The suprise for the Saddlers this afternoon was the starting line up. It had emerged on WM last night that Martin Butler was carrying a knock and he was duly replaced by James Constable. Skipper Michael Dobson was, however, also missing from the sixteen and Gerrard moved into midfield in his spot, with Roper returning at the back.

The first half, however, was a story of that new look midfield not working, according to the Fat Controller at the ground.

Keates and Gerrard were struggling to cope with a neat looking Accrington side and the fact that Clayton Ince seemd to be having one of his more indecisive days didn’t help. That said, most of the home side’s attacking threat was from set pieces and they were failing to make any clear cut chances.

The Saddlers also looked incapable of producig much, until, and somewhat against the run of play, Gerrard spread a pass out the left wing, in came the cross, Constable’s looping header was tipped onto the bar and Hector Sam was on hand, as all good strikers are, to knock home the rebound.

Half Time Accrington Stanley 0 Walsall 1