OK so here’s the story.
Walsall Football Club, perennial bridesmaids, you’re at the Church, the colour co-ordinated dresses of all other occasions have been swapped for a white one and the church is full to the rafters. Your groom and his best man are already inside and the bridesmaids are watching your every move.
For too long this has been a day for others but your time has finally arrived. The vicar is ready, the bells ringing and bridal march playing. Be brave, look straight ahead and walk the aisle as classily as you got to here.
It's down to you now, it's your day. Do it. Do it.
Wed 28th April
To say it’s a little quiet on the Bescot front would be an understatement.
The sold out signs are now out for Saturday and Bescot will be humming with promotion fever. The national newspapers seem to have located Walsall for the first time since the Watford games in the late 80's and the Word according to Ray is being splashed across every workplace in the lane.
I wonder if they’ve pinned it up around Moss Side and inside Maine Road?
Now at Manchester City in September they sang “3 - 0 in your cup final..3 - 0 in your cup final..” Well with City not kicking off until 6 O Clock on Saturday night they’re going to have to sit there and listen to a bigger game. This is our cup final and in many ways it’s also Manchester City’s. Should we win then they lose.
It’s their Cup Final and they can’t even get a ticket. He who laughs last laughs the loudest. He with the Manc accent isn’t finding us funny anymore.
The sold out signs are now out for Saturday and Bescot will be humming with promotion fever. The national newspapers seem to have located Walsall for the first time since the Watford games in the late 80's and the Word according to Ray is being splashed across every workplace in the lane.
I wonder if they’ve pinned it up around Moss Side and inside Maine Road?
Now at Manchester City in September they sang “3 - 0 in your cup final..3 - 0 in your cup final..” Well with City not kicking off until 6 O Clock on Saturday night they’re going to have to sit there and listen to a bigger game. This is our cup final and in many ways it’s also Manchester City’s. Should we win then they lose.
It’s their Cup Final and they can’t even get a ticket. He who laughs last laughs the loudest. He with the Manc accent isn’t finding us funny anymore.
Sun 25th April
With no midweek game we’re going to have to wait until next Saturday to have a crack at completing the miracle. I’ve got a feeling that we’re in for a long week.
Sat 24th April - Lincoln City
The day that the muddy waters that stream through the Second Division cleared. In fact so clear that there’s a possibility of a Lincoln spring being unveiled.
I’ll go for this one in chronological order. Inside the first five minutes rumours sweep the very expensive away terrace(£13) that Wycombe had taken the lead at Maine Road. The first rule of such days is don’t believe anything you hear until you can confirm it.
Almost simultaneously Lincoln get a chance and a cross is headed in from three yards out. I remember screaming “offside” at the referee but I’m not 100% sure it was. Fortunately the Assistant Referee or useless prick as I had called him only two nano seconds previously agreed with my decision and we were still all square. Just.
About five minutes later a reliable source confirms the Man City scoreline. So a chance of Wycombe stealing a point is on the cards. Another five minutes later it’s 2 - 0 Wycombe and we search for confirmation of this one. Yes it is true.
Half time arrives no goal in this one and a 2 - 1 scoreline at Maine Road. Can Wycombe hold on? I doubt it. We didn’t get the Preston score so I tried to forget the fact that they were playing.
The second half was really tense and the notable silence from Maine Road made merely served to up the tension another notch. That is until with twelve minutes remaining he only went and did it again.
Latching onto an Andy Rammell through ball, he broke through the Lincoln back line, sat the keeper on his arse, dribbled round him, slotted into an unguarded net and ran towards his adoring people.
Boooooooooooom! Pandemonium.
Super Darren Wrack had delivered again. I honestly can’t think of a more passionate celebration. I can rarely remember what I’m thinking when we score but this was at a different level. Now when you see people going mental as the Pope touches them and you don’t understand what the fuss is about then you won’t really follow the next bit. It was like that. A maul of grown men, myself included began to race into the area of the terrace/pitch where three or four green shirts were celebrating.
A packed away terrace went absolutely mental. A small child stood in my way or otherwise I’d have been one of the first there. A loss of acceleration and a quick side-step had cost me a vital half second and I had to make do with trying to get a touch of our goalscoring hero.
There were others who arrived later than me who didn’t even get a sight let alone a sniff of those sweaty green shirts but it didn’t matter.
We'd done the hard bit, now all we had to do was hold on for twelve minutes. Twelve very long minutes. In the twelfth and final minute the reserve official raised the overtime card. I never knew they did on that long! It had a six on it but for all the pressure I felt it could have said Tuesday.
Despite the huge amount of extra time we made it through to the final whistle unscathed and now it was time for mobile phones and even more mobile radios to break our hearts.
