Walsall 1 Oldham 2 - analysis

Progress is measured in different ways. Predominantly in football it's measured by results and league standings.

On January 20, the day Chris Hutchings took the Banks's Stadium reins, the Saddlers sat 13th in League One.

Now, after 105 days, 22 games, eight wins, six draws and eight defeats they have finished 13th.

Facts, unfortunately, are unavoidable and Saturday's uninspiring 2-1 defeat at home to Oldham left the Saddlers marooned in mid-table.

Deane Smalley and Ryan Brooke consigned them to another year of mediocrity after Troy Deeney, an undeniable star of the season, fired the hosts into a 30 second lead.

The final placing would lead the passing viewer to believe Walsall were stagnant, but performances on the pitch have improved three fold.

Although the league position has remained the same and results have dipped, with three consecutive home defeats at the end of the campaign, progress has been made.

There is a professional feel to the club and a focus which wasn't there before.

Mick McCarthy took three years to guide Wolves to the Premier League and while Hutchings is under no pressure yet, he should be given ample time to make his mark.

The players have begun to summarise the season and while they refuse to criticise the previous regime, thinly veiled suggestions of dissension speak volumes.

But, this all leads to the support of the current boss.

Today will see Hutchings debrief his squad and begin to thrash out their futures.

The manager has stated he would have preferred to tie some of his stars down long before the end of the season but he has abided by club policy.

He was understandably upset with the nature of their weekend's effort, even subtly questioning their commitment, although decisions won't be based on this performance alone.

Come the end of the week, perhaps even tomorrow, the Saddlers squad is likely to have an even more streamlined look to it.

It is hard to believe Hutchings will offer 13 new deals to the players out of contract. Every manager wants his own players and Hutchings inherited all of his present charges.

Pounding

But he hasn't the resources at his disposal to make a clean sweep.

A mid-table finish would usually see fans calling to clear away the deadwood and supporters are naturally discussing who they would keep but know they cannot afford to make wholesale changes.

Naturally there will be new faces, the dual contact book of Martin O'Connor and Hutchings will be taking a pounding over the summer, and who arrives will be crucial to any future success. But a top 10 finish would have been a great carrot to tempt new players with, not to mention a massive psychological boost.

It had all started so well when Deeney buried a header following a cross from Alex Nicholls.

Sadly the goal only galvanised the visitors who grew in purpose and stature as the game wore on.

The Saddlers should have driven home their advantage but they lost their way and it took a fantastic last-ditch block from Rhys Weston to stop Smalley equalising.

Oldham, snappy in possession, were impressing in Joe Royle's final game before Dave Penney takes charge.

But, just after the half hour Deeney almost doubled the host's lead when he smacked a shot against the bar.

It was the only moment of note before the visitors equalised following abject defending.

Ian Westlake flicked over a cross and, with the Saddlers' back four static, Smalley was left with all the space he needed to ram past the exposed Clayton Ince.

The Latics came out for the second half and took charge with Saddlers lacking the creativity to break down a robust defence led by the immovable Sean Gregan

Oldham were prodding and probing and finally got their rewards in the 74th minute.

Paul Boertien, who had a shocker after replacing the injured Rhys Weston at half-time, lost possession, Smalley scampered down the right and centred for Brooke to drive into the corner for his first professional goal.

Ince was forced into two smart saves from Westlake before the former Ipswich man should have won a penalty in the dying seconds when he was felled by Boertien.

It mattered little as seconds later the game and the season was brought to a close.

An inauspicious game to end an inauspicious season and for Hutchings, the work starts now.

By Nick Mashiter.