Analysis: Off-key Saddlers are given a wake-up call

But at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, Walsall were handed a major wake-up call after being comprehensively beaten by Luton.

“Embarrassing.” “Not good enough.” “Nowhere near our standard.”

That was how some of the players summed up their display on social media following the 2-0 loss.

But it was Luke Leahy, speaking post-match, who best summed up the performance.

As well as admitting Walsall didn’t do the basics right, the full-back said the Saddlers didn’t match Luton for effort.

Leahy described the performance as “flat” and revealed the players were even off the pace in the warm-up.

It’s hard to work out just why the Saddlers were so underwhelming when their success this season has been built on effort and organisation. But they were miles off it here. And it just goes to show – if you take your foot off the gas in League One – you will be beaten.

Before kick-off, this looked to be an intriguing clash.

Luton’s home record and Walsall’s away record were identical.

Both teams remained unbeaten having won four and drawn two of their six matches. The Hatters had also scored in every game on their own turf.

While Dean Keates’ side had found the back of the net in every game on the road.

But from the first whistle, Luton dominated here due to a number of different factors.

Lining up in midfield diamond system, Luton’s compact quartet of Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jorge Grant and Andrew Shinnie ran rings around George Dobson and Liam Kinsella in Walsall’s traditional 4-4-2 system.

The Hatters seemed to always have a man spare and – full of confidence – they moved the ball around beautifully.

They deservedly took the lead in the 19th minute when Rea bundled in what had been their fourth corner from close range.

But the scoreline hadn’t matched their dominance with Luton’s quality often breaking down when they got in and around the 18-yard box.

For whatever reason, the Saddlers had sat too deep.

So whenever they did make a clearance, the ball just kept coming back with the front players unable to hold it for long enough to enable the team could get upfield.

But with Luton eager to play through the middle, Walsall also failed to exploit the flanks where they should have had a numerical advantage.

Neither Leahy or Nicky Devlin were able to get forward with the defenders instead having to deal with wave after wave of attacks.

While both Josh Ginnelly and Zeli Ismail had off days on the wings – with the latter particularly poor.

Incredibly, despite their dominance, Luton only went in at the break a goal ahead.

And the Saddlers could have even gone into the interval on terms with Andy Cook meeting a Devlin cross only for the effort to be well tipped over by James Shea.

In the early stages of the second half, Keates’ men did improve with the team eager to play higher up the pitch.

Luton were still dominating possession though and looking much brighter on the ball.

And they grabbed a second in the 55th minute when the excellent Grant curled in a free-kick from 20 yards.

It was almost 3-0 just moments later when James Justin danced into the box before arrowing a low drive which Liam Roberts brilliantly tipped onto the post.

With his side having simply still not found their rhythm, Keates made a double change with Connor Ronan and Kane Wilson introduced for Ismail and Devlin.

It meant the Saddlers switched to a 4-3-3 formation with Ronan moving into central midfield.

But while they did keep the ball marginally better with the Wolves loanee on the field, Luton were now creating the chances they hadn’t managed to muster in the first-half.

Danny Hylton should have got on the scoresheet when he turned Jack Fitzwater inside out before then firing wide when he had the entire goal at his mercy.

Then in the closing stages, Sonny Bradley shot straight at Roberts from six-yards.

Harry Connick then looked to find the bottom corner from even closer only to be denied by the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg.

Walsall, overall, had offered next to nothing in the way of an attacking threat.

And when they did force the odd set-piece, their delivery was poor and often didn’t clear the first man.

Keates’ didn’t sugar-coat that at full time with the boss admitting his team were way below the standards they have set for themselves this year.

To put Luton’s performance in perspective, some fans said afterwards it was the best they had seen in years.

That’s not bad seeing as though the Hatters registered two seven-goal hauls last season and beat Yeovil 8-2.

But while Walsall did undoubtedly catch them on a good day, all the players know they were nowhere near good enough.

The good news is the Saddlers have responded well whenever they have tasted defeat this season.

After the loss against Doncaster they won at Oxford.

Then following the defeat to Accrington Stanley, they put in a display that should have seen them win emphatically against Shrewsbury.

This time the turn around is quick with Keates’ men having another long journey to Southend tomorrow.

All of a sudden, players who have been excellent this season are going into that game with a massive point to prove.