Blog: Leyton Orient the example to follow as Bradford win extends Walsall's unbeaten run

Either way Tuesday's win at Bradford was vital. For once the bad luck deserted us, there must've been a mix up at the Football League meaning they couldn't find a weak enough ref, we kept a clean sheet for only the second time in 13 games, we got a the killer second goal that our play warranted and Craig Westcarr only went and notched twice.

You have to think that if any of the above things had happened in the previous ten games then the play-offs would be more of a distant probability than a possibility.

For all the wretched results of the past two months, with form and confidence out of the window, we were still capable of putting in two performances of real quality against Rotherham and Orient that deserved more than successive draws.

And just think how much stronger a position we'd be in if we'd picked up an extra four points in those two clashes? Two deflections combined with our well-documented inability to finish teams off when we're on top let our higher placed rivals off the hook.

Which I suppose pretty much sums up our whole season. However whilst last Saturday's draw was frustrating, it could also be viewed as a potential way forward for the Saddlers.

I've always believed football clubs should use other clubs as their role models and Leyton Orient are an example of a direction we could and should be heading towards.

People say the league table doesn't lie, but to me when you consider the spending power of the rest of the top six, Orient are the division's top side. They are still in with a shout of a top two place but they are all but guaranteed a play-off place.

With a squad full of players who know their way round League One they've shown a steady season on season improvement over the last few years. Compared to the O's our squad is relatively inexperienced, but we're learning the ropes.

As much as I'd like to march into May with seven more wins, I'm not entirely sure that our fortune has changed that much on the strength of one win. However who's to say that we can't be in Orient's position this time next year?

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What would be rather nice though is six points from the next two games – our final local derbies of the season unless we get some real fantasy football in the up-coming weeks.

The trip to Port Vale on Saturday week will see a group of diehard Saddlers walking the 40 odd miles from Bescot to Vale Park for the Julie Skidmore Climb Every Mountain Fund which is raising money for the Royal Marsden Cancer charity who conduct research and clinical trials in an attempt to defeat that most devastating of illnesses.

Julie Skidmore (nee Dale) was well known as a high profile WPC who was ever present at Fellows Park in the 1980s. In more recent times she followed the Saddlers home and away before her untimely passing earlier this year.

The walk is being organised by lifelong Saddler Neil Adams (aka Belgian Saddler) who knew Julie well. More details can be found on the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/639106139476392/ and contributions can be made via http://www.justgiving.com/Helen-Baker10. It is a great and worthy cause in memory of a great lady, a true Saddler and one of our own.

Good on ya guys, go for it.