A Walsall turnaround like no other

Walsall blogger Mark Jones could think of a fightback in over three decades to the win that sees the Saddlers' survival fight go on and on in League One.

Three goals in nearly 14 hours of football and then we smash in five in 30 minutes – it's the Walsall way.

I've tried really hard to think back but, in well over three decades, I cannot recall another game where a substitute has ever made a comparable impact to Emanuel Ledesma's explosive 38 minute run out against Hartlepool last Saturday.

A constant menace, he hit the post, created the equaliser for Darren Byfield, was involved somewhere along the line in the build-up to two other goals, managed to wind up the Monkey Boys, curled in a beautiful icing on the cake free kick and celebrated with a stylish tribute to manager Dean Smith.

More importantly, Ledesma's presence on the pitch was the catalyst for the Saddlers' transformation from Hyde to Jekyll - or whichever way round that's supposed to be.

For most of the first hour we were shocking, lacking in creativity, unable to keep the ball and desperately uncertain at the back. So bad, in fact, that Colin Larkin had scored twice.

I would given up my season ticket for the day to sit in the 'away' end, taking advantage of the mighty fine Community Programme ticket offer, with my youngest son and his friends from school.

At 2-0 down, I was mystified as to why we were performing so badly and contemplating whether we would be down before the Easter eggs were handed out, while most people sat around me were just plain fed up.

Thirty minutes later and everyone around me left the ground invigorated by what they had seen. Hopefully the club will have already been back in touch with all the schools involved with a 'while the iron's hot' follow up offer.

As important as Ledesma's personal contribution was the way he seemed to inspire others around him.

Byfield had worked hard all afternoon without any reward suddenly sprang to life to provide a real goal threat, while Julian Gray had been running into dead ends for the first two-thirds of the game before becoming almost as much of a menace as his counterpart on the other wing.

Will Grigg, boosted by a very neat finish, seemed to visibly grow in confidence as the Marc-Antoine Gbarssin-Matt Richards midfield partnership moved seamlessly from ineffective to dangerous in the blink of an eye.

Underpinning everything though was yet another inspirational captain's role from Andy Butler, without whom you'd imagine we'd have been sunk without trace long before Ledesma's arrival.

And I have to mention Manny Smith's goal, because has there ever been another occasion when a team's had two different scorers called Emanuel? Also the fleeting return of big Clayton McDonald, as a centre forward of all places.

Going into the final eight games, everyone will surely have been lifted by Saturday's fightback. All we have to do now is work out how to play for more than a third of a game and we'll be fine.

But tough luck Mr Wadsworth. Apparently Hartlepool's manager was fairly derogatory about the Saddlers at half-time and then got all stroppy when the tables were turned.

Like his club's followers, Mick seemed to have fallen into the trap of thinking Hartlepool had become Barcelona and forgotten that, in terms of size and status, they are a club similar to ourselves who just happen to have had a better season.

Sooner or later, I imagine the day will come when you are struggling yourself, my man, and you'll be getting no sympathy from us when that happens.

Hard luck to Jeff Stelling too. Far be it from me to tell a seasoned and smooth pro like Jeff to do his research, especially about his beloved Hartlepool but, if he had checked out the back story of Larkin and our own 'Super Jim,' he would realise why he probably wouldn't want to play us every week. But, at least, Jeff gets to be a star on You Tube again.

By the way, thanks a lot to Charlton, Exeter, Colchester, Notts County and Huddersfield and we will do the same for you sometime.

In closing, belated birthday wishes to our manager for his 40th on Saturday, many happy returns to you Deano!