Well, for 40 minutes yesterday, the world seemed to be a lighter place for the long suffering Saddlers fans. It didn’t last, though.

Oakes had picked up and injury in training and Smith failed his fitness test, but Keates was available again, so we lined up:

Gilmartin, Westwood, Gerrard, Roper, Fox, Wright, Leary, Keates, James, Timm and Devlin, in what was, really, a 4 4 1 1, with Timm dropping deep.

Once the team settled down to the new line up, we were much the better side in the first half. Timm was dropping off deep and Bradford weren’t picking him up at all. He cut down on the fancy stuff, kept it much more simple and we really benefitted. Leary looked much better than Tuesday, Keates’ prescence made a lot of difference and Devlin and James were buzzing (despite James being on the wrong wing). The only downside was that Mark Wright now decided to have a complete mare. With Westwood looking solid behind him he was released into space time and time again, but with no end product. For some reason he seemed reluctant to take on his full back on the outside and kept cutting back onto his left foot!

Eventually, pressure told when Leary unleashed a piledriver from the edge of the box which smacked against the post. James reacted far, far quicker than anyone else to stoop and head home the rebound.

We then looked more and more dangerous, unfortunately without testing the dodgy looking Bradford keeper enough. However, we then won a corner out on the right, the delivery was spot on and Westwood was unmarked to make it 2 - 0. Much better than the useless short corner routine that went completely wrong just before that!

With just five or so minutes to go to half time, all we needed to do was keep the football. Unfortunately Danny Fox, not for the first time in the game, showed his complete inexperience by trying a glory ball down the left which just handed the possession back to the opposition. Bradford patiently built an attack from there and, eventually, a wicked an excellent cross from our right was headed home. Very disappointing, as, if we’d have gone in at 2 - 0, the game would have been over.

Second half, our lack of confidence caused by our poor run since Christmas began to take hold. Wright’s performance went from bad to worse and Fox, on the other flank, was getting a complete roasting from Wright’s equivalent. Mind you, he was easily their best player.

Eventualy, Golmartin failed to deal with a routine hoof into the box, produced a terrible punch and Wetherall hooked it back over his shoulder to score. Well, it’s in the rules that he has to score against us.

Broadhurst changed it around eventually, but his choices were limited by Timm tiring and James and Gerrard picking up knocks. We finished with Devlin on the right wing and Fitzgerald and Constable up front. Fitzgerald should have done better with one chance he got and Constable completely wasted one golden opportunity. Wright bottled out of a challenge with the keeper when he should have done far better, but we were also grateful to Gilmartin for very good save late on, when Fox was caught out yet again.

Overall, this was a much better perfomance than Tuesday night. However, Wright’s confidence looks completely shot and he needs to be dropped. With M****** having left us with no left wingers, however, other than the suspended Ishy, it’ll be difficult to achieve. Let’s hope Smith is fit.

Westwood actually looked to be our best right back yesterday, but Fox looks in need of a rest and struggled all afternoon. Trouble is, the only alternative is Smith, so that’s two positions he needs to play in. Thanks a lot M*****.

Leary did OK, but the return of Osborn and Mills means he’s surplus to requirements really.

Up front, give Devlin and Timm someone to hold the ball up for them and they’ll cause trouble. Enter Mr Claridge.

The best thing of the afternoon? The chants of “There’s only one Jolysaddler” that rang out during and after the game. Enough said.