The Express and Star are reporting that not only have we managed to off load the problem that was Martin Butler, we have made a profit on the deal.

Whatever the true causes of the fall out with the player (and UTS’s sympathies tend to be with the club on this one), it is certain that he was not going to come to any form of reconciliation. The loan period at Grimsby was coming to an end and everyone at this end seemed to be eager to find a solution to the problem.

It now transpires, however, that Grimsby have not only signed the 33 year old forward, but have also paid a small fee to the Saddlers for his services.

One can only call this a definite result!

The Fat Controller might well be getting fed up with saying this, but this was, yet again, our best away performance of the season so far.

Let’s get things into perspective. We might well be on a superb run of form, but Oldham were not that far behind us, having gone eleven games without defeat.

Money had gone for a 4 5 1, in the absence of the suspended Fox and the injured Mooney, with Ricketts playing the lone striker role he used to dp so well at for Bolton, Taundry in at left back and Demontagnac on the left, Sweeney moving inside. It worked like a dream.

This was a superb advertisement for the Division, with both teams trying to play football, but, with Scott Dann planting home a header for his first goal of the season from a Taundry free kick in the second minute, the Saddlers were always just in control of the game.

The Fat Controller reports that the defence was outstanding, with Richard Taundry displaying the promise that he has been showing for some time in the reserves (the FT is a regular there), while Wrack and Bradley ran the midfield, giving the other three time to join the outstanding Ricketts, who was roaming wherever he liked.

Ricketts added another in the second half, taking on a Taundry pass and holding off the defender before planting the ball home. Dann was unfortunate not to be given a penalty for a blatant shirt tug in the second half and Ricketts could have also added a third just before the end, when, with no backlift, he smacked a 20 yard drive against the post.

According to Oldham fans at the ground, Ricketts left them on loan following an “altercation” with the manager. let’s hope they won’t have kissed and made up at the end of his loan period, as the man is class at this level.

The Fat Controller’s Man of the Match award, without any doubt, goes to Scott Dann, however, as he did not miss a single header or tackle all afternoon.

With Leeds and Forest losing (amongst others), this win puts the Saddlers up to sixth in the table. perhaps that first ever visit to Wembley isn’t that far fetched after all?