Disappointment all round Bescot on Saturday after the Cobblers rode into town and took the three points courtesy of two goals from Akinfenwa, causing a setback to the Saddlers play-off chances and making automatic promotion almost impossible. Pedagogue gave his thoughts on the game on the message board:

When Millwall released Akinfenwa, in January, I said that we could worse than sign him on a short-term contract to do the same sort of job that a less-talented Trevor Benjamin did so effectively for us, last season. This suggestion was scoffed at by a number of posters on here but I wonder what they think now? He has played against us several times, over the last few seasons, for Torquay, Swansea, Millwall and now Northampton. Each time, we have failed to contain him and Roper must dread the sight of him! He looks as if he will score more (6 in 5 games, now, for the Cobblers) than Stefan Moore, although the latter still needs some more games before final judgement is passed.

Today was just typical Walsall - build up our hopes with two excellent away wins, attract an above-average crowd and turn in a load of excrement like that. I can’t see too many of today’s first-time fans being attracted back by that sort of performance. Gerrard deserved his MotM award and Weston and Boertien were o.k. Ince at fault with the first goal, caught in no-man’s land, and guilty of wasting possession with two stupid long kicks, with the following wind, straight to their ‘keeper. Roper never really dominated his Nemesis, Akinfenwa. Midfield was outfought, outclassed and outplayed - a rare off-day for Bradley but it also showed up Wrack’s shortcomings. Holmes showed his class, at times, but Betsy and Moore did nothing while Mooney had an absolute ‘mare, missing six chances. However, to his credit, he at least kept trying to score. I am struggling to recall any other Walsall player troubling their ‘keeper.

I am afraid that, today, the Money-Mullen duo was out-thought, tactically. Northampton have clearly learned a lot more about us than we have about them, in our 3 previous meetings.

Northampton Town are one of those clubs we ought to feel some affinity with.

Northampton is a town of a similar size to Walsall, with a population of just over 200,000, with not a lot to recommend it and not a lot to say against it, either. Both towns, of course, have a connection with the leather industry, Walsall with saddles, Northampton with shoes, and their football clubs have nicknames that have a derivation from those industries, the Saddlers and the Cobblers. We have hung about the lower divisions as rivals for a very long time, and have a similar achievement record (although they did spend one season in the top flight once upon a time). Even Walsall’s most famous author, Jerome K Jerome actually died in Northampton and the two clubs have shared numerous players and/or managers, including John Barnwell, Kevin Wilson and Kevan Broadhurst. More pertinent to my interests, they also founded the very first Supporter’s Trust, following a financial crisis.

Still, enough of the history lesson.

It seems like an age since the Saddlers had a home game, even though I know it isn’t, and, if we are to maintain the push for the play offs, then three points are needed.

The Saddlers should be reporting a clean bill of health. Alessane N’Dour missed his debut last week because of a slight strain, but should be fit, as should Mark Bradley, who just failed to make that game and Edrissa Sonko, who picked up a knee problem at Luton and was subbed early on.

Stefan Moore should be making his home debut, which leaves Money pondering on a choice of 16 from:

Ince, Weston, Roper, Gerrard, Boertien, Betsy, Wrack, Bradley, Holmes, Mooney, Moore (the probable starting eleven), Bossu, Taundry, Smith, Dobson, N’Dour, Sonko, Nicholls, Deeney, Demontagnac.

Money has even said in the Press that he hasn’t ruled out bringing in some defensive cover today, but the list shows what an embarrassment of riches we seem to have all of a sudden.

Daniel Jones is available after resigning for on loan from Wolves (joining Dingle team mate Mark Little) for the rest of the season and goes straight into the squad. Striker Hubertz is hoping to shake off a virus in time for the game. If he doesn’t make it, then Ian Henderson, who scored twice for the reserves in midweek, and Colin Larkin are both fit to stake a claim to replace him. Chris Doig and Brett Johnson are still missing long term.

Predictions?

Northampton have been on a decent run of late, which has got them within striking distance of the play offs, although it is still a bit of a long shot. They go into the game in 13th place, five points out of the play off zone and eight behind the Saddlers. The away table shows them one place lower than that, having won 4, drawn 5 and lost 8. That all seems to be standard mid table fayre, but they do have the incentive of still having the possibility of making the top six, so they will be dangerous. I’ll still go for the home win, however.

A well-deserved 3 points again a lacklustre, uninspired Luton side played at one of the worst grounds in the country - and the Saddlers further increase their play-off prospects whilst keeping 4 points behind Doncaster in 2nd promotion spot…

Some sympathy for Luton, a club on its knees with the mighty financial colossus of regional TV’s Nick Owen riding to the rescue promising to secure the club’s future for the next 100 years - but the problems at the club can be summed up by the frankly disgraceful quality of the half-time tea and hotdog - never in the history of culinary conflict has something so grey and uninspiring been served up in exchange for £8.

Give your view on the game now

Many Saddlers at the game making a terrific noise - here are the message board thoughts of Sadders:

Great victory today, generally a poor performance in some aspects, we missed any power or presence in the midfield, which meant mooney had to ttrack out wide and track back most of the time, wasting energy he could be using on chasing and closing down- or just generally pushing the line. Weston was excellent as was roper,betsy,gerrard and ince. Wrack worked hard but generally looks far past if at this level, dobson got his tackles in but his distribution simply isnt up to league 1 standard, moore took his goal well looked quick, but other then that was generally lazy. sonko was poor before taking a knock and going off… I sort of felt sorry for lee holmes who was brillant defensively but simply couldn’t be used to our advantage going forward because we didnt at any time get the ball to his feet ( thats where we missed a couple of powerful centre mids)… overall a tough and hard fought 3 points, much like last year… big shout out to weston and ince who i thught were in need of a particular mention….