Walsall crashed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to lowly Rotherham at Millmoor today. Tony Dinning made his first start for the Saddlers and Neil Emblen came in at right back for Chris Baird who has returned to Southampton but it turned out to be an afternoon to forget for Colin Lee’s men.
The Millers took the lead after 67 minutes when Martin McIntosh flicked on a corner from former Saddlers loanee Carl Robinson and Chris Swailes – McIntosh’s partner at the centre of defence – smashed the ball past Jimmy Walker.
Another former Saddler, Martin Butler, sealed victory on 80 minutes when he converted a left wing cross after an excellent run by John Mullin.
Steve Corica fired wide and Paul Merson wasted a free kick but the Saddlers never really looked like getting on the scoresheet.

A magnificent result today for the Saddlers saw a 2-0 victory over leaders Wigan, as at long last Colin Lee’s men start to show the potential many supporters felt this side had at the start of the season. Serves the Wigan manager right for banging on ad nauseam that his team had the best form in the world, with just five defeats in sixty five games prior to today. Two Darren Wrack goals in the second half secured the win - with Paul Ritchie, Vinny Samways, and Merse all enjoying outstanding games.
Wigan had slightly more of the play in the first half, but there were encouraging signs for the Saddlers as the defence kept Horsfield and Ellington at bay. Shortly after the restart Wrack played a 1-2 with Merse to send himself clear, and he calmly slotted past the keeper to bring back memories of all the goals he used to score (including that cracker against Luton). Then Chris Baird celebrated staying at Bescot for another month by supplying the throw-in that Wrack smacked right-footed into the corner. There was also time for Birch to have a goal ruled out for offside, as Wigan were reduced to long shots that super Jim had little trouble with.

Walsall were forced to settle for a point after a bore draw against Crystal Palace at Bescot today. The Saddlers just couldn’t find that all important goal and the game finished on a sour note as full back Chris Baird was sent off in the final match of his loan spell from Southampton.
Thomas Myhre denied Steve Corica from close range after nine minutes and Darren Wrack headed over when he should have scored before Myhre again denied Corica. The Saddlers were denied a penalty by referee Tony Leake – who didn’t get much right – after Gary Birch was hauled down inside the area by Popovic. Thankfully Leake did spot Dougie Freedman’s blatant dive in front of the Purple Stand moments later and the Scot was booked.
The Eagles almost took the lead, however, in the 37th minute when Jimmy Walker palmed Ben Watson’s free kick into the path of Butterfield but Walker then somehow kept out the rebound with a fabulous block.
Walsall pressed for the winner in the second half but Birch headed Merson’s cross wide from a tight angle. Lee then sent on new signing Tony Dinning for his debut before Baird was harshly sent off after innocuously tripping former Blues danger-man Andrew Johnson for a second time.

Vinny Samways marked his return from suspension with a stunning fourth minute free kick as Walsall grabbed a first away win of the season against Reading.
Playing 4-4-2, the Saddlers fielded Gary Birch and Neil Emblen up front in place of the injured Paul Merson and Jorge Leitao. Ian Roper and Darren Wrack returned to the starting line up after injury in place of Jamie Lawrence and Darren Bazeley.
Samways beat former Saddlers’ trialist Marcus Hahnemann with a free kick from an acute angle to put Walsall one up. Simon Osborn then set up Emblen for a header which flew just over before drifting a lob just wide himself. Walsall dominated the first half and Jimmy Walker denied the Royals an equaliser, saving from John Salako after 35 minutes.
Gary O’Neil had a goal disallowed for offside and Birch began the second half with a thumping effort that just cleared the bar. Walker denied Nicky Forster before Samways limped off near the end.
Gary Birch - in what was described as his best performance for Walsall - and Neil Emblen impressed up front whilst Paul Ritchie and Ian Roper marshalled the defence superbly. Walsall brought on Matias, Hay and Lawrence in a bid to run down the clock and held on for a superb victory.

Walsall today shocked fans with the announcement of losses of over £1 million for the last financial year. The £1.032 million deficit comes after a run of eleven successive profitable years. Club Owner Jeff Bonser blamed the loss on the demise of ITV Digital, saying “It significantly reduced our income, and that of every First Division Club, by over £2 million. The circumstances behind this short-term reversal of our financial fortunes were outside our control.” Bonser however, remained positive, stating that “We retained our First Division status for a third consecutive season, and that is a club record. What’s more, we were able to complete the signing of Paul Merson, as well as a number of other signings, which gave us what in the eyes of many shrewd judges is the best squad of players ever assembled by Walsall FC.”