Wycombe couldn’t hold on could they? And what did Millwall have to gain from beating Preston?
And than we knew.
Unbelievably, Wycombe had held on for the result of the day and Millwall repaid their Auto Windshield debt by coming back from 2 - 0 down with six minutes to go to snatch a point.
It wasn’t relief and it wasn’t joyous celebrations, it was just kind of strange. Perhaps because as Walsall fans we’ve been raised to expect the worst, I don’t know, but there was a pungent aroma of success in the air. Suddenly two points are all we require from our final three games and should City and North End fail to win any of their final two fixtures then we have already done enough.
"Only two more points” someone said to me. What’s all this “only” I replied. As always, the pessimist but the ride home was a mighty nice one.
I’ll go for this one in chronological order. Inside the first five minutes rumours sweep the very expensive away terrace(£13) that Wycombe had taken the lead at Maine Road. The first rule of such days is don’t believe anything you hear until you can confirm it.
Almost simultaneously Lincoln get a chance and a cross is headed in from three yards out. I remember screaming “offside” at the referee but I’m not 100% sure it was. Fortunately the Assistant Referee or useless prick as I had called him only two nano seconds previously agreed with my decision and we were still all square. Just.
About five minutes later a reliable source confirms the Man City scoreline. So a chance of Wycombe stealing a point is on the cards. Another five minutes later it’s 2 - 0 Wycombe and we search for confirmation of this one. Yes it is true.
Half time arrives no goal in this one and a 2 - 1 scoreline at Maine Road. Can Wycombe hold on? I doubt it. We didn’t get the Preston score so I tried to forget the fact that they were playing.
The second half was really tense and the notable silence from Maine Road made merely served to up the tension another notch. That is until with twelve minutes remaining he only went and did it again.
Latching onto an Andy Rammell through ball, he broke through the Lincoln back line, sat the keeper on his arse, dribbled round him, slotted into an unguarded net and ran towards his adoring people.
Boooooooooooom! Pandemonium.
Super Darren Wrack had delivered again. I honestly can’t think of a more passionate celebration. I can rarely remember what I’m thinking when we score but this was at a different level. Now when you see people going mental as the Pope touches them and you don’t understand what the fuss is about then you won’t really follow the next bit. It was like that. A maul of grown men, myself included began to race into the area of the terrace/pitch where three or four green shirts were celebrating.
A packed away terrace went absolutely mental. A small child stood in my way or otherwise I’d have been one of the first there. A loss of acceleration and a quick side-step had cost me a vital half second and I had to make do with trying to get a touch of our goalscoring hero.
There were others who arrived later than me who didn’t even get a sight let alone a sniff of those sweaty green shirts but it didn’t matter.
We'd done the hard bit, now all we had to do was hold on for twelve minutes. Twelve very long minutes. In the twelfth and final minute the reserve official raised the overtime card. I never knew they did on that long! It had a six on it but for all the pressure I felt it could have said Tuesday.
Despite the huge amount of extra time we made it through to the final whistle unscathed and now it was time for mobile phones and even more mobile radios to break our hearts.
Wycombe couldn’t hold on could they? And what did Millwall have to gain from beating Preston?
And than we knew.
Unbelievably, Wycombe had held on for the result of the day and Millwall repaid their Auto Windshield debt by coming back from 2 - 0 down with six minutes to go to snatch a point.
It wasn’t relief and it wasn’t joyous celebrations, it was just kind of strange. Perhaps because as Walsall fans we’ve been raised to expect the worst, I don’t know, but there was a pungent aroma of success in the air. Suddenly two points are all we require from our final three games and should City and North End fail to win any of their final two fixtures then we have already done enough.
"Only two more points” someone said to me. What’s all this “only” I replied. As always, the pessimist but the ride home was a mighty nice one.
Fri 23rd April
The Brissett saga has gone a little quiet over the past 48 hours and Ray has decided to keep the punishment in house.
Personally, I reckon there’s more to this incident than we’re being told. Footballers are usually not the brightest of people but even Jason Brissett isn’t totally stupid. Following all his warnings and threats he still turned round and smacked his opponent on the nose. Whatever was said, it certainly hit a raw nerve.
There is no clear reason for JB’s actions and this is the bast I can come up with. One question though - If Ray is going to sack him how on earth will he keep this secret?
A big game tomorrow. We make the shortish trip to Lincoln City with both Clubs in real need for the spoils. The Imps return to the Second Division looks like being the briefest of stays and we are still looking for the first three of the eight points required for us to leave the Second Division, albeit by the much happier exit.
With Wycombe travelling to Maine Road tomorrow and Millwall hosting Preston we require three points to hold our own. I’d love to see Wycombe get a nil - nil’er but realistically Millwall are our main hopes when it comes to stealing a point or three.
