Walsall 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1 – analysis

Like a kid at Christmas it was a long time coming – but well worth the wait.

Not since mid-October had Walsall tasted League One success and only once since August had they picked up their full points quota.

Youngsters would have started thinking about their letters to Santa around the time Walsall last won at the Banks's Stadium – a 1-0 win over Preston on October 15.

The Saddlers' own wish-list would have included three points against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day – something which was duly delivered, even if slightly late.

While most were still picking turkey out of their teeth the Saddlers were in the process of plucking the Owls thanks to their late, late show.

Drama hasn't been one of Walsall's best subjects during this campaign – especially at the Banks's Stadium.

But, in front of their biggest home crowd for over two years – 8,603 – they pulled off one of the comebacks of the season.

Claude Gnakpa and Manny Smith's injury-time strikes snatched victory from the jaws of a very likely defeat and lifted the Saddlers out of the League One drop zone.

And it continued the recurring theme of a rather under-whelming season which has given the Saddlers glimmers of hope.

Charlton, Sheffield United, MK Dons, Preston and Huddersfield had previously all been bested, shocked or run very close.

It was therefore not a surprise to see Walsall come up trumps against an Owls side second in League One and coming off the back of just one defeat from their previous 15 outings.

But nor will it be a shock to see the Saddlers fail in their next game against lowly Rochdale on Saturday.

There have been too many false dawns this term, good results have been forgotten all too quickly after being followed by a limp defeat.

Yesterday's heroics – and points – will mean nothing if the Saddlers cannot capitalise on them.

But they have begun to build up a head of steam, however minimal, after one defeat in their last six League One games.

Runs like that are priceless to strugglers and must be maintained with a season-defining few weeks to come on the schedule.

Bury, Bournemouth, Brentford, Carlisle and Notts County await next month – winnable games – and after escaping the bottom four, even if only by a point, it is vital to progress.

Walsall earned their luck yesterday – something which has harshly deserted them on occasion this season – and they must use it to their advantage.

The luck or result – however you want to call it – also eases any growing pressure on boss Dean Smith.

However much good-will there is for the popular manager, it will naturally dissipate should the team continue to struggle.

Two wins from 21 games had already eroded some of the credit he had built up during last season's Great Escape.

But a win – against his former club no less – gives him and the team breathing space, and confidence, ahead of their crunch New Year fixtures.

And they showed against Wednesday they can compete with the best, especially during an abrasive first half as both teams fought a war of attrition.

Wednesday's Wolves loanee Danny Batth impressively marshalled the visitors' defence while Smith and Andy Butler had little scares from an Owls attack who have now scored 41 times this season.

The gutsy Saddlers are made of stern stuff – even if it's not always apparent – and they went toe-to-toe with their visitors when Wednesday stepped up the pace.

They responded to Ben Marshall's early second-half chance with Adam Chambers' deflected drive before Jamie Paterson rattled the bar with a stunning 20-yard effort on 59 minutes.

But just 60 seconds later Wednesday went ahead when Chris Lines breezed past Paterson and Mat Sadler on the counter to cross for Ryan Lowe to nod in.

It was a body blow to Walsall, who had matched their high-flying visitors, but Wednesday shipped two late goals in their 4-4 draw with Huddersfield last weekend and their soft underbelly was exposed in injury time.

First, Gnakpa's speculative effort deflected into the corner from 25 yards and looked to have sealed a deserved point.

But the hosts had other ideas and three minutes into stoppage time Smith's cute close-range finish from Sadler's free-kick sent the Banks's into raptures.

So a man in red and white finally delivered after months of waiting. Exactly what Christmas should be like.