Walsall were unbeaten at home. Brentford were yet to win away. John Solako’s thirtieth minute penalty changed all that at Bescot today, as the Bees beat the Saddlers 1-0 this afternoon.
Manager Paul Merson made several changes after last Saturday’s dismal defeat at Chesterfield, bringing in Daryl and Kris Taylor, dropping himself and coach Simon Osborn and switching formations to 4-4-2.
The changes failed to stop the rot however, and Solako sent Paston the wrong way from twelve yards after skipper Wrack had fouled Isiah Rankin. Brentford created far more chances in a scrappy match, with a Solako cross hitting the bar and a Rankin effort trickling past the post.
Merson threw on Atieno and played with three strikers for the final 34 minutes but still the Saddlers couldn’t break through. Solako struck the bar (71) with a fierce drive whilst ex Walsall loanee Deon Burton had a header cleared off the line from Mark Wright. Leitao’s late effort, palmed aside by keeper Stuart Nelson, was the closest we came to equalising and even that may not have been on target.