Personally, I reckon there’s more to this incident than we’re being told. Footballers are usually not the brightest of people but even Jason Brissett isn’t totally stupid. Following all his warnings and threats he still turned round and smacked his opponent on the nose. Whatever was said, it certainly hit a raw nerve.
There is no clear reason for JB’s actions and this is the bast I can come up with. One question though - If Ray is going to sack him how on earth will he keep this secret?
A big game tomorrow. We make the shortish trip to Lincoln City with both Clubs in real need for the spoils. The Imps return to the Second Division looks like being the briefest of stays and we are still looking for the first three of the eight points required for us to leave the Second Division, albeit by the much happier exit.
With Wycombe travelling to Maine Road tomorrow and Millwall hosting Preston we require three points to hold our own. I’d love to see Wycombe get a nil - nil’er but realistically Millwall are our main hopes when it comes to stealing a point or three.
Wed 21st April
Ray spells it out to Brissett in black and white and it went along the lines of;
He has been warned about his conduct.
The club has bent over backwards to help him overcome such indicipline.
The manager has no wish to associate himself with this type of behaviour.
If video evidence convicts him of striking the opponent then the repercussions are that either Brissett or Graydon will leave the Football Club.
Now I know that our board are sometimes a little slow on the uptake but no prizes for guessing which one will go.
As for the game itself, Ray also plays down the significance of last night’s defeat by stating the fact that we still control our own destiny and he expected such slip ups on the way home.
The reserves, who I haven’t mentioned lately, win again and are in with a chance of promotion into a league that isn’t going to exist. I’m informed that the big boys don’t want to play with us and going to play on their own therefore breaking up the Central League.
He has been warned about his conduct.
The club has bent over backwards to help him overcome such indicipline.
The manager has no wish to associate himself with this type of behaviour.
If video evidence convicts him of striking the opponent then the repercussions are that either Brissett or Graydon will leave the Football Club.
Now I know that our board are sometimes a little slow on the uptake but no prizes for guessing which one will go.
As for the game itself, Ray also plays down the significance of last night’s defeat by stating the fact that we still control our own destiny and he expected such slip ups on the way home.
The reserves, who I haven’t mentioned lately, win again and are in with a chance of promotion into a league that isn’t going to exist. I’m informed that the big boys don’t want to play with us and going to play on their own therefore breaking up the Central League.
Tue 20th April - Preston North End
So we need eight points from four games instead.
Preston beat us tonight by the odd goal and to rub salt into a painful wound the ever irritating Simon Gregan got the winner. Not a classic by any means but that would have mattered little had we managed to scrape a point from somewhere.
The truth is we didn’t look like getting anything out of the game and Preston were worthy winners.
Sure we had a goal disallowed for offside when the Preston defenders hadn’t tried for offside and the referee didn’t give us anything all night but we just didn’t play. The goal came courtesy of a crossed free kick and an unlucky bounce off Ada which fell nicely to Gregan six yards out. He did what he had to and twenty minutes later Brissett did what he shouldn’t have.
Following a disputed corner call which clearly came off the full back Alexander, Brissett turned round, exchanged verbals and concluded the brief chat by chinning the PNE full back. hopefully he was showered, changed and well clear of the dressing room by the time Mr Graydon entered it.
Preston beat us tonight by the odd goal and to rub salt into a painful wound the ever irritating Simon Gregan got the winner. Not a classic by any means but that would have mattered little had we managed to scrape a point from somewhere.
The truth is we didn’t look like getting anything out of the game and Preston were worthy winners.
Sure we had a goal disallowed for offside when the Preston defenders hadn’t tried for offside and the referee didn’t give us anything all night but we just didn’t play. The goal came courtesy of a crossed free kick and an unlucky bounce off Ada which fell nicely to Gregan six yards out. He did what he had to and twenty minutes later Brissett did what he shouldn’t have.
Following a disputed corner call which clearly came off the full back Alexander, Brissett turned round, exchanged verbals and concluded the brief chat by chinning the PNE full back. hopefully he was showered, changed and well clear of the dressing room by the time Mr Graydon entered it.
Sun 18th April
In a game that we really should have been contesting Millwall make their post war Wembley debut in front of 40000 of their fans and 8000 of Wigan’s. I’m not going to go into detail of how pathetic taking only 8000 fans to Wembley is because they must know it for themselves. Pathetic Athletic and their Pathetic fan base. Even the ‘only on a big match day glory boy attendees’ couldn’t give a toss for Wigan. Little Wigan also had the bare face cheek to win game. Three minutes into injury time into the bargain. Ouch!
