Magical Beckford sinks Saddlers

WALSALL 1-2 LEEDS (CCL1)

Lightening can strike twice and you can survive the first blow, but the second time can be fatal.

This is lesson, which was clearly not taken on board by the Saddlers defence as they let another 1-0 lead slip to be defeated by not Leeds, but Jermaine Beckford.

To be fair to the Walsall defence, he should not have been on the pitch to score. Beckford, after being fouled by Saddlers winger Steve Jones, kicked out at the 32-year-old, which was only punished by a yellow card.

Then, a foul on Steve Jones gave the Saddlers a penalty on 79 minutes, which allowed Striker Sam Parkin to claim his second goal of the season.

Less than five minutes later, Leeds equalised through Bradley Johnson header from a corner, and then an 86 minute wonder-strike from the fortunate Beckford saw United claim all three points.

However, a spirited performance that can only show that Play-Offs aren’t far off, but certainly promotion will be a tall order if mistakes and the inability to finish teams off persist.