The Fat Controller reporting direct from the Victoria Ground.

After the dustcart, the Lord Mayor’s Show arrived with a vengeance this afternoon, as the Saddlers came away from third placed Hartlepool with a well deserved three points.

Richard Money made a number of changes, with Sonner gone. Weston was surprisingly dropped to the bench, with Wrack at right back, Gerrard and Dann were in the middle, with Roper ill, and new man Mattis joined the returning Dobson in midfield with Sonko and Demontagnac. Up front were Deeney and Mooney, with Butler dropped to the bench.

All of the changes worked. This was the Saddlers of last season away from home and more, as they didn’t just hold the home team, but slowly established a grip on the game, creating all of the best chances.

Home keeper Budtz was in great form to keep out Mooney in the first half and did even better to stop a close range effort from the same player in the second. Demontagnac, Deeney and Sonko were also keeping the keeper busy, while Dobson and Mattis seemed to settle down to their new partnership extremely well, so much so, in fact, that Ince was barely troubled until the second half, when he did, admittedly have to look alert a couple of times.

Eventually, in the 88th minute, all of Walsall’s good football was rewarded, when Mooney played in substitute Paul Hall with a long pass and he finished the chance superbly.

The Fat Controller decided to give the Man of the Match to the superb Scott Dann, although Gerrard and Fox were not that far behind.

His favourite monent? Sonko (who lasted the whole game) being greeted with the chant of “He’ll eat again, don’t know where, don’t know when”.