Analysis of Bristol Rovers 0 Walsall 1

Crisis, what crisis? Once again Walsall kept a clean sheet but made it count last night to end their search for a win which stretched back to December.

Winless in two months they may have been – although five weeks must be discounted thanks to the big freeze – but they are now unbeaten in four after their latest outing with Bristol Rovers.

Inwardly, they never pressed the panic button and nor did they need to.

Richard Taundry's first half winner and Clayton Ince's 80^th minute penalty save merely confirmed what those in the dressing room firmly believe, they are good enough.

The Saddlers have fallen just short so often this season but their confidence has never wavered, despite their inconsistencies.

Boss Chris Hutchings has always maintained the squad are upwardly mobile, giving a short shrift to anyone who dwells on the past or starts looking down the League One table.

He is right to do so, show me a football manager who doesn't always look up, and his faith was rewarded last night.

That said changes still need to be made. Hutchings was brave, and correct, to drop Darren Byfield as he recognised the need to freshen things up.

But what else can be done? Major surgery is out of the question as the numbers are just not available, although it isn't necessary anyway as the squad just needs a little tweak.

It needs two top draw additions and, while Hutchings is searching, quality costs.

There is also the worry of burn out. While Hutchings stated he wants to rotate, several key men will always play.

Let us not forget this is Manny Smith's first full season. The defender has performed admirably but the rigours of first team football will catch up.

It is a blessing in disguise he has missed the last three games with a thigh injury and in his absence Clayton McDonald and Jamie Vincent have plugged the gap.

Against Rovers at the weekend and Charlton last week they impressed but last night they were dominant.

Vincent's switch to a central position has been seamless and his experience has helped McDonald blossom and return to the stunning form he showed after first arriving in August.

They were just two of the reasons for a fifth away win of the season – a result which lifted the Saddlers to 10^th in League One.

But Saturday's stalemate between the sides had done little to suggest the follow up would be anything other than a similar turgid affair.

The Saddlers were winless in eight while Rovers had just one victory in their last seven games as they drifted away from the pacesetters.

In a bid to shake off their poor form Hutchings dropped a surprise as he rested Byfield and brought Alex Nicholls in to partner the recalled Troy Deeney up front.

Byfield, for all his work ethic, hasn't found the net since December 5 and will benefit from the break but it was a huge chance for Nicholls.

January rumours circulated about his future and questions were asked about his role in Hutchings' set up.

The 22-year-old has always maintained he is a frontline striker and last night he gave a good, if not stunning, audition.

Elsewhere, Sam Parkin dropped out, the victim of a groin problem, while youngster Sean Geddes kept his place on the bench.

And their team-mates were under pressure early as Fulham loanee Wayne Brown's effort clipped Vincent and forced Ince into a smart stop.

Matt Richards survived a strong penalty shout when Stuart Campbell's free kick caught his arm after Vincent was booked for chopping down the flying Andy Williams.

Rovers, so good at home, were pressing – although had yet to seriously threaten – while the Saddlers hadn't had so much as a sniff of the Rovers goal.

But with 27 minutes gone Dwayne Mattis had Mikkel Andersen scrambling before the Saddlers took the lead five minutes later.

It came from nothing as Nicholls' persistence saw him break clear of Jeff Hughes and, when his shot was blocked, Taundry was there to stroke in his first Walsall goal from 16 yards.

Tails up, the Saddlers went for it and Nicholls missed a golden chance when he directed a free header over.

With the home crowd subdued the visitors grew in confidence, Peter Till the beneficiary as the winger was granted the freedom of the Memorial Ground.

Rovers had slowly deflated since Taundry's opener and were showing little signs of a fightback.

In contrast the Saddlers were carving out a nice niche of upsetting the locals in the West Country as, despite a stilted first half, they were on top.

Rovers looked to redress the balance immediately after the break but Mark Wright screwed his volley wide before smashing a wild effort out of the ground.

But the hosts were rattled. Ragged at the back, there was plenty of scope for the visitors to grab a second.

Lumbering and ineffective going forward the only way Rovers looked like breaking the Saddlers down was from a set piece.

And they had the opportunity to do just that when Vincent tripped Jo Kuffour in the area 10 minutes from time.

It was typical of the Saddlers' recent luck but Ince came to the rescue, diving to his right to save Hughes' penalty and then reacting superbly to block Paul Heffernan's follow up.

It was the crucial moment. Concede and the momentum is with the hosts but keep it out and the game is all but won.

And, despite Williams' close range effort clipping the post in injury time, the Saddlers breezed through the closing stages.

By Nick Mashiter.