Sat 17th April - Macclesfield Town
Well we did our bit. A 2 - 0 win was all that we required but what about the others?
Preston’s poor current form continued when they lost to a late Blackpool winner but Manchester City produced the result of the day with a two nil victory at the Priestfield Stadium. Preston currently look out of the automatic promotion chase but they will know that we are going there on Tuesday night and a home win would ease them back into the chase.
City are on fire though. One defeat in twenty one games and something like fifty points out of sixty three in that time. They also look pretty certain to win their last three games into the bargain and so the equation for us is all very simple. We require eight points from our last five games to achieve the impossible. Everyone’s favourites for relegation need three wins to pip everyone’s favourites for promotion.
Say it quickly and it sounds easy. Think about it for long and it becomes a rather tougher task. Back to today’s game though.
The first half was incredibly tense and as word of Blackpool’s early kick off victory filtered through the home ranks the tension seemed to increase by another notch. The players looked almost as tight and basically scraped their way through a poor first half with the visitors looking the much brighter side.
Tension is a strange feeling though. As Rob Stiener converted a Rammell flick on and we took the lead the pressure release was incredible. You can’t smell, see, touch, hear or taste it but you know when it’s there and equally you know when it’s gone. For the next twenty five minutes we dominated the game and in addition to a Rammell sidefooted goal we had a couple of efforts ruled out.
The last fifteen minutes was all about protecting three priceless points and ensuring we picked up no injuries before Tuesday night. City may have taken the result of the day but it’s a long way back from Kent when, following such a cracking result, you still can’t make inroads into the lead of your rivals.
Preston’s poor current form continued when they lost to a late Blackpool winner but Manchester City produced the result of the day with a two nil victory at the Priestfield Stadium. Preston currently look out of the automatic promotion chase but they will know that we are going there on Tuesday night and a home win would ease them back into the chase.
City are on fire though. One defeat in twenty one games and something like fifty points out of sixty three in that time. They also look pretty certain to win their last three games into the bargain and so the equation for us is all very simple. We require eight points from our last five games to achieve the impossible. Everyone’s favourites for relegation need three wins to pip everyone’s favourites for promotion.
Say it quickly and it sounds easy. Think about it for long and it becomes a rather tougher task. Back to today’s game though.
The first half was incredibly tense and as word of Blackpool’s early kick off victory filtered through the home ranks the tension seemed to increase by another notch. The players looked almost as tight and basically scraped their way through a poor first half with the visitors looking the much brighter side.
Tension is a strange feeling though. As Rob Stiener converted a Rammell flick on and we took the lead the pressure release was incredible. You can’t smell, see, touch, hear or taste it but you know when it’s there and equally you know when it’s gone. For the next twenty five minutes we dominated the game and in addition to a Rammell sidefooted goal we had a couple of efforts ruled out.
The last fifteen minutes was all about protecting three priceless points and ensuring we picked up no injuries before Tuesday night. City may have taken the result of the day but it’s a long way back from Kent when, following such a cracking result, you still can’t make inroads into the lead of your rivals.
Fri 16th April
The point of no return comes tomorrow. Manchester City have their last real toughie at Gillingham and Preston entertain Blackpool in a local derby. We on the other hand are visited by relegation favourites Macclesfield Town and simply have to win.
If the others win then fair play to them and we go on to the next set of fixtures, but if we drop points and they win then we really will be on the ropes. We simply can’t afford to drop points tomorrow.
I worry that the crowd may be a problem tomorrow as they'll come expecting a landslide like last seasons FA cup tie and that simply isn’t going to happen. As long as we score one more goal than the Silkmen then we’ll be OK.
Come on Gillingham.
If the others win then fair play to them and we go on to the next set of fixtures, but if we drop points and they win then we really will be on the ropes. We simply can’t afford to drop points tomorrow.
I worry that the crowd may be a problem tomorrow as they'll come expecting a landslide like last seasons FA cup tie and that simply isn’t going to happen. As long as we score one more goal than the Silkmen then we’ll be OK.
Come on Gillingham.
Wed 14th April
Andy Watson has apparently accepted an offer to play international football for god knows who in a FIFA approved tournament in god knows where. Apparently he leaves asap and won’t be back until the end of the season. Uncle Ray reminded him that he still had to win a contract for next season and Andy decided to go. A brave decision. Still international football is international football irrespective of whether you’re competing against teams with the quality of Brazil or the Fullbrook and, if we’re honest, we all would have been tempted by the offer.
Andy Watson’s career at Walsall Football Club looks over though and although he didn’t really pull up too many trees at Bescot Stadium he’ll always be remembered for felling a Forest. A fantastic night where for a couple of hours we re-entered the mid 1980s. The original Cup kings of the lower divisions were back, Frankie Goes To Hollywood were number one again and the miners were back out on the picket line. Hell, even Simon Le Bon was cool for a while.
