Analysis of Walsall 1 Southampton 0

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

For the first time since October, Walsall are out of the League One drop zone.

Three precious, priceless, points against Southampton last night eased them to fifth-from-bottom and convinced many the Great Escape is on.

A side who were dead has now come to life. There is tangible - if cautious - optimism as every element of the club is reignited. The spirit which had been crushed has returned. The determination which had ebbed away rediscovered.

It was third time lucky for the Saddlers - who had missed two other opportunities to leapfrog Swindon - and it epitomised the turnaround under boss Dean Smith.

Two months ago the Saddlers lost 3-0 to Notts County, a wretched performance which sealed the fate of former manager Chris Hutchings - even if he lasted another game.

Eight weeks later and Walsall have hope. That is all they could have asked for during those dark, dark days.

Smith and the players have given their fans something they could only have dreamed of until recently.

But now there is a different kind of pressure. The heat is on to maintain the charge. Saturday's visit to fourth-bottom Swindon is pivotal, as is next weekend's trip to Yeovil.

They have been season-defining games for months now and, while Walsall can rightly take the plaudits for last night, the celebrations must be muted.

There is no point beating the Saints only to sin at Swindon. There is the chance to put some serious daylight between them and the chasing pack.

They need to seize the chance. Failure to do so would not only mean being dragged back but could be a serious psychological blow. Staying up means getting the big results and, if last night was massive, Saturday is gargantuan.

Fortune favours the brave and Walsall cannot afford to stop here. The season is an endurance test, one to see who can roll with the punches. And last night they proved they have the stamina.

They had the desire to survive, to endure, even when the Saints kept pressing. Jon Macken's winner, courtesy of Radhi Jaidi's slip, will mean a long post mortem at St Mary's today. But they would have to be blinkered not to bow to the Saddlers' battling qualities.

There was a defiance about them, an attitude which spoke volumes for the man management of Smith and his staff - the often overlooked Jon Whitney - and Chris Nicholl.

It is a result which will send shockwaves through the division - at both ends - but could have been so different but for goalkeeper Jimmy Walker and the defence.

Walker excelled and his reaction save from Jose Fonte's header, just a minute before Macken's goal, proved a pivotal moment of the match.

The veteran shot-stopper has shone since his return last October and yet again proved his worth in a team who fought with him.

Smith handed a debut to Argentine midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma, who supported Macken in a new 4-4-1-1 formation.

All eyes were on the attacker and the former Genoa ace adds mystique to the Saddlers. An outing which saw flashes of his undoubted talent was promising and his willingness to fight even more so.

Asking him to perform miracles from a standing start is too demanding but the new-boy will undoubtedly improve.

Patience is a virtue and, while he will dip in and out, there will not be many struggling teams with a player like him. But for much of the game Ledesma was forced to battle as Southampton dominated.

Morgan Schneiderlin shot wastefully at Walker as early as the fourth minute before the goalkeeper smothered Lee Barnard's low effort.

The Saints' movement, especially from Barnard, caused problems and the striker was at the heart of a 14th-minute move which had Walker scrambling to parry Dan Harding's drive.

Walsall failed to severely test the visitors despite their first-half bustle, Macken and Ledesma pressed but with little real impact.

Walker denied Barnard again after 23 minutes but the Saddlers managed to ride out the storm and Richard Taundry's 34th-minute free-kick finally forced goalkeeper Kelvin Davis into action.

Ledesma became more pivotal to the hosts' attacks, although they were still muted, and he almost marked his arrival with a stunner when his 40-yard volley dipped just over.

Walsall's stubborn resistance continued after the break before they had the temerity to mount some pressure, as Aaron Lescott's drive deflected wide and Julian Gray fired off target.

It provided the platform for an open second half, high-octane and full-blooded, as Richard Chaplow and Jaidi went close.

Walker's moment of magic came when he thwarted Fonte with a magnificent point-blank block on 68 minutes.

It proved crucial. Immediately, Lescott found Macken in the clear, due to Jaidi losing his bearings, and the striker slotted home.

Much has been made of Macken's lack of goals but, with seven assists this term, he is the Saddlers' top provider.

With a lead to defend the Saddlers dug in. Andy Butler's last-ditch clearance to deny Barnard was an example of the dogged defending but Taundry, Tom Williams and Lescott all did their bit.

Whisper it quietly but Walsall are on the march.

By Nick Mashiter