Walsall 2 Huddersfield 1 - analysis
The script was written – all Walsall had to do was follow it. Dwayne Mattis, a boyhood Huddersfield fan, and Darren Byfield, a striker celebrating his 33rd birthday, should have placed a bet.
They were always going to have a major say.
Hero Mattis thumped in an 87th-minute winner to sink his former club and rescue the Saddlers from another disappointment as they grabbed their first home win in six months.
The villains, Huddersfield, had threatened to write their own screenplay when Theo Robinson netted a second-half opener last night.
Best supporting actor Byfield then took centre stage when he levelled from the spot and from then the Saddlers were in the lead role – culminating in Mattis's blockbuster.
The win moved the Saddlers up to 11th in the League One table which is still at the embryonic stage. Two points off the play-offs or four off the drop zone. But while the Saddlers won and the performance was a marked improvement on Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Hartlepool, there is still room for further progress. As manager Chris Hutchings highlighted, the Saddlers' passing went astray too often in the first half. Huddersfield were below par but an in-form side wouldn't have been so lenient.
The no-show at Hartlepool was fresh in the memory but Hutchings made just one change – Rhys Weston at right-back for Darryl Westlake.
The Saddlers were quick out of the blocks, necessary to calm any early nerves, and Alex Nicholls' corner was headed off the line by Antony Kay before they came close to breaking the deadlock. Troy Deeney nodded down and Mattis's shot agonisingly kissed the post.
At the back they looked solid but one lapse almost let the Terriers in when Anthony Pilkington's cross was deflected off Mark Hughes and Robinson should have done better than head straight at Rene Gilmartin from six yards.
The Terriers took the lead when Jordon Rhodes's pass sliced open the Saddlers's defence and Robinson rounded Gilmartin to score.
Huddersfield briefly took control as Rhodes shot over before Walsall levelled on 66 minutes when Richards crossed for Nicholls, whose header struck Joe Skarz on the arm and Byfield duly sent Smithies the wrong way from the spot.
And just when it seemed to be set for a draw the Saddlers struck. Richards crossed, Parkin found Mattis and the on rushing Yorkshireman did the rest to send The Banks' into raptures.
By Nick Mashiter.
