Just when the Saddlers seemed to be improving and ready to start getting points away from home, the wheels came off the trolley big time.

This was a poor second half from the team, to make a poor game in total and that was made only worse by the fact Walsall contrived to miss two open goals as well, courtesy of James and Constable, that might have given them a completely undeserved point.

The Fat Controller says there was little quality possession from Leary, Smith and Timm and little or no penetration. The ball failed to stick when we went forward and this was as dispiriting as you could get.

Even normally reliable players were failing tonight, as Fox got a roasting from his winger.

Swindon could easily have extended their lead during the second 45 minutes and, it has to be said, this was a relegation performance and one which has wasted our game in hand and still leaving us just two points from the drop. Considering the players he has been given the chance to bring in, this looks much like Merson’s swan song. The Chairman has to act now.

This was about as depressing as you can get. With the team needing to get points away from home, Merson decided to go for a 4 4 2, with Nicholls up front and James on the left wing. It didn’t work.

Everything that had been good recently was missing, as the only chances the Saddlers had were from long range.

In the meantime, Cureton missed a sitter with a close range free header, Oakes produced a super save from Peacock, then another from Cureton, before, finally, the ex Reading man and the bain of Walsall so many times, scored with a tremendous volley from 15 yards.

It’s difficult to find much positive to say.

The Saddlers will be lining up at the County Ground as follows, according to the Fat Controller at the ground:-

Oakes, Pead, Westwood, Gerrard, Fox, Wright, Leary, Smith, Timm, Nicholls, James.

The subs are Gilmartin, Bradley, Osborn, Standing and Constable.

West wood has, therefore, passed a late fitness test and Bradley is on the bench as a defender.

THE FAT CONTROLLER CAN ALSO CONFIRM DEAN KEATES HAS TRAVELLED WITH THE TEAM ON THE COACH.

The official site is saying that we will be signing two new players on Wednesday (the deals are now being finalised), after the transfer deadline.

This is bound to start even more speculation as to the identity of the men concerned, but, in order to sign after the deadline, they must be out of contract. That means that the most likely names include Patrick Suffo, ex Blues striker Andrew Borrowman and Manchester United youngster Kenny Cooper, all of whom have been rumoured to be attracting Merson’s interest.

There have been several postings that we were also in negotiations with former Saddler Dean Keates, who has had his contract at Lincoln City terminated by mutual consent, but midfield is surely far less of a priority than strikers.

After going out of the Cup on Saturday, it’s back to a vital league game at improving Swindon Town tonight, as we try to avoid being dragged into the mire. Saturday’s results left the Saddlers just two points clear of the relegation zone, although there are a couple of games in hand on some of the teams around us. We also have a run of away fixtures, where our form has been poor.

Still, we’ve got a solid defence to fall back on, haven’t we? Well, no. Ian Roper is not going to be fit tonight, Chris Westwood played with pain killing injections in an ankle injury on Saturday and is very doubtful and, to cap it all, Scott Dann was “feeling unwell” yesterday, so who knows what the defence will look like. Presumably, either Fox will move to centre back, Wright to left back, James to the wing and Constable in, or Bradley, who has been groomed as a centre back in the last couple of reserve games, might step in.

Midfield and strikers pick themselves, fortunately, as only Merson himself, Wrack, of course, and new signing Devlin are injured, so Merson has a wide choice (other than the left wing), even if there is no movement on bringing in a striker today. (Andrew Borrowman from Blues and Patrick Suffo are both on trial).

Still, bottom four Swindon shouldn’t present that much of a threat to our weakened defence, should they?

A while ago, they wouldn’t. However, they let Jamie Cureton out on loan, where he found some form and have sold Fallon, their “star forward” for £300,000, letting them make several signings, including Lee Peacock, snatched from under our noses, Paul Smith (remember him?), who is showing decent form for them, and now Trevor Benjamin on loan. They will present a big, muscular threat, with Peacock and Cureton starting (presumably) and Benjamin ready to come on.

The Swindon/Saddler links will also play a part tonight. They got Peacock when we were interested and we got Constable when they were, so the comparison between them could be fascinating. Manager Iffy Onoura was the first scapegoat of last season, when he got the push as Walsall coach, so he’ll feel he has something to prove. Paul Smith seems to be pleasing the Swindon fans and you do start to wonder about the “travelling” excuse he gave for leaving us, as the journey along the M4 and around the M25 can’t be that much better than the M1/M25 (or even the M11/A14) journey. Lastly, of course, Grant Smith will be returning to the club where he’s had the most successful part of his career so far. The sub plots will be interesting!

So, results? A win, please. Nothing else will do in the situation we find ourselves now. Unless we can find some away wins quickly, we will find ourselves in the bottom four and then, if confidence drains away, we could be in real trouble.