In the latest of his weekly columns, Scott Brotherton takes a look back at Tuesday evening's win over Bradford City and considers the importance of building momentum;It has been a long time coming but finally the Saddlers notched up a win at Bradford on Tuesday night. After ten games without a win, stretching back to the 5-1 thumping of Notts County in January, the 2-0 victory will bring some much needed confidence.
There is a feeling of déjà vu around it. Last season Walsall were on a winless run that spanned over three months before they finally got three points at home against Colchester United on the 22nd December.
This sparked an amazing series of results where Dean Smith’s men won 10 in 14 and at one point were unbeaten in 15 league games. It catapulted them from teetering on the edge of relegation to genuine play-off contenders, eventually finishing ninth.
It gets you thinking: if they could do it last year, why not again? Walsall may only have seven games left to push for the top six, but while they were five points off the bottom four when their 2012/13 run started, this time they are that margin off Peterborough United in sixth.
The personnel this year are mostly the same as last campaign, so they must have the belief that they can do it. Butler, Downing, Taylor, Adam Chambers, Mantom, Brandy and Westcarr. That is seven players who started the Colchester game over a year ago AND started on Tuesday, so continuity might prove to be the key for the Saddlers.
And they have certainly regrouped well in other areas with Sawyers and Lalkovic replacing big-hitters Paterson and Grigg in the side.
The fans are generally a happy bunch if a club with the budget of ours can maintain their League One status. I must admit it has been nice watching us creep up to 53 points in recent weeks and make absolutely certain we are safe. Always the pessimist, I was keeping a watchful eye on the bottom four during the awful run of results so to pass the 50-point mark is a relief.
Now every position Walsall can climb is a bonus and you just never know. The Football League is crazy sometimes and stranger things have happened.
Remember Yeovil? Pre-season favourites for relegation last year, they are now fighting it out in the Championship (albeit in the relegation zone). They have a similar style of manager and a similar budget, so surely the Saddlers have a similar chance?
By: Scott Brotherton.