Analysis of Leyton Orient 2 Walsall 0

As another season ends prematurely it is merely a sign of the times.

After 35 games last season Walsall were 13th on 47 points. This year they are 13th on 44 points.

This is where the Saddlers are in the world. They know their own limitations and Chris Hutchings' acceptance of the play-offs being "along way off" sounds the death knell on the season.

It was always going to be that way. The fanciful play-off talk had ceased a long time ago and the players had been letting thoughts of next season creep into their minds.

But the boss' admission is key. He always looks up and has a right to demand success from his players and for the first time, publically at least, he has accepted the Saddlers' fate.

Now, attention must turn to securing a top 10 finish. That will be a success, not only morale boosting but a sign of progress on the pitch.

Off it there has been growth but the game is played on grass and, ultimately, that's where it counts.

It's not out of reach but with ninth placed Bristol Rovers eight points ahead it's going to take some effort.

They will have to rely on others slipping when it has been their own reliability which has been the problem.

The Saddlers are a battered old banger. They'll eventually pass the finish line but you never know how many times they're going to breakdown.

Three wins from 16 games is testament to that and although victories have come at Elland Road and the Memorial Stadium there hasn't been much to crow about.

Performances, Saturday aside, have been better than the stats suggest and you can never account for individual errors but they are where they are.

Professional pride is now at stake, not to mention contracts.

Fans will have watched the game, seen the result, judged the performance and assume the players don't care.

It was a hopeless display which must be questioned but Troy Deeney's well timed public cry of derision proves the players are hurting.

The punters don't want to fail at their own jobs, whether they are a milkman or a lawyer, and nor do these men.

They rightly saw Saturday as an abject failure. They're not oblivious to criticism and they're not stupid. They know when they've played badly.

But feelings cannot be spared. Fingers must be pointed at the team who have failed to gain any type of momentum throughout a drab campaign.

Flashpoints have papered over the cracks and allowed breathing space which has only hampered them in the long run.

They have been given an easy ride and with 11 dead rubber games to go they must prove they are worthy of a contract.

There is no pomp and circumstance to this team, they haven't the resources to go out and grab a clutch of top class players to bridge the ever increasing gap.

But what they must do is out- work sides, something they failed to do at Brisbane Road.

The squad is young and will learn but the curve will become steeper should days like Saturday be repeated.

Their inconsistencies are baffling. This is a team who went to Leeds and won. Yet on Saturday they rolled over to an Orient side bordering on the wrong side of average.

Netan Sansara and Darryl Westlake returned for the suspended Matt Richards and injured Rhys Weston – the former finally losing his ever present record this season.

And Walsall started well with periods of neat possession but thei rimmediate downfall was they did little with it.

Deeney and Alex Nicholls rarely found themselves with the opportunity to threaten as Orient began to force the openings.

Jonathan Tehoue and Aaron Doran were both denied by Rene Gilmartin before Doran hammered a shot into the side netting.

Gilmartin then saved well from the dangerous Tehoue after he escaped in the box.

Nicholls blasted over after a quick Walsall break in injury time but agoal would have covered over a first half of pure mediocrity.

The second period needed an injection of class, a spark to ignite the game and Tehoue and Julian Gray were off target but the hosts were more dangerous.

Brisbane Road was the site of a midfield battle and as the second half wore on there was little to suggest either team would break the well enforced deadlock.

But, just after the hour, the O's seized on a slice of hesitant Walsall defending to edge ahead.

Doran, a constant menace, skipped round Sansara and when Gilmartin blocked his shot the ball fell kindly for Sean Thornton to tap intoan empty net.

A rousing response was needed from the visitors but they failed the test and with 17 minutes left it was 2-0.

Tehoue slipped but the ball ran for Thornton who was gifted space todance into the area and slide a shot under Gilmartin.

It was game over, the Saddlers had little in the tank and now they must fight for their futures.

By Nick Mashiter.