Fashions change just about every year, players move on every couple of years and we even get a result at Wigan occasionally but the feeling of cup glory never changes.
The feeling as you topple one of the big boys is exclusive to terminal lower divisioners and thankfully it can’t be bought or sold anywhere. The feeling that reminds you that however bad it gets, supporting this little club with an even smaller budget is the only thing you ever want to do. If I ever lose this feeling then please feel free to kill me. The Forest game was that special and whilst it belongs to all of us, it was undoubtedly Andy Watson’s night.
If we have seen the last of Andy Watson well farewell and good luck fellow Saddler.
Elsewhere, Luton manage to hold out for a full three minutes at Maine Road before succumbing to Manchester City. Cheers lads.
Andy Watson’s career at Walsall Football Club looks over though and although he didn’t really pull up too many trees at Bescot Stadium he’ll always be remembered for felling a Forest. A fantastic night where for a couple of hours we re-entered the mid 1980s. The original Cup kings of the lower divisions were back, Frankie Goes To Hollywood were number one again and the miners were back out on the picket line. Hell, even Simon Le Bon was cool for a while.
Fashions change just about every year, players move on every couple of years and we even get a result at Wigan occasionally but the feeling of cup glory never changes.
The feeling as you topple one of the big boys is exclusive to terminal lower divisioners and thankfully it can’t be bought or sold anywhere. The feeling that reminds you that however bad it gets, supporting this little club with an even smaller budget is the only thing you ever want to do. If I ever lose this feeling then please feel free to kill me. The Forest game was that special and whilst it belongs to all of us, it was undoubtedly Andy Watson’s night.
If we have seen the last of Andy Watson well farewell and good luck fellow Saddler.
Elsewhere, Luton manage to hold out for a full three minutes at Maine Road before succumbing to Manchester City. Cheers lads.
Tue 13th April - Bournemouth
A clean sheet. All we needed was a clean sheet and we only went and got one.
Although I’ve never doubted the character of this side I was genuinely worried about this one. We couldn’t afford to lose and yet again, when our backs were up against the wall, we pulled out another clean sheet.
Possibly the most important clean sheet of the twenty one we’ve managed this season and it came from another stunning defensive performance.
In all honesty Bournemouth were never going to score and the performances of Marsh, Pointon, Viveash and Roper were absolutely top rank. Stein never really figured, drifting back beyond the halfway line in search of both the ball or space to play and eventually fizzled out of the game. The always impressive Fletcher didn’t get a sniff all night and when your next choice is Monsieur Boli then you really are running out of ideas.
Boli didn’t even make the squad for this one, mores the pity. If only I knew the French translation of “The grass really is greener on the other side”. I used to really despise Roger Boli but in the same way that hatred turned to comedy with the mid 80’s Wolves side I simply laugh at him now. Not such a clever move was it Rog?
Oh, I almost forgot, we only went and scored.
Yep, collecting possession midway inside his own half Darren Wrack attacked the heart of Bournemouth and his run concluded with the ball smashed into the back of the home net as Dazzer lost interest in turning the number four inside out and beautifully drilled the ball home from fully 25 yards. It was one of those “go on Dazzer, go on Dazzer, go on Dazzer, go on Dazzer, GO ON DAZZER...Fuck me he’s scored...YYEEEEESSSSSS” goals. Goal of the Season.
One of those goals, indeed one of those nights that make visits to Colchester and Wigan worthwhile.
Although I’ve never doubted the character of this side I was genuinely worried about this one. We couldn’t afford to lose and yet again, when our backs were up against the wall, we pulled out another clean sheet.
Possibly the most important clean sheet of the twenty one we’ve managed this season and it came from another stunning defensive performance.
In all honesty Bournemouth were never going to score and the performances of Marsh, Pointon, Viveash and Roper were absolutely top rank. Stein never really figured, drifting back beyond the halfway line in search of both the ball or space to play and eventually fizzled out of the game. The always impressive Fletcher didn’t get a sniff all night and when your next choice is Monsieur Boli then you really are running out of ideas.
Boli didn’t even make the squad for this one, mores the pity. If only I knew the French translation of “The grass really is greener on the other side”. I used to really despise Roger Boli but in the same way that hatred turned to comedy with the mid 80’s Wolves side I simply laugh at him now. Not such a clever move was it Rog?
Oh, I almost forgot, we only went and scored.
Yep, collecting possession midway inside his own half Darren Wrack attacked the heart of Bournemouth and his run concluded with the ball smashed into the back of the home net as Dazzer lost interest in turning the number four inside out and beautifully drilled the ball home from fully 25 yards. It was one of those “go on Dazzer, go on Dazzer, go on Dazzer, go on Dazzer, GO ON DAZZER...Fuck me he’s scored...YYEEEEESSSSSS” goals. Goal of the Season.
