Saddlers blog: Shut up Dennis

I don’t normally like to claim to speak for all Saddlers fans but today I’d like to say a big ‘Shut up Dennis, you’re talking rubbish … again,’ writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.

Snidey comments from a snidey little man, who’s probably frustrated that he can’t go round pinching, scratching and doing all the girly things he used to as a player.

No, it wasn’t our ‘cup final’ actually. If Leeds had done their homework, then they’d have realised Walsall have been playing well for the best part of three months. I seem to remember Man City making that mistake a few years back too and we all know what happened to them come the business end of the season.

Wisey also said he couldn’t see either team winning, well as his boys hadn’t had a shot on target by the time Tommy put us one-nil up, how exactly was he expecting to get a point? By the power of positive thought?

As it was, a poor decision by the referee (again) and the flukiest of deflections combined to rob us of the win our performance deserved.

We maybe should have had a two goal cushion by then anyway. Mark Bradley’s shot deserved a goal in itself and Mooney must have been offside at that exact moment or else we were the victims of some extremely dodgy officials (again).

If there is any consolation to take from Saturday, it is the fact that feeling cheated by a late equaliser against the division’s big boys is a feeling we haven’t experienced for a while. It’s also a massive indicator of how big an improvement we’ve made since that first depressing month of the season.

It was good to see a big crowd at the Banks’s, obviously Leeds had their large and noisy following and there were ‘home’ fans that’d turned up for the big day. It would be nice to think they’ll be back more often, Saturday against Millwall would be a start.

The United fans helped to make a great atmosphere but did fall into the trap of being Big Time Charlies a couple of times.

‘Ricketts for England’ would have been reasonably funny if it was not sung by fans of a team whose aforementioned manager was one of the worst ever to wear the 3 Lions.

I’m sure Michael would be the first to admit that his career hasn’t quite gone as planned, but I don’t think Alan Thompson or David Prutton imagined they’d be plying their trade in League One either.

Then there was ‘one all and it’s your keeper’s fault’ … err no it wasn’t, not unless they were being ironic and meant their keeper, ‘cos he was all over the place for our goal.

As for our hardcore regulars, I get the impression that there is a real bond developing between the fans and the team (and with DD too) that is reminiscent of the Graydon era. And this has got to be a good thing.

Roll on the rematch at Elland Road.