On Tuesday evening Walsall Football Club played host to Crawley Town in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. Bescot Banter columnist Scott Brotherton was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
Big frontman McLeod got the first shot on target just two minutes in, a tame shot under pressure from defenders which proved easy for Richard O'Donnell.
Romaine Sawyers was lively early into his 100th Saddlers appearance, and he teed up Michael Cain who put Walsall's first attempt well wide.
Kieron Morris' piledriver from a central position then stung the hands of goalkeeper Brian Jensen and had to be smashed clear by defenders, before a selfish Sawyers blasted into a crowd when he should really have squared to the Saddlers in the middle.
Morris had another decent opening in the area too, however he dallied on the ball and ended up going down softly in desperate hope of winning a spot-kick.
But after a few chances Walsall were rewarded for an exceptionally bright start with a good goal.
An energised Morris went on a driving run towards the edge of the area, causing panic in the Crawley side. He then threaded a pass through to Jordy Hiwula who kept his composure to slide past Jensen and into the far left corner.
It was the Manchester City youngster's fifth goal in a fruitful loan spell with the Saddlers, and he repaid boss Dean Smith for putting him back in the eleven - Hiwula for Jordan Cook was the only change from Saturday's 1-0 win.
A 30-yard half volley that followed from Ben Purkiss was the perfect example of the confidence flowing through Smith's men, as it bounced wide.
Walsall had three or four decent first-half penalty appeals turned down as well - the Red Devils' defence couldn't cope with their renewed verve up front.
A vicious and deceptive swirling shot from Cain had to be pawed away by the Crawley keeper around the half hour mark, and Morris' low volley fizzed wide as the Saddlers dominated.
Andy Taylor then tried a bit of the spectacular when Jensen was scrambling back from a half-clearance. But unfortunately Andy isn't Charlie Adam, and the fans who had screamed for a shot were soon groaning as the left-back dragged the ball towards the corner flag from 50 yards.
Things settled down for the rest of the half but Walsall were well in control, and Adam Chambers absolutely leathered one over the bar in added time.
Dean Saunders will have been glad to get his troops in just 1-0 down because they just hadn't turned up in the first half, despite being in a relegation dogfight, while the hosts were excellent in the first 45.
HT: Walsall 1 Crawley Town 0
The second period continued in a similar vein. Crawley were certainly battling harder and pressing the home side slightly, but it didn't make much difference early on.
Goalie Jensen had to be at full stretch to flick Cain's half volley over the goal and he needed to be alert again to beat away Tom Bradshaw's powerful strike.
Walsall continued to dominate even though the game had calmed a little, and then a three minute goal blitz put the contest to bed.
First the ball dropped to Hiwula 20 yards out and Jordy showed expert touch to bend his effort past Jensen to complete a brace.
And almost straight from the Crawley kick-off Kieron Morris got in on the act. Jogging up from the halfway line, space opened up for the winger and he sent a rasping shot into the middle of the net. A slight deflection meant off a defender meant the ball looped over Jensen.
The only thing really missing was a Bradshaw goal - he curled one just over from decent position as the game entered into closing stages.
Unbelievably in the final 10 minutes it became 4-0 through Taylor. The left-back charged forward an hit an opportunistic strike from distance, but a huge deflection completely wrong-footed Jensen. The veteran stopper could only watch as the ball dropped into the opposite corner of the net.
That could have summed Crawley's game up - but they weren't unlucky, just abysmal.
Then it was 5-0!! And after his woeful time as the lone striker against Notts County it was nice to see substitute Jordan Cook amongst the goals. He showed quick feet with defenders around him before rolling coolly into the bottom right corner.
FT: Walsall 5 Crawley Town 0
GOALS: Hiwula 16' & 65', Morris 67', Taylor 81', Cook 89'
ATT: 3,296 (97 Crawley Town)
REF: Mr. Michael Bull (Essex)
A word must go out to the few away fans. They made a gruelling trip from Sussex and deserve nothing less than a full refund after this genuinely shocking performance.
But this thumping win surely guarantees safety - come on you Saddlers!
BY: Scott Brotherton.