COLCHESTER 0 WALSALL 2

It was a new stadium experience - and hopefully a new start for the Saddlers. After defensive mistakes, cup exits and low home crowds, this was a major boost. You could say it was a smash and grab raid. Two goals from possibly three chances. But they defended impressively - no major mishaps this time. Colchester's inconsistency had made this game hard to predict. Yet the difference in quality between the sides was clear.

Just as the Bristol Rovers and Brighton experiences in September turned the corner, hopefully this long-distance effort can have the same effect. There was no Ibehre. But full marks go to Jimmy Mullen over the selection. With the forward suspended, Ricketts was given a lone striker's role. And the five-man midfield, while admittedly lacking consistent possession, performed well with the busy Taundry restored in the centre. They protected the back four admirably. And by the end it was a clean sheet. A first clean sheet in nine games in fact.

There was just the odd mix up at the back in the first half. Ince also made one very late slip. But overall the Saddlers made it very hard for Colchester to break them down. The U's have certainly been goal-shy at their new home. They had plenty of possession in this one - but they badly lacked quality and struggled to create chances. Ince's saves from Yeates, Perkins and White were reasonably comfortable.

Weston was influential on his return in a starting 11 which could have lined up in a variety of ways. But Nicholls became the third player in as many games to start on the left of midfield, Palmer slotted in again at left back and Deeney in his 50th league appearance was hard working on the right. He showed great persistence to set up Mattis for the 16th minute goal. And it was a surprise in the second half when Deeney made way for Zaaboub, with Nicholls moving positions.

It was interesting to compare Ricketts and Clive Platt, who of course made the breakthrough at Bescot at about the same time. While Ricketts' career has been well documented, Platt arrived at Colchester after scoring 18 league goals in one season for MK Dons - who of course will make difficult opponents for the Saddlers next weekend. Platt was certainly a handful in the air for Walsall in the first half. But two aerial efforts were off target and another low shot went wide.

Ricketts, though, did succeed in the air on the hour - it's now four goals in seven games for him. And he had to take on a different role in front of the back four later, as the Saddlers protected their lead. Nicholls added pace up front and also late on Reich made a return, replacing Hughes. By then the visitors had been far more clinical in front of goal, after missing excellent chances in the FA Cup defeat. And Ricketts' goal again underlined the threat from Palmer's set pieces, although keeper Mark Cousins was at fault from the corner.

So what will Mullen do? Even with Ibehre available should he keep faith with a system which worked well miles away from the Banks's Stadium? It's a nice problem to have, as they say. Whatever happened in the previous two home games, the Saddlers have shown their character now and Mullen said he wouldn't be looking to strengthen in the near future. Yet he said there were only 19 fit players and all made the long journey to Essex. So time will tell how far this group can take Walsall. At least they held onto a lead this time. But harder tests should await them against MK Dons on Saturday and then at Oldham on a dark Tuesday night. Not that they should be worried, given their away form. Since the poor defeat at Crewe back in August, they've suffered just one defeat in seven matches on their travels. And that was at Leeds. So it was probably no surprise the new stadium adventure worked out well...