Walsall Column - Same Old Story

I have to say I would d be happy playing Leeds every home game. The four times they have visited us since the move to the Banks's Stadium have all been cracking games of football.

True the damned United have the somewhat irritating, if not frustrating, knack of scoring in the last 10 minutes of these fixtures, but to be fair our two sides have produced four marvellous games of football in that time.

The FA Cup tie of 1995 featured on Match of the Day produced Walsall's first ever sell out crowd at our new-ish stadium. We didn't need Leeds fans to help in those days, just the performance of his life from goalkeeper Trevor Wood.

Chris Marsh's goal looked set to see us through to the fourth round, right up until the barn house door known as David Wetherall connected with a late cross and forced a replay that we were equally unlucky in.

Almost two years ago, in the middle of that fantastic unbeaten run under Richard Money, we again led courtesy of a late Tommy Mooney strike, only to again be pegged back by a deflected last minute leveller.

Last January's win, courtesy of Troy Deeney's fine header, was one of those great Walsall moments, where a defiant they shall not pass spirit oozed from the stands. It was reflected out on the pitch, as Chris Hutchings players looked to impress their new manager.

Indeed, the shameful decision to house just about as many Leeds fans as could make the trip seemed to re-inject some of that stubborn spirit, that has led the club to many of its more famous cup triumphs over the years.

That same spirit was again in evidence on Tuesday night, as those in power again decided to compensate for their woeful inability to draw new fans to the club - and keep old of old ones - by again filling our stadium with visiting Leeds supporters.

Indeed, the first 87 minutes of support that both sets of fans gave their team created an atmosphere very much in the mould of a cup-tie and, whilst Jermaine Beckford's late winner settled matters both on the pitch and in the stands, I still left the stadium in uplifted mood.

There is nothing like a Saddlers crowd with their backs against the wall.

Leeds have unquestionably improved since their defeat here in January. Manager Simon Grayson's summer work looks to have been both impressive and effective, so they look a sound bet to me to take the short route back to the Championship this time around.

But the fact that we matched Leeds for much of the game bodes well for the rest of this season, albeit denied the midfield creativity and solidity that the head wound that forced Matt Richards off before half-time.

In new skipper Mark Hughes manager Chris Hutchings appears to have replaced Anthony Gerrard well, while I like the width and nous that Steve Jones is providing.

But despite all of this, my abiding memory of this game will again be the decision to invite all and sundry from West Yorkshire, then house them in the seats that Roy Whalley and the rest of his commercial department appear incapable of shifting in Walsall.

Virtually 20 years into this regime's reign and as far as attendances go it's very much a case of the same old, same old story.

Talk of recession and hard times are red herrings I'm afraid. The simple matter is that so many people have lost faith with the current hierarchy and abandoned any thoughts of match day visits to the football club.

Our only chance of a decent attendance seems to be the hope that Leeds - or fallen friends like them - fill the swathes of empty red plastic with our new all comers welcome policy.

Had I been Jeff Bonser or Roy on Tuesday night I wouldn't have known where to put my face. I'd like to think that they went home as equally embarrassed as many of us Saddlers fans - who were not exactly squeezed into a stand and a half of Bescot - and surrounded by the legions of visiting Peacocks.

I doubt it though.