My clipping from this morning's paper
The Bees took a deserved lead via a diving header from eight yards by Dutch defender Pim Balkestein, but this only served to wake up the home side and ten minutes later they were level.Keeper Jimmy Walker – making his 500th appearance for the club in his second spell at the Bescot – punted the ball up field, Darren Byfield nodded the ball down and former Manchester City striker Jon Macken volleyed in his seventh of the season from 25 yards with the outside of his right boot. It was a stunner and seemed to sting the Bees (sorry).
The Saddlers came out after the break and appeared to take control. Winger Jordan Cook scored his first goal on his full debut for the club to put Walsall ahead, but this just seemed to wake the visitors up again.
Adam Reed played a sweet pass to Lewis Grabban that split the home defence and the striker rounded Walker to knock the ball in from about six yards in the 63rd minute.
Given the precarious relegation position Walsall are in they could have been forgiven for folding, but they immediately bounced back and – as spectacular as his opener was – Macken tapped in from close range in the 64th minute to make sure of the points and lift his side out of the drop zone – albeit on goal difference from Bristol Rovers.
Brentford didn’t play like a team of players who already have the Thomas Cook brochures out and caretaker player-boss Nicky Forster made the right noises about not giving up on the play-offs quite yet, but realistically they haven’t got anything to play for now – apart from giving Forster the chance of the job on a permanent basis and securing their own futures of course!
I remember talking to Bees Chairman Greg Dyke in the game before Andy Scott was given the manager’s job and there was no doubt he was influenced by how much the players were giving their all for Scott.
So how will Walsall fare this season?
Well, it’s not all over by any means. The results went for them last night when Daggers and Notts County lost again, but with Rovers putting together some decent results and Swindon having won a game after not tasting victory in the previous eighteen, who knows what’s going to happen.
It’s going to be on hell of an end to the season in League One.
I’ve now seen Rovers, Swindon and Walsall in recent weeks and not one of these teams looks like they are giving up and so the sides just above them must be bricking it.
Tranmere face Dagenham and County in their next two fixtures and four points should see them safe.
Dagenham have then got Plymouth and while the Devon club looks doomed, they are still playing with pride. The ten point deduction wasn’t their fault.
Notts County have a tough home game against play-off chasing Bournemouth on Saturday and Martin Allen’s arrival hasn’t worked the same sort miracles that Barnet saw after his appointment there.
Walsall entertain Brighton on Saturday and after manager Dean Smith found out about the Seagulls promotion last night he said:
“With a bit of luck they’ll spend the next three nights partying.”
Nice thought if you’re a Saddlers fan, but I suspect Gus Poyet will still have the seasiders focused and so it’s going to be another tough game.
Swindon have also got a difficult fixture against MK Dons who are going for a play-off spot while Rovers have a tricky away game at Southampton who are looking to join Brighton as one of the two automatically promoted sides.
All in all it will make for an interesting and very tense Saturday afternoon. In fact my nerves are already on edge and I’m wondering whether I’ll be able to face eating those nice prawn sandwiches in the Press Room at the County Ground! Well, maybe I’ll be able to hold down one or two.
Song artist: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
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