wfc_2uk reports that the second half was a completely different story. Whatever Parkinson had said to his team worked, as they put Walsall on the back foot from the start.

It took outstanding performances from the two centre backs, Keates and Mills in central midfield and, especially, the outstanding Oakes to keep the Us at bay.

Walsall had only one chance in ths second half from a long range Grant Smith strike, but this was, all in all, a very good professional performance and the first clean sheet in seven games.

The downside was the number of yellow cards picked up (Smith, Roper, Barrowman, Mills, Gerrard).

The shoots of recovery seem to be there, but other results went against the Saddlers and they have ended the night in the relegation places.

This has started to look like one of our better away performances of the season, so far.

Whatever we have been doing in training seems to have worked, as the team as a whole has looked far more compact and has been defending from the front.

Colchester did have a chance in the first minute, when a lapse of concentration let Halford in, but he dragged his shot well wide. After that, the Saddlers looked the better side.

Smith smacked a shot from the edge of the box against the post and Roper just failed to get hold of the rebound for Davidson to save.

Colchester have had only a couple of long range shots which Oakes has dealt with comfortably and the first of those was in the thirtieth minute.

Keates hit the bar in the closing minutes, as Davidson just tipped the ball onto the woodwork.

Mills has hardly wasted a pass, Halsall is busy encouraging and organising from the sidelines and the only downside is the failure to hold on to the ball better up front.

wfc_2uk reporting in from the ground.

Mick Halsall, unsurprisingly, bought Anthony Gerrard straight back in tonight, lining up:

Oakes, Pead, Gerrard, Roper, Keates, Wright, Smith, Barrowman, Mills, Nicholls, James.

Subs are Standing, Gilmartin, Osborn, Bradley and Demontagnac.

The formation is a straight 4 4 2, with Mills playing as a holding midfielder, Wright at left back and Nicholls up front.

WM reported that Constable is missing through injury.

Former Walsall Manager Paul Merson has launched a stinging attack on the small number of fans criticising Chairman Jeff Bonser at the Scunthorpe game last Saturday.

In his column in the Express and Star, Merson says:

“Certain supporters can often be heard demanding that Jeff puts his hand into his pocket to buy better players - and it is totally out of order.
The facts are simple. The money is not there within the club to fund the type of signings that the supporters, and Jeff for that matter, would like to see.
So for the available budget to be increased it would mean Jeff dipping into his personal funds. And while the accounts show he has lent the club money in the past it has to be his decision.

No-one has the right to tell him how to spend his own money.

If Walsall were attracting crowds of 8,000 every week combined with Jeff’s management of the club they would be right up there in the promotion hunt in League One and spending a lot more time in The Championship.
But until that happens they will always find it difficult to attract the improved calibre of player needed to lift them to the next level.

As for the minority calling for Jeff’s head in the wake of this season’s events, it is laughable. Who is going to take over from him and look after the club better than he has, unless they are willing to throw big money at it?

One thing that is certain is that Walsall fans will always have a football club to follow. Jeff has seen to that throughout his time in charge and he will continue to do so for as long as he is there.

Mick Halsall has had one game to get his thoughts together about how the squad should be playing, but faces a really tough test tonight, as the Saddlers head for deepest Essex and high flying Colchester United for what may well be his last game in charge. Rumours have been flying on the message boards with names of prospective managers and I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one of those in the crowd tonight!

Anthony Gerrard returns from his one match ban to strengthen the defence and the only question mark there revolves around whether left back Fox will have recovered from his calf strain (what a surprise!).

Paul Devlin’s complete aberration in getting himself stupidly sent off on Saturday and the second game of Leary’s ban means that the midfield is close to picking itself with Smith, Keates and Osborn as the main choices in the centre, assuming Timm’s injury will keep him out.

All the strikers are fit and, we hope, raring to go.

If Fox is fit, I’d expect a 4 4 2 or 4 5 1, with Oakes, Pead, Gerrard or Mills or Roper, Fox, Wright or James, Keates, Smith, Demontagnac or Wright or James, Barrowman and James or Nicholls or Constable (or Osborn, depending on the formation). If Fox isn’t fit, 3 5 2 might even be an option with Wright and Demontagnac as wing backs.

As for Colchester, they will be missing promising defender Richards, sent off at the weekend, but, in the main, the Divison’s over achievers will be at near full strength.

Their danger men will be the massive Iwelumo, scorer of their second at Bescot, and Garcia, who suddenly seems to have found some goal scoring form. However, as we proved in that home defeat against them, their main creative spark is Neil Danns and, if you can keep him quiet, they do not find life so easy. Unfortunately, he did wriggle clear in the end at Bescot, to side foot home their first goal.

http://upthesaddlers.com/wp/archives/2006/01/15/walsall-vs-colchester-report/

Predictions? We were comprehensively beaten at home by Colchester, even though we weren’t comprehensively out played. That was the first game for the loan signings (Smith, Leary and Timm) and we played some good stuff, but, unfortunately, we looked as if we could have still been playing now and not scored, then fell to two straightforward set piece goals. I think we have the wherewithal still to give them a run for their money, but, I don’t see where the goals might be coming from. A home win, I’m afraid.