Scouting report: Salford City-Watt's all the fuss about?

Salford made the playoffs last season, I'd be very surprised if they did this time. Ask their fans and I'm sure there are a number of reasons, ask me and I'll tell you it's because Elliot Watt hasn't played very often. To my mind the best number six in the league is very sorely missed when unavailable, it wouldn't do us any harm if he misses tomorrow too.

Speaking of "misses", I hope someone has gotten hold of Armani Littles phone during the week. Our chief ratter always plays his best when he has the red mist visibility down to three paces, a few bogus messages to HIS Mrs (see what I did there?), "Hi Mrs Little, love you, Elliot, mwa mwa" should do the trick. After his total demolition job on Swindon last week (including a leg snapper on Jake Young), hopefully our snarly little terrier has been locked in a darkened room all week, been fed raw meat and with thrash metal blaring out of the speakers 24/7. If Watt plays, Armani needs to get a "restrictor" in within the first ten minutes or so.

Other than Elliot Watt, the big problem Salford pose is Matt Smith. I'd back myself against him over ten yards even now (I'm 57), but if we let them put crosses in, me, Johnny, Rob and Skivvers wouldn't stop him between us. I suspect our centre halves won't stop him either (excellent though they are) if we let them put loads of crosses in. Our full backs are going to have to get out quick, snap the tackles in and encourage a re-cycle.

The good news is, if we can stop Elliot Watt dictating the game, and if we can stop loads of crosses, we really ought to be OK. I DO like the young centre forward Junior Luamba, he's started getting to get a look in (VERY pacey) but not that much else. Incidentally Luamba (before Salford got him) would be the exact profile of player Id be looking at for our "we need another striker" conundrum.

They sometimes play a three at the back, with Adrian Mariappa as the middle one. He's 37, if they do that this time then my advice is to take the 80/1 available for an Ali Al-Hamidi hat-trick. I already have just in case, and even if they play a four I suspect that just like everyone else, they'll REALLY struggle to contain him. I like Theo Vassel for them in defence, but if we play as we should they're in for a hard day.

I've said a couple of times that we are a "belief pill" away from being one of the best teams in the league (for what it's worth, I think we currently ARE the best team in the league). It's time to take that pill tomorrow. It's not a "hard place to go" for us, it's not a "good point" if we draw 0-0. We are a MUCH better team than Salford currently, if we go there and believe it then we will win.

Defend high (Keep Smith out of our area), press high, be brave and get men forward. I think we'll get home with something to spare, 3-0 or 3-1, and Ali will score AT LEAST once. I'll be there cheering us on. COYD.