Walsall lose at Home

Walsall's proud home record fell to the manager of the month curse. In truth it was a game where we were quiet poor with too many players going missing. It was a game which would have been different if the Saddlers had scored first. However Swindon got there noses in front on the 37 minute and credit to them their game play came off a treat. Playing a 4-1-4-1 and stiffling the midfield worked well and when they broke it was well worked.

To me Swindon looked the better team and perhaps one of the better teams in the division. We failed to break them down, and the lack of space in midfield meant we resulted in too many long balls or we resulted to trying too many 'clever' balls which just gave the ball away.

Both goals came from mistakes, the first a mix up between Fox and Taylor allowed Swindon play the ball through. However Roper who had just been booked hesitated and never got his tackle in, to compound matters Clayton Ince was slow to react and the striker finished well.

The second goal, was again the result of the ball been given away all too easily. The striker turned well on the half way line and raced into the area. I could be wrong but from my angle it looked like Dann got the ball and Jutkiewicz went over his leg, but our Mr Beeby ruled it was a foul. Christian Roberts took the spot kick and bashed it against the left hand post only for it to come to rest in the right hand corner.

Walsall had some half chances as we went with three up front, but in truth we didn't play well enough in trying to break down a resolute defence. Swindon were always a threat on the break.

We have Wrexham and Boston away before Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers bring the curtain down on 2006 at Bescot. Hopefully we will have Darren Wrack and Dean Keates back to bolster the failing midfield, as well as a fit again Tony Bedeau. But the real changes will be in the New Year when striker Par Cederqvist becomes available to play, as will Alan Picken who is due to return from injury, these could be just the boost required to push on.

We have had our wake up call, it's time to see how the Saddlers react.

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