Walsall blog: Bang on Jimmy

Walsall blogger Mark Jones concedes manager Jimmy Mullen was right, laughs out loud at Roy Whalley and takes his hat off to the other sports stars in the region ahead of the weekend.

I must admit I was a little bit surprised at the five changes Jimmy Mullen made at Bristol Rovers - but both the result and the performance proved him right.

The return of the experienced trio of Ricketts, Mattis and Weston seemed to be exactly what the team needed.

With a distinct lack of clean sheets, I was slightly apprehensive about how the back four that played for the last 75 minutes at the Memorial Ground was going to cope.

Palmer has done quite well so far but has spent most of his career in League Two, while the returning Weston had barely had time to settle himself back in before being moved out of position to centre back, although to be fair he has all the qualities to be able to play there.

Roberts is still struggling with injuries but scored against Rovers, with the inexperienced Sansara making the four.

I needn’t have worried. In true Walsall style the whole team (makeshift defence included) proved me wrong again, with a solid display of togetherness and good old-fashioned team spirit.

Prize for the stupidest question of the weekend has to go to the radio reporter, who allegedly asked Jimmy Mullen after the match if the changes he’d made, were an indication of the strength in depth of the squad!

Err hello … strength in depth? Walsall? Behave!

Although the suggestion from Roy Whalley that signing Dwayne Mattis showed the ambition of the club comes a close second. Don’t get me wrong I’m a fan of Dwayne.

I’ve a lot of time for the way he’s returned from that horrendous injury but he was a reserve player at Barnsley at best. Please don’t insult our intelligence.

It’s not been a bad few days for Walsall sport. While the Mighty Saddlers were continuing the predictably unpredictable start to the season by winning in Bristol, the mighty Walsall Cricket Club were once again proving themselves to be top dogs in the region with a third successive Birmingham League title.

Well done boys! On top of that Eleanor Simmonds of Aldridge became Britain’s youngest ever individual Paralympic gold medallist. Absolutely fantastic!

We may not have the prestige or illustrious history of some of our neighbours, but there’s no reason why those representing the town can’t do so with pride.

Which Walsall football team will turn up next week is an entirely different matter though.