Walsall 0-0 MK Dons (League Two) Sat 28 Oct Well it was always going to depart us sooner or later! I’m not too upset that our 100% home record in League Two has come to an end but that’s probably because I think we are lucky to still be unbeaten. Allen must have felt aggrieved to only come away from Bescot with a point for their efforts; his team are definitely the best I’ve seen us come up against this season. They’re a big, physical side and they’ve got talent all over the park. Players such as Izale McLeod (despite the 22-year-old going to ground more often than a contestant walking across a slippery slope on It’s A Knockout) should be plying their trade at a higher level. He’ll be off in the January transfer window I guarantee that. I don’t like MK Dons for obvious reasons and I’m not Allen’s biggest fan either but I’ve got to give credit where it’s due. They played very well, especially having gone into the game on the back of two comprehensive defeats. The Saddlers on the other hand were rather off colour and the performance was so displeasing to some that they actually booed the team! What planet are they on? This didn’t go unnoticed by Richard Money who found time to mention it in his post-match press conference. I find it ridiculous that anyone connected with Walsall FC can be unhappy this season but everyone’s got the right to an opinion. Money shouldn’t let these fickle supporters bother him – he’s doing a b****y marvellous job. Accrington Stanley 1-2 Walsall (League Two) Sat 21 Oct There won’t be many harder places to visit this campaign than Accrington Stanley so to take maximum points back to Bescot shows that we can also produce the goods on our travels. The Saddlers opened the scoring against the run of play in the final stages of the first-half through Hector Sam who reacted quickest when James Constable’s looping header came back off the woodwork. Despite our advantage, we struggled to get a grip on the game after the interval and our tempo dropped – inviting Stanley back into contest. Inevitably, they found the leveller which many felt was coming when Ian Craney curled an exquisite free-kick beyond the despairing dive of Clayton Ince. In recent seasons this would have been our moment to crumble. However, this is a new Walsall. Mark Wright’s late winner secured another valuable victory to maintain our two-point lead at the top of the table. Walsall 1-1 (3-4 pens) Swansea (J'stones P Tpy) 17 Oct Who really wanted to win the Johnstone's Paint Trophy anyway? I certainly didn't "go home and throw myself off a bridge" like Gordon Strachan famously joked after his side tasted defeat.
 | | Evergreen: Kinsella still firing |
With honours even at the end of normal time, the Swans progressed into the next round of what has to be English football's most unfashionable competition via the lottery of a penalty shootout. I must sound bitter, but you honestly couldn't be further from the truth. We matched our League One opponents in every department, keeping stars such as Lee Trundle and Andy Robinson quieter than a deserted library. Scott Dann was tremendous once again at the heart of the defence – he simply can't be dropped on this sort of form. Darren Wrack, who has been on the sidelines for no less than 13 months, made an emotional comeback from his career-threatening injury as a second-half substitute. Wrack was deservedly given a hero's reception and capped an encouraging display with a last-gasp equaliser. Unfortunately it wasn't to be as the returning Andy Oakes haunted his former employers by inspiring Swansea to spot-kick success. Walsall 2-0 Wycombe (League Two) Sat 14 Oct Other than our second-half display against Bolton Wanderers last month, this was easily our best performance of the season so far. Wycombe played very well and heading into the break there was little separating League Two’s top two. That was until Hector Sam guided Mark Wright’s corner into the back of the net on the stroke of half-time. Many will feel the difference between the sides was down to our superior finishing in front of goal but, at the other end, Clayton Ince had a brilliant game and deserves special praise on his return to the first-team fold. The 34-year-old was truly exceptional, claiming just about everything that was launched into our box. His handling was so good that anyone would have thought he had superglue on his gloves! Another player who rolled back the years was second-half substitute Mark Kinsella. Coming on in place of Kris Taylor, the vastly experienced Kinsella steadied the ship before putting the game out of the visitor’s reach with a brilliant long-range strike. Bescot is turning into a real fortress. Roll on Accrington Stanley! Chester City 0-0 Walsall (League Two) Fri 6 Oct This encounter wasn’t very sexy. Let’s just say it was one of those games you have to go to in order to appreciate the good ones! Stubborn gales and relentless downpours of rain made it impossible to play the attractive football which everyone inside the Saunders Honda Stadium wanted to see. Goalscoring opportunities were at a premium in both halves with neither side really deserving to claim the three points on offer. It was the first time this season that we had failed to find the back of the net, but we should be happy to come away with a battling point which sees us cement our place at the top of the table. Despite the odd moment of eccentricity, French goalkeeper Bertrand Bossu had a solid debut which was capped by a terrific double save to deny Chester a late winner. And with Clayton Ince’s troublesome thigh keeping him on the sidelines, Bossu stands by to make his Bescot bow in Saturday’s much-anticipated clash with second-placed Wycombe Wanderers. | 
