but the free scoring Saddlers managed to pull that back, depsite missing teenage leading scorer Matt Fryatt.
Paul Merson realises that conceeding goals for fun cannot go on for ever and has said that we must be strong at the back tomorrow, earning the right to play our football, which is exactly the right attitude. The lack of form of Neil Emblen and the fact that Roper will again be missing through suspension means that this will not be so easy to achieve. Emblen, at least, should be more at home dealing with the physical challenge of Leo Fortune West, his arms and elbows.
It's difficult to see many changes tomorrow, given how well the team performed on Monday (other than at the back, but resources are thin there), but you never know with Merson and Leroy Williams' performance in the reserves may see him back on the bench.
Doncaster have 7 points so far this season, all of which have come at home, so they won't be an easy proposition on their own pitch.
Predictions? If you think I'm getting into that game, judging by this season so far, you must be joking. 0 - 0 does seem impossible, so that's the most likely, I suppose!