Following a dramatic week which saw fans meet owner Jeff Bonser and a frantic deadline day scramble, the Saddlers came out of a six point relegation scrap with all three points.
Let’s not fool ourselves this was a great performance but it was a needed result against a woeful MK Dons side. I have not seen a worse side this season than MK Dons and boy does it feel good that it’s them.
Whitney made just one change from the side which were pummelled by Blackburn in the week with loanee Jack Fitzwater making his debut in place of Kory Roberts.
The opening twenty five minutes was quite lively for the Saddlers with Edwards forcing a good save from the keeper before Baka fired over from distance. The Saddlers came close just after seventeen minutes as Oztumer curled an effort inches wide.
We needed to enjoy the first twenty five minutes as the next twenty was poor from both sides on a cold and wet afternoon.
The second half began with the visitors causing problems. Tavernier and Agard both firing past Roberts but went inches wide of the post.
Due to the wet conditions the referee slipped and landed on his backside – probably the highlight of the game so far.
Moments later Bakayoko missed the best chance of the match. The ball found its way to him just seven yards out and with the goal at his mercy he somehow fired it over the bar. This was his last chance to impress as he was subbed minutes later.
Manager Jon Whitney was not happy with the lack of attempts on goal and replaced his fromt two as Oztumer and Bakayoko were replaced by loanees Ngoy and Shaibu. A decision which would be a game changer.
Three minutes into his debut, Ngoy had the ball at his feet, danced around a weak MK backline before firing past the keeper at his front post – a great start to his Walsall stint.
Straight away the visitors attacked and Liam Roberts saved superbly from close range – what a player he is becoming!
MK huffed and puffed but didn’t really test the Walsall keeper for the last fifteen minutes and at the full time whistle it was good to see smiles on faces once more as the Saddlers grabbed a massive victory!
The Saddlers now need fourteen points from our last seventeen games to avoid relegation and once safety is confirmed the board need to make a decision on Whitneys future – but for now Whitney deserves credit for making the changes that won us the game.
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