One of those goals, indeed one of those nights that make visits to Colchester and Wigan worthwhile.
Mon 12th April
Now following a blank return on Saturday we’re really under pressure to deliver tomorrow.
An away game at Bournemouth isn’t what I’d have chosen to follow Saturday but the league programme isn’t about pick and mix. Indeed if there are wounds from Saturday what better way to deal with them than visit the best home side in the division in a crunch six pointer?
Bournemouth currently have 15 home wins to their name and have only lost once since the Auto Windscreen Nightmare that was Big Jan’s swansong. You can’t really fancy us to win with a home record like theirs but if we keep a clean sheet we won’t lose and they certainly need to beat us more than we need to beat them.
Seven games to go. This is where it begins to get serious.
An away game at Bournemouth isn’t what I’d have chosen to follow Saturday but the league programme isn’t about pick and mix. Indeed if there are wounds from Saturday what better way to deal with them than visit the best home side in the division in a crunch six pointer?
Bournemouth currently have 15 home wins to their name and have only lost once since the Auto Windscreen Nightmare that was Big Jan’s swansong. You can’t really fancy us to win with a home record like theirs but if we keep a clean sheet we won’t lose and they certainly need to beat us more than we need to beat them.
Seven games to go. This is where it begins to get serious.
Sat 10th April - Colchester Utd
I fucking hate everything that is the South East of England. Colchester United, Southend United, Gillingham, their fans, the crap grounds, the lack of facilities, Thatcher’s Britain, the A14, fat kids in Arsenal kits, white stillettos, Lindsay Dawn Mackenzie, David Sullivan, overpriced beer and never ever winning here.
I also hate breaking down and missing the first twenty five minutes without beer being involved and I really hate losing 1 - 0 to a deflected goal from a dodgy free kick. Yes, it was a nightmare all round.
We left Great Barr at 12:59 and were on the outskirts of Shitsville at around ten past three. The first half sped by , not quite as quickly as Al’s driving mind, but quickly just the same. It’s funny how frustrating it can be when you’re missing the game because you’re trying to get there. When you are sat in a boozer with pint in front of you and the clock showing loads past three it’s not that distressing.
Anyway we didn’t really get going until the second half and when Rob Stiener missed right in front of goal that was us done. I can’t be bothered to write about the dirty bastard full back who spat into the crowd or the animal did a ‘hatchet job’ on Pointon’s leg.
As for Lua-Lua - he had a very impressive game but the name Boli-Boli springs to mind and quite honestly they are welcome to them both. A bad day, move on.
I also hate breaking down and missing the first twenty five minutes without beer being involved and I really hate losing 1 - 0 to a deflected goal from a dodgy free kick. Yes, it was a nightmare all round.
We left Great Barr at 12:59 and were on the outskirts of Shitsville at around ten past three. The first half sped by , not quite as quickly as Al’s driving mind, but quickly just the same. It’s funny how frustrating it can be when you’re missing the game because you’re trying to get there. When you are sat in a boozer with pint in front of you and the clock showing loads past three it’s not that distressing.
Anyway we didn’t really get going until the second half and when Rob Stiener missed right in front of goal that was us done. I can’t be bothered to write about the dirty bastard full back who spat into the crowd or the animal did a ‘hatchet job’ on Pointon’s leg.
As for Lua-Lua - he had a very impressive game but the name Boli-Boli springs to mind and quite honestly they are welcome to them both. A bad day, move on.
Fri 9th April
Colchester United are a shitty club. They're small time, long ball, slum dwelling, apprentice cockneys and to make it worse we’ve got to go there tomorrow.
It’ll be the same old story. Crappy away end, one toilet, no pies and mockney banter. The crowd at Layer Road always appears to be more interested in annoying the away fans than watching their own teams pitiful attempt at football and to make it worse we always conspire to get beat here into the bargain.
Hence I’m not totally looking forward to tomorrow afternoon and not all that hopeful of coming away with anything. Colchester United - Northampton Town without the finesse.
It’ll be the same old story. Crappy away end, one toilet, no pies and mockney banter. The crowd at Layer Road always appears to be more interested in annoying the away fans than watching their own teams pitiful attempt at football and to make it worse we always conspire to get beat here into the bargain.
Hence I’m not totally looking forward to tomorrow afternoon and not all that hopeful of coming away with anything. Colchester United - Northampton Town without the finesse.
