Could this be a turning point at the Banks's Stadium? After recent vocal criticism from fans, supporters loudly backed the Saddlers before the only goal against Stockport. And Walsall finally achieved their first home clean sheet of the season.

Before the Boxing Day match Jimmy Mullen admitted they had to be seen to take the game to Stockport. But in fairness to the visitors, Stockport had plenty of possession in both halves. You could see why the away specialists are challenging for promotion as the visitors kept the ball impressively. But Walsall again defended solidly. Transfer-listed Anthony Gerrard performed well again alongside Rhys Weston - and Stockport hardly created a chance in the first half. But it was a different story after the interval as Clayton Ince came to the Saddlers' rescue - and that prompted questions to Mullen about the keeper's future afterwards.

The manager said he has an agreement with Ince that once the Christmas and New Year period is over, the club will sit down and talk. He added: "I would hate to lose the calibre of keeper that he is. I know Clayton's happy to be here and it's up to us now to make sure that we get things sorted out."

The midfield again didn't have enough possession in the first half on Boxing Day faced by Stockport's 4/2/3/1 formation, but improved in the second half. The Saddlers also had to make a change when Mark Bradley, who'd been carrying a knock, came off, giving Netan Sansara another chance at left back as Chris Palmer moved to right back and Richard Taundry went into midfield. Palmer again illustrated his worth as another of his set pieces supplied a goal when Weston headed his first ever Saddlers goal just after the hour. And for the makeshift central defender, that rewarded his commanding performance.

Mullen now faces another selection dilemma after Michael Ricketts' sending off for two bookable offences. Presumably away from home when Ricketts is suspended, Jabo Ibehre could well be the lone striker. In the Cheltenham game Walsall only started to stifle the home side when the visitors changed to 4/5/1 and that system also paid off at Colchester, for instance. On Boxing Day both Ibehre on his return and Troy Deeney should have done better with chances when they were in the clear. But overall the Saddlers had started far more positively after the interval and that seemed to lift the crowd.

Despite the win, Walsall are still nine points behind the playoff places and the squad isn't the largest in League One. There aren't many first team appearances between the Boxing Day subs Manny Smith, Rene Gilmartin, Richard Davies and Sansara. The other sub, Marco Reich, who was described as an "important part" of the squad at Mullen's pre-match press conference, was restricted to a late appearance. The players, though, deserve credit for the recent upturn in fortunes. And Walsall will be hoping the improved attendance of about 5,500 (admittedly it was on Boxing Day and included 1,000 visiting fans) will be a sign of things to come.