Walsall gained a point in a scrappy affair at Valley Parade yesterday after Darren Wrack cancelled out an early strike from Michael Branch, but Bradford boss Nicky Law was sacked after the game as their winless run stretched to eleven games.
Colin Lee made two changes to the team which thrashed Forest on Tuesday, bringing in Hay and Lawrence for the presumably (must have been?!) injured Roper and Osborn. The Saddlers always look weaker without Ropes and Lawrence, against his former club, put in a totally effortless and anonymous performance that seems to be becoming the norm.
Bradford grabbed the lead with the first real attack of the match after five minutes. Ben Muirhead beat Chris Baird – who would later go on to put in a MotM performance – down the right and crossed for former Wolves striker Branch to fire home. Muirhead – who picked up the sponsors MotM award – was a constant outlet to the Bantams and it was notable how well Baird dealt with him, especially without any help from Lawrnce who seemed to be anywhere the ball wasn’t.
Walsall at last took control of the match after a scrappy twenty minute opening spell and Paul Merson chipped just wide as the Saddlers looked for an equaliser. Baird was then harshly booked for a foul on Muirhead before Darren Wrack curled a shot over from twenty yards.
On 35 minutes, Wrack grabbed his fifth goal in four games, firing home the rebound after Baird’s curling left foot shot had come back off the woodwork. Gary Birch, himself a man on form, then cut inside and fired in a fierce shot which keeper Combe did well to turn aside. Jamie Vincent, who had looked steady at left back, was then forced off after failing to recover from a crunching tackle in front of the dugouts. Not surprisingly, Walsall were not awarded a free kick by referee Matt Messiass from Yorkshire (!).
HT 1-1
Dean Windass fired a 25 yard free kick into the wall at the start of the second half and then Ritchie became the second Saddler to be booked after a foul on Windass. Ritchie then glanced a cross from Merson wide before Law sent on former Everton striker Cadamarteri and Hay was lucky not to give away a penalty after an aerial tussle.
The Saddlers looked for a winner and Birch burst through from half way, beating Gavin and Bower for pace and then rounding keeper Combe before falling to the ground, but no penalty was given. The furious Birch was then splendidly picked out by Corica but Combe smothered his left foot shot. Samways then saw an opening twenty yards out but fired disappointingly wide.
The Saddlers settled for a point near the end but Colin Lee was disappointed that we didn’t earn all three. “We created enough chances to win the game. When you are away from home you are always going to have to defend but with all the clear-cut openings and opportunities we had I think we should have been well ahead. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take these chances.”

Darren Wrack bagged a brace as rampant Walsall outclassed Nottingham Forest at Bescot tonight. Wrack and then Simon Osborn gave Walsall a 2-1 half time lead before Wrack again and Gary Birch capped a fine performance.
Walsall began brightly and Steve Corica had a shot tipped over before Wrack nodded a Birch knock-down past Darren Ward (30). Six minutes later it was 2-0; Birch chased down a back pass and tackled Ward leaving Osborn to roll the ball into an empty net. Andy Reid pulled a goal back for the visitors on 42, when he fired past Jimmy Walker from the edge of the area on a rare Forest attack.
Walsall at last turned their dominance into chances and Baird had a close range header brilliantly saved before Ritchie headed another Merson corner over. Birch at last looked to have the goal he deserved when he latched onto a short back pass and rounded Ward but could only hit the side-netting from a tight angle.
Birch - improving with every game - helped to create a third, winning a header on the left which allowed Wrack to advance, cut inside and fire past Ward (64). The young striker then netted his second in two games, converting a cross from Paul Merson after a fine ball from substitute Neil Emblen.

Norwich stormed back from 1-0 down to beat the Saddlers 3-1 at Bescot today. Gary Birch had given Walsall a half time lead but Ian Henderson, Paul McVeigh and Peter Crouch netted before Paul Ritchie and Crouch were sent off by card happy ref Mr Cowburn at the death.
Darren Bazeley replaced the suspended Chris Baird whilst Jamie Lawrence came in for Gary O’Neil, now back at Portsmouth. Norwich included loan stars Crouch, Huckerby and Kevin Harper, formerly on loan at Bescot.
The Canaries started strongly and Jimmy Walker was forced to push a free kick from McVeigh onto the bar before Walsall took the lead in the tenth minute when Birch took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence to fire past Robert Green. Simon Osborn also went close with a dipping volley but the first half was dominated by Norwich, who should have taken the lead only for beanpole striker Crouch to head wide.
Crouch then headed over and Harper fired wide before being forced off due to injury and replaced by Henderson. Merse again tried one of those fancy shots with the outside of his right boot that was, as usual, easily held by the keeper.
Henderson equalised seven minutes into the second half but the goal had been coming for the last forty. Drury got in behind Bazeley and picked out the substitute who fired into an empty net. Seven minutes later, loan strikers Crouch and Huckerby combined to set up McVeigh, who burst into the area and fired past Walker to put Norwich ahead. The Canaries’ third goal in twelve minutes arrived via Peter Crouch, who converted a right wing Henderson cross from close range.
There were injury scares for both keepers late on, as Green fell awkwardly collecting a cross but was able to continue after lengthy treatment. Walker also gave the crowd a scare, hurting his wrist when attempting to throw the ball forwards. Thankfully Darren Huckerby was unable to convert the loose ball and Whacker was able to continue.
A niggly challenge from Ritchie provoked Crouch into a reaction and both players received second yellow cards from the referee after a tame shoving match. Roper, Samways and Corica were also booked by a referee who handed out cards like it was Christmas.