Those who expect their teams to play 100 miles an hour attacking football from the first minute got the perfect lesson in the way teams should go about demolishing the opposition at the Banks’s yesterday. Richard Money’s team spent 45 minute earning the right to play against Huddersfield before taking them apart in a scintillating exhibition of attacking in the second half.

Huddersfield are likely to end up as a mid to lower mid table team this season and the fact that they were completely unable to live with the Saddlers yesterday was very, very encouraging.

Money, after much thought, by his own admission, went for the unchanged option, so Walsall lined up:

Ince, Weston, Gerrard, Dann, Fox, Sonko, Mattis, Dobson, Bradley, Demontagnac, Mooney with subs of:

Bossu, Hall, Deeney, McDermott and Taundry (there was no mention on who was changing the nappies for over half of the bench!).

Money had been worried, apparently, that the 4 5 1 formation would be seen as too negative at home. What it did is stifle Huddersfield as an attacking force completely in the first half, as the awkward Beckett and Kamara got scant opportunity. They did have one long range effort sail comfortably over in the first minute, whilst Beckett hit the side netting with a chance that was well covered and Ince had his one save to make from a header late on in the half. Even with a cautious approach, it was different at the other end though.

First Mooney got clear from a terrible back pass, only for the ‘keeper to block the one on one chance, then Demontagnac, doing his defensive duties, produced a peach of a pass for Mooney, who sent Sonko through, but he shot wide.

Another lovely move gave Sonko another chance and he shot narrowly wide, but you always felt that the goal was gong to arrive. It did when Mattis was fouled wide right and Fox’s wicked inswinging free kick was glanced home by Gerrard for his first of the season.

The advantage was doubled shortly before half time when Mooney who lead the line superbly, put Sonko through again and he bided his time to draw the ‘keeper before picking his spot and lashing the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot.

Just before the break, there was an important incident for what was to come when Ishy caught Frank Sinclair with a challenge. Ishy immediately offered his hand to apologise and then kept his temper brilliantly when the experienced defender lost his head and grabbed the youngster by the collar. Ishy got a yellow, which was undeserved unless it was for the challenge, but Sinclair was very, very fortunate to stay on.

During the second 45, we pulverised them. From the moment, five minutes in, when Bradley was left completely unmarked three yards out to fire home Gerrard’s header back across goal, there was only going to be one outcome. The passing was slick, the back four incredibly solid (and incredibly well protected by Dobson), while Mattis, Bradley, Sonko and Deemontagnac ran riot as Mooney held the ball up for them to join.

For the record, Sinclair saw red for a trip on Demontagnac which earned him a second yellow, before Bradley mistimed a header at goal right onto Mooney’s head and he nodded the ball over the ‘keeper’s head for number four.

Hall replaced Demontagnac, shortly after a cynical assault by Wallwork which looked to be intended to take the player out, as he raked his studs down the back of Ishy’s leg (the ref, as with a lot of things, never saw it), but that made little difference and McDermott came on for the tiring Sonko to give a lovely little cameo of silky running skills. Deeney also replaced Mooney, presumably to help keep him fresh, and found time to break clear and hit the post with the last kick of the game.

The sponsors gave the Man of the Match to Bradley, but it could have gone to any of the outfield players. Gerrard and Dann had their physical strikers in their pockets all afternoon, Weston (obviously benefiting from the shake up of being dropped) and Fox were outstanding, in defence and attack, the midfield unit was solid in defence and exciting in attack and Mooney was just superb in the lone striker role.

All in all, a near perfect performance - I wasn’t sure whether to sing “It’s Just Like Watching Brazil”, or “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, as the news came through from Marseilles!