It was a little of “after the Lord Mayor’s Show” at Bescot stadium yesterday, following the scintillating demolition of Peterborough, as the Saddlers spent a fair proportion of the game, especially the second half, huffing and puffing. It didn’t matter in the end, though, as Dicky’s men made it five home games, five wins and five clean sheets.

Brian Horton’s sides haven’t been known for their footballing prowess over the years and, as the opposition lined up with what looked like six or more 6 footers in the side, including McNeil up front, so tall that his height isn’t listed on Soccerbase, you got the idea of what sort of game this was likely to be. The last time I saw anything like him, it had telephone wires coming out of the top.

The Saddlers lined up with Craig Pead in for the suspended Gerrard, with Westwood in the middle and Butler (recovered from his slight knock on Tuesday) and Sam up front. With Constable’s injury, there was no out-and-out striker on the bench.

Despite the awkward opposition, Walsall played nearly all of the football in the first half, with plenty of possession. With The Silkmen already fighting for their survival, however, we found it difficult to make that possession count. Roper and the magnificent Westwood coped extremely well with the big, awkward McNeil and the tricky Forest loanee, Spencer Weir Daly. Up front, Butler’s movement was a constant threat and Sam was having a superb game, holding the ball up well and spreading it wide, where Wright was showing some good form. The main problem seemed to be in central midfield, where Keates and Dobson were struggling to get a grip, as Dobbo had one of his least effective games so far.

Taylor was well set up for a chance on his right foot, but side footed it straight at the keeper, while Fox had a pile driver flash just wide and another well saved by Lee. At the home end, Macclesfield had one golden chance, naturally from a set piece, when defender Scott fired over from close range from a McNeil flick on.

Eventually, however, Sam’s excellent play was rewarded with his first goal for the club. Wright broke well down the middle, Butler and Sam made the correct runs, Wright released the pass at just the right time and Sam gleefully hammered home.

The second half always looked like being a backs-to-the-wall job, as Macclesfield launched ball after ball into the area. Eventually, Money bought on Picken for Pead, moving Westwood to right back, to give up more height, to cope with the onslaught, but despite the pressure, the defence held up really well, giving few clear cut chances, most of the threat coming from distance. At the other end, Keates flashed a drive narrowly wide with the keeper beaten, Butler curled one just over and Wright failed by millimetres to connect with a flashing cross from Butler.

Perhaps the key moment of the half came in the 83rd minute, when Ince did superbly well to tip over a flashing drive, but, significantly, it was his only really difficult save of the afternoon.

Mush to the bewilderment of some elements of the crowd, DD decided to replace the excellent Wright with five minutes to go with Scott Dann, presumably to give us a little more presence up front. Whatever the motives, it worked. With injury time looming, Dann released Butler with a superb reverse pass inside the defender, Bedeau and Dobson, queuing up on the far post for the cross were narrowly thwarted by a defender, but the ball broke to Dann who fired home from 10 yards, courtesy of a defelction. Job done.

Macclesfield fought well, we didn’t play well, but this was a case of never mind the quality, feel the points, especially with Swindon losing at home.

Man of the Match? For me, it had to be Hector Sam, for some great hold up play, capped with his goal, but the man who ran him closest was Chris Westwood, who had probably his best game for the club.