Wed 7th April
Why do Manchester City keep on winning? There’s a large shadow appearing over our promotion drive and it’s the boys in the luminous green away kit. I could understand if it was green with envy at the exploits of Fergie's lot, but not this green. Even the Incredible Hulk wasn’t as green as this monstrosity.
Perhaps the Football League could deduct points for a disgraceful attempt at being both fashionable and fluorescent. I’ve seen lollypop ladies better disguised than blokes in this abomination.
Back to the main question however - why must they keep on winning? Why wont they just drop a few points and politely fade out of an automatic promotion challenge? Please.
Perhaps the Football League could deduct points for a disgraceful attempt at being both fashionable and fluorescent. I’ve seen lollypop ladies better disguised than blokes in this abomination.
Back to the main question however - why must they keep on winning? Why wont they just drop a few points and politely fade out of an automatic promotion challenge? Please.
Tue 6th April - Wrexham
This wasn’t ever going to make or break the season but in many ways there could only be one positive result. Defeat wouldn’t have been terminal but in reality we simply had to win.
The first half was a strange one with Wrexham being reduced to ten men and Walsall seemingly happy to throw the ball up to Andy Rammell in what appeared nothing more cultured than route one football. Chances were scarcer than intelligent Wolves fans and the general standard of football was pretty poor.
A clearly edgy and jittery Walsall showing mirrored by a very nervous home terrace. The realisation that as a Club we're in danger of achieving something special has hit home now and I’m sure we’re in for more than one nervy 45 minutes over the next four weeks. The Wrexham sending off was as black and white as they come with some nutter midfielder trying to launch Wracky onto the car park outside. The other ten players knew the score and didn’t bother to dispute the decision.
As for chances, there weren’t any. The second half was little better but two statistics told the story. Wrack crossed, Stiener headed home to give us the lead and we kept a clean sheet. Essentially game was crap, the performance was poor and in the end the difference between success and failure was about the inch gap under the crossbar that Stiener's header filled.
The last flurry of second half injury time saw a corner headed onto the bar, bounce out and be hooked back in, Keates(I think) cleared off the line again, hooked back in and cleared off the line again. The final whistle then sounded and the points were again ours.
Had we suffered another injury time equaliser then the Samaritans would have had a very busy night in the 01922 area.
The first half was a strange one with Wrexham being reduced to ten men and Walsall seemingly happy to throw the ball up to Andy Rammell in what appeared nothing more cultured than route one football. Chances were scarcer than intelligent Wolves fans and the general standard of football was pretty poor.
A clearly edgy and jittery Walsall showing mirrored by a very nervous home terrace. The realisation that as a Club we're in danger of achieving something special has hit home now and I’m sure we’re in for more than one nervy 45 minutes over the next four weeks. The Wrexham sending off was as black and white as they come with some nutter midfielder trying to launch Wracky onto the car park outside. The other ten players knew the score and didn’t bother to dispute the decision.
As for chances, there weren’t any. The second half was little better but two statistics told the story. Wrack crossed, Stiener headed home to give us the lead and we kept a clean sheet. Essentially game was crap, the performance was poor and in the end the difference between success and failure was about the inch gap under the crossbar that Stiener's header filled.
The last flurry of second half injury time saw a corner headed onto the bar, bounce out and be hooked back in, Keates(I think) cleared off the line again, hooked back in and cleared off the line again. The final whistle then sounded and the points were again ours.
Had we suffered another injury time equaliser then the Samaritans would have had a very busy night in the 01922 area.
Mon 5th April
Preston vs Man City ends all square as they share a couple of goals and suddenly our destiny is well in our own hands. Nine game to go and I reckon by avoiding defeat at Deepdale and winning five games out of the other eight we’ll be promoted automatically.
To say we’re certainties for the play offs would be a little presumptuous knowing how badly we’ve fallen away in the past but there would surely be a stewards enquiry should we miss out on the post season party all together.
Wrexham are the visitors tomorrow and if we keep our heads and don’t go blindly chasing the game we ought to be looking at maximum points. However until we reach the final whistle in the lead I won’t be counting any chickens. Fingers crossed though.
To say we’re certainties for the play offs would be a little presumptuous knowing how badly we’ve fallen away in the past but there would surely be a stewards enquiry should we miss out on the post season party all together.
Wrexham are the visitors tomorrow and if we keep our heads and don’t go blindly chasing the game we ought to be looking at maximum points. However until we reach the final whistle in the lead I won’t be counting any chickens. Fingers crossed though.
Sat 3rd April - Blackpool
In the promotion season of 94/95 we were in a similar position, the chasing pack were breathing right down our necks and we visited Doncaster needing both a good performance and a win. The latter was obviously key but we did need to put something like a decent performance in to banish the doubts and help the confidence out.
We won 2-0 with a stylish display that ended in a canter.
