The draw for the first round of the Carling Cup was made this morning and the Saddlers have got a chance to get some revenge for a disgraceful decision.

There were a lot of factors, as usual, which contributed to our relegation the season before last, but one of the major ones was a blatant dive by Tommy Black to earn Crystal Palace a late penalty at Selhurst Park and deprive the Saddlers of the point which would have kept them up and give them the point which, eventually, saw them into the play-offs. We have now been presented with a chance of revenge, being drawn away to Palace in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Quite what teams will turn out is another matter, however, as Paul Merson did not see the competition as a priority last season and turned out a reserve side at Sheffield Wednesday, and Palace are likely to do the same.

The trip will also be a difficult one for fans, as it is in week commencing 22nd August and will be sandwiched between the away trip to Hartlepool and the Bank Holiday weekend fixtures of Swansea at home and Bournemouth away.