Nice football, NO RESULT

Albion

The Saddlers restored Paul Merson and Jamie Vincent to the starting 11, with Zigor and Emblen making way. Lee put Merse in the midfield, tucked in just behind Jorge and Birchy.     

The Saddlers were the better side during the opening 15 minutes. They knocked the ball around well, got in behind the Albion Defence and created 2 great chances. 

Paul Merson was involved in both of the moves and was extremely influential throughout the first half. For the first chance Merson slipped a good ball in for Leitao who pushed is way to the by line, slid in a cross for Wrack who failed to make proper contact with the ball and fluffed his chance - just 5 yards from goal.

5 minutes later and Merson was causing trouble again. He played a great ball in to the box which Birch connected with only to be denied by a good save by Hoult.

That was as good as it was going to get for the Saddlers. They allowed the Baggies to take over and settle in to their rhythm. Jason Koumas was the chief tormentor of the Walsall back line, as the Saddlers struggled to suppress his weaving and winding around the field. 

The movement of the Albion front two was fantastic. They wriggled free of their markers a couple of times during the opening half an hour only to be given off side. We were given a warning on 15 minutes when Horsefield broke free down the right flank and flashed a low shot across the face of Jim Walkers goal. 

Horsefield had a good shout for a penalty five minutes before half time but was booked for diving. Replays after seemed to show there was contact. He nearly made up for it before the break when a stray Walsall pass fell in to his path saw him turn inside the Walsall defender - face up to Jim Walker on the penalty spot, only to miss kick the ball and send it wide. 

The first half had seen us keep possession well at times. Pass the ball around nicely and get in to a few decent positions. But most of what we did was in front of the Albion, and we rarely got in behind them which is where we need to be to make a different.

Samways and Merson had been key players for us in the first half. Samways was always there, ready for the pass and Merson looked keen to create. What we lacked was someone up top who could round off some good play. 

The Albion fans, regarded as the best around last season booed their boys in at half time. 

Half Time - Albion 0-0 Walsall 

Jorge Leitao had a half chance minutes in to the second half, his right footed shot from 20 yards failed to trouble Russell Hoult. 

Still the Albion were getting in a lot of threatening positions. Koumas was running the game picking up possession and jinking his way around the Walsall defence.

Albion had a number of corners and free kicks in threatening positions, but the Saddlers managed to clear the ball away to safety on a number occasions. 

Albion broke the deadlock on the hour mark when what seemed like a good strong challenge from Ritchie on Horsefield was deemed as being a foul. Koumas stepped up, and hit a low free kick towards the bottom right hand corner of Jims goal. On its way there it clipped the bottom of the Walsall wall and skipped past walker in to the bottom left hand corner. 1-0 till the Albion. 

Albion were no oozing with confidence, Dobie and Gregan both had chances to make it 2-0. Wrack had another half chance from outside the area, but he failed to hit the target. 

Minutes later and Horsefield bagged Albion's second of the game. The pacey Dyer sped past the struggling Darren Bazeley - got to the touch line - found Dobie on the back post - he squared it across to Horsefield who headed in to an open goal.  

The game was dead and buried. We rarely score more than one away from home. Let alone two. 

Koumas had to leave the field during the second half after he came off worse in a crunching tackle with Paul Ritchie. Ritchie got up and played ofor 5 minutes before being replaced by Emblen. Koumas was stretchered off the field and was replaced by James O'Connor. 

The final chance of the game came to Darren Wrack as the 90 minute mark came up. A Paul Merson corner found its way to him just inside a crowded penalty box. But he could only fire his chance in to the back of the Smethwick End. 

The Albion team walked of the pitch being cheered by their fans. They are just as fickle as the Dingles up the road. They clearly don't appreciate the fact they have squad capable of Premiership Football.

Full  Time - Albion 2-0 Walsall