That day in April was one of two or three key dates in that month and was probably the first body blow that Chesterfield had suffered in many weeks. Eventually they buckled and the door was sufficiently ajar for us to kick it off the hinges.
Well we’ve done it again. We needed a result like hell today and following Darko’s early strike and Bjarne’s second half contribution we won without needing to go through the gears. It probably helped that the Blackpool fans didn’t really care too much about the result, probably due to the fact that Preston are the side we’re chasing. It also doesn’t do us any harm when the team we’re playing are down to the absolute bare bones or that their Boardroom is a bit of a joke with the son replacing his mother who replaced her husband who...and so on.
Still, a win is a win and the three points will come in very handy thanks. The match itself pretty much became a non event after Darko’s rather sparkling opener. He intercepted a pass from the full back and beat two or three players before tidily slotting the ball home. From there on in we appeared more interested in protecting both what we had and our energy levels than chasing a landslide victory and with another game on Tuesday night that may well be very important.
We also drank an absolute shed full of beer. God bless Saturday afternoons in Blackpool.
That day in April was one of two or three key dates in that month and was probably the first body blow that Chesterfield had suffered in many weeks. Eventually they buckled and the door was sufficiently ajar for us to kick it off the hinges.
Well we’ve done it again. We needed a result like hell today and following Darko’s early strike and Bjarne’s second half contribution we won without needing to go through the gears. It probably helped that the Blackpool fans didn’t really care too much about the result, probably due to the fact that Preston are the side we’re chasing. It also doesn’t do us any harm when the team we’re playing are down to the absolute bare bones or that their Boardroom is a bit of a joke with the son replacing his mother who replaced her husband who...and so on.
Still, a win is a win and the three points will come in very handy thanks. The match itself pretty much became a non event after Darko’s rather sparkling opener. He intercepted a pass from the full back and beat two or three players before tidily slotting the ball home. From there on in we appeared more interested in protecting both what we had and our energy levels than chasing a landslide victory and with another game on Tuesday night that may well be very important.
We also drank an absolute shed full of beer. God bless Saturday afternoons in Blackpool.
Fri 2nd April
Following the quietest week of the season we’re back in full swing from 3pm tomorrow.
Now when the good lord created Walsall Football Club he also had to create the lower divisions. To have created a successful WFC would have been far too easy. He also decided to create shitholes such as Wigan, Chesterfield, Scarborough, Brentford and Peterborough. It was decided that the followers of such club’s should spend the entire Autumn, Winter and Spring visiting such crappy places and, more often than not, losing there into the bargain.
But then God had a top idea - he decided to make Blackpool equally crap. So now, if you were one of the big boys who cared little for the likes of the aforementioned teams you didn’t get the annual piss up in Lancashire. Whereas if you're like us at least you get the one weekend per season that makes up for the other thirty nine.
Unless of course you support Blackpool and then it’s all a bit naff every weekend.
Fortunately, Walsall seem to have got a Spring date in Lancashire pretty sewn up now as the fixture computer tends to be pretty kind to us and rarely sends us up there in january or February. It’s the least we deserve however, not least because if we hadn’t have done the tangerines for promotion on two occasions in the 1990’s Blackpool could have been lost to the lowers divisions.
WFC charitably denying the rich to please the piss poor. In a Friday night game Colchester do us a big favour and beat Preston by the odd goal. Now that's a long ride home when you’ve blown three points. Hopefully we’ll have a shorter trip back from there next week
Now when the good lord created Walsall Football Club he also had to create the lower divisions. To have created a successful WFC would have been far too easy. He also decided to create shitholes such as Wigan, Chesterfield, Scarborough, Brentford and Peterborough. It was decided that the followers of such club’s should spend the entire Autumn, Winter and Spring visiting such crappy places and, more often than not, losing there into the bargain.
But then God had a top idea - he decided to make Blackpool equally crap. So now, if you were one of the big boys who cared little for the likes of the aforementioned teams you didn’t get the annual piss up in Lancashire. Whereas if you're like us at least you get the one weekend per season that makes up for the other thirty nine.
Unless of course you support Blackpool and then it’s all a bit naff every weekend.
Fortunately, Walsall seem to have got a Spring date in Lancashire pretty sewn up now as the fixture computer tends to be pretty kind to us and rarely sends us up there in january or February. It’s the least we deserve however, not least because if we hadn’t have done the tangerines for promotion on two occasions in the 1990’s Blackpool could have been lost to the lowers divisions.
WFC charitably denying the rich to please the piss poor. In a Friday night game Colchester do us a big favour and beat Preston by the odd goal. Now that's a long ride home when you’ve blown three points. Hopefully we’ll have a shorter trip back from there next week
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