Brighton 0 Walsall 1

Sep 22 2008 By Paul Marston

WHATEVER Walsall achieve between now and next May, this win by nine men at the Withdean Stadium will surely go down as one of the most remarkable in the club’s chequered history.

Ipswich referee Mick Thorpe, who failed to punish two Brighton players for a two-footed tackle and a blatant handball, threatened to ruin the game for the spectators by sending off both Saddlers’ full-backs, Rhys Weston and Netan Sansara, in the first 33 minutes.

It looked a hopeless task for Jimmy Mullen’s men, but against all the odds they snatched the lead just before half-time then hung on doggedly to clinch the points despite almost non-stop Albion pressure.

For the 209 Walsall fans who had each paid £20 for the pleasure of watching from about 75 yards behind one of the goals, the result rewarded their loyalty in making such a long journey, and they could only admire the courage of their team.

To have avoided defeat would have been a bonus in the circumstances, but for leg-weary Walsall to take all three points bordered on the heroic.

At one stage late in the second half, with the sun beating down on the uneven contest, brilliant goalkeeper Clayton Ince went down in the penalty box after being fouled and demanded treatment while his grateful team-mates bolted to the dugout for cold drinks and a welcome break.

Eventually the Trinidad and Tobago international was booked for time-wasting after play resumed, but who could blame him?

Ince had prevented Brighton taking the lead a minute after Weston’s 15th-minute dismissal for a mistimed tackle, and when young Sansara was red-carded for his first tackle of the match on 33 minutes, the keeper and the eight remaining outfield players were fantastic.

Mullen’s master stroke came in the 36th minute when, for tactical reasons, he replaced Marco Reich with Chris Palmer who, three minutes later, delivered the perfect free-kick for Dwayne Mattis to head the Saddlers in front with his first goal for the club.

What a psychological boost that must have been as they took a well-earned rest at half-time, and they came out to defend like tigers for the rest of the game, including six minutes of added time.

Ince came into his own in the second half, catching, punching, blocking or hoofing the ball into the crowd as the shocked Seagulls ploughed forward but became increasingly frustrated. He was given massive support by Stephen Roberts, Anthony Gerrard, skipper Stephen Hughes and everyone else in the never-say-die nine.

How ironic that with such a handicap the Saddlers kept a clean sheet for the first time in 20 league and cup matches.

BRIGHTON (4-4-2): Kuipers; Whing (Fraser, 46), El-Abd, Elphick, Richards; Hart (Robinson, 61), Thomson, Virgo, Cox; Forster (Dixon, 68), Murray. Not used: Livermore, Loft.

WALSALL (4-5-1): ★ INCE 9; Weston 5, Roberts 8, Gerrard 8, Sansara 5; Taundry 7, Mattis 7, Hughes 8, Reich 5 (Palmer 36, 7), Nicholls 6 (Boertien 57, 7); Ibehre 7 (Deeney 61, 6). Not used: Gilmartin, Demontagnac.

Referee: M Thorpe (Ipswich).