That was something special. In fact it was really special. Indeed it’s been a seriously long time since we produced a performance of that quality in a league game.
In many ways it matched the 7-0 win at Macclesfield last season but I would have to go back to Stockport in early ‘96 or more probably Doncaster in the spring of ‘95 for a better league performance. The movement all over the pitch was impressive, the midfield sharp going forward and tight in defence and the back four disciplined, superbly organised and watertight.
Marsh was back in the right back spot, replacing Wayne Evans and clearly had a point to prove to Uncle Ray. The two centre halves look and played like they are supposed to and Pointon at left back probably had his best game in a Walsall shirt. Keates has reacted brilliantly to his early substitution vs York and the new Icelandic loaner fitted in better than anyone could have expected.
Wrack and Simpson caused problems all game and the front two are beginning to know each others traits. Brissett shows movement that hasn’t been seen since Kevin Wilson left and Rammell has become the absolute darling of the fans.
Luton created little all afternoon, persisted with an offside trap we were killing and never got behind the Walsall defence all game. As the game progressed the boys took more and more of the possession, continually pushed the Hatters onto the back foot and consistently found possession behind the home side.
Wrack missed three nailed on chances and it looked like we were going to have to settle for a very creditable nil-nil draw until Rammell glanced in a peach of a Wrack cross inside the last five minutes.
Both the away end and the players went fucking barmy as the ball crossed the line. Rammell took the plaudits for the goal, and rightly so, but fair dues to Wrack because it would have been easy to hide following his earlier misses. He didn’t, he amended those mistakes with a fine delivery and we won.
Everyone knew this was a top performance and the late goal finished the afternoon off perfectly. Luton were unbeaten at home since January and had done Ipswich during the week in the Worthington Cup.
Away wins at clubs in the top three are a good sign and I think that the fans can see that we are on the verge of achieving something here, it’s just a question of how hard we push and how badly we want it. UR and the boys were elated after the game and justifiably so. I don’t think it is going to be all downhill from here but if it is then it has been a great ride.
Whatever happens from here onwards, yesterday was a landmark game and performance. We were that good.