Walsall 0 Northampton Town 2
TOGETHERNESS has been the key to Walsall's promotion push this season.
Together they have thrown themselves around, knocked the ball about, knuckled down and dug in.
All-for-one and one-for-all - that's how it's been.
Together they have crafted a surprise tilt at the play-offs. And here, together, they had a shocker of an off-day.
Lee Holmes caused a few problems on the left. Anthony Gerrard did okay. Clayton Ince did nothing wrong. The rest were somewhere between slightly off the pace and miles off it.
Northampton, meanwhile, were highly impressive. A goal in each half from Adebayo Akinfenwa secured victory but the Cobblers were better all over the pitch. Tighter of shape, quicker to the ball and more careful with it.
Slick to the Saddlers' slack. Until a far-too-late rally brought Tommy Mooney a flurry of half-chances, Northampton's defence was untroubled.
Up front, Akinfenwa took the honours with goals in the eighth and 71st minutes - a cool chip and a powerful header - but his colleagues supplied plenty of problems from wide and deep.
In midfield, though, was the match decided. Mark Bradley and Darren Wrack had a day to forget although, to be fair, they were outnumbered in there.
One of Richard Money's biggest strengths is his ability to react during games and come up with an effective tweak.
But the manager waited until past the hour-mark before sending on the midfield cavalry in Richard Taundry. By then, although only 1-0 down, his side was terminally second best.
Money is considering recruiting a centre-half and a striker before the transfer deadline. This match will have only sharpened that interest.
Ian Roper was culpable for both goals and needs a very good game against Brighton tomorrow to re-cement his place.
At the other end, it took Walsall 69 minutes to force Mark Bunn into a save, from Mooney's header from a great Holmes cross.
The service up to Mooney and Stefan Moore was mostly wretched, it's true. But the Saddlers did look lightweight up there.
Northampton dealt comfortably with the smaller chaps and there was no Michael Ricketts or, like last season, Trevor Benjamin-type battering ram to add a different dimension.
Still fifth in League One, the Saddlers could afford this offday. Perhaps this game will serve the same purpose as the Oldham defeat did back in September - and make up minds that this group of players needs some help.
WALSALL (4-4-2): Ince 6; Weston 5 (Dobson 81), Gerrard 6, Roper 5, Boertien 5 (Deeney 70 6); Betsy 5, Wrack 5, Bradley 5, HOLMES 7; Mooney 5, Moore 5 (Taundry 62 6). Subs: Bossu, Nicholls.
NORTHAMPTON (3-5-2): Bunn; Little, Gyepes, Hughes; Crowe (Coke 23), Burnell, Gilligan, Jackman, Holt; Akin-fenwa (Hubertz 74), Henderson (Larkin 87). Subs: Dunn, Jones.
REFEREE: A Haines (Tyne & Wear).
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