Chris Marsh on Walsall’s points boost
Tuesday 22nd February 2011, 9:59AM GMT.
Walsall legend Chris Marsh today declared ‘the Great Escape is on’ after the Saddlers were handed another League One lifeline.
The relegation scrap took a dramatic twist last night after Plymouth were hit with a 10 point penalty for calling in the administrators.
The Pilgrims will plunge to the foot of the table, moving the Saddlers up to fourth bottom – a point off safety.
It marked a stunning turnaround in the seven weeks since manager Dean Smith inherited a seemingly doomed team who were eight points adrift.
And Marsh, who played for the Saddlers with Smith in the early 1990s, reckons the club can escape the trapdoor.
He said: “It’s on, you have to believe it is. They had dragged it back before yesterday’s news anyway and have put themselves in a fantastic position.
“It’s great, they were eight points adrift not so long ago and I’ll never say never but even I was looking at the situation and groaning.
“I’m so pleased they’ve got into this position because they are my club, it’s brilliant.”
The Saddlers could now escape the drop zone with a win at home to Rochdale on Saturday and Marsh feels little sympathy for Plymouth if it aids Walsall.
He said: “You don’t want to see clubs go into administration, especially in the lower leagues because we all know how tough it is.
“But it’s happened and, stating the obvious, it’s good for Walsall.
“Walsall’s survival is all that matters so it’s hard on Plymouth, but life is hard.”
Plymouth go to Brighton tonight while Dagenham host Huddersfield and Brentford welcome Tranmere, meaning the league will change again.
But Marsh, who made 497 appearances for the Saddlers, insisted the club and fans must remain calm because rivals still have games in hand.
He said: “You can’t get carried away, when you do you’re in trouble. We don’t want to have to rely on other teams but of course you’ll look at the results and hope they lose.
“We’re running out of games and want all the help we can get. “
UK Sport
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Can’t take any pleasure from the circumstances. We’ll do it because Dean and the team will earn every right to stay in the division. Always good to hear from Chris! – UTS
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