Red hot Saddlers relegated - Match Report

^{It turned out to be an inspired performance from the Saddlers, probably the best we have seen since we thrashed the Albion.}

^{We started off well, going close on a number of occasions. Leitao set the tone by heading over the bar after just two minutes, then we saw Lee Bradbury register an effort on goal just 2 minutes later.}

^{You could tell it was going to be an open game. Rotherham were always going to be a threat on the break, and had a couple of dangerous counter attacks. It took the Millers about 20 minutes to settle in to the game as Proctor and Barker both had efforts on goal.}

^{Rotherham went on to have two of the halves best chances . Both Butler and Proctor found themselves through on goal, but failed to take advantage of excellent opportunities.  Proctor rounded Jim Walker but failed to stick the ball in the net, while Butler was through on goal, but dwelt on the ball allowing Andrews to make a last gasp tackle}

^{Bradbury and Wrack both had chances before half time, but neither managed to break the deadlock.}  

^{It had been an encouraging first half of football. Merson had been influential. We were playing with a lot of width and had created a whole host of chances.}

^{Walsall 0-0 Rotherham United}

^{We started the Second Half well and opened the scoring on 48 minutes as Bradbury crossed the ball in from the left, and Simon Osborn slid in to scramble the ball over the line.}

^{It didn’t take the Millers long to put a dampener on our celebrations. As Scott Minto charged in to the box, falling over as he passed by Simon Osborn. No one in the Millers camp appeared to protest, contact appeared to be minimal (if at all). The Ref awarded a penalty which Proctor converted.}

^{Simon Osborn was booked for moaning about the decision, an action he would later regret as he was sent off for a late challenge on Barker.}

^{Just 3 weeks ago we would have accepted our fate, but we didn't. I don't know what Merse has done, but they didn't give up. Why didn't Colin Lee get this kind of reaction on Easter Weekend?}

^{With 20 minutes left to play Mark Wright was on hand to poke the ball in to an empty net after another scramble in the Millers area.}

^{We could have increased our lead if Wrack and Leitao had put away there chances, while Merson had a couple of good opportunities to pull the trigger but chose to pass the ball on instead.} 

^{As we waited  for news from Stoke, the clock ran down. As it hit 90 minutes we were dealt a serious blow. The Ref awarded Rotherham another debatable penalty. This time Ian Roper was the  culprit, he won a 50-50 challenge which the Ref deemed  unfair. Warne converted the Penalty to make it 2-2.}

^{Still the Saddlers didn’t give up. Never has Paul Merson had such an influence on a game at Bescot.}

^{Seconds after the Millers had equalised we were back in the lead. Paul Ritchie got on the end of the corner and directed in to the bottom left hand corner of the Rotherham goal.}

^{That was all we had time for. We weren’t able to build the 3 goal lead we needed should Gillinham manage a draw.}

^{As the Gillingham result came through we were disappointed, yet we went home with our pride in tact. A couple of weeks ago it seemed like we would slip in to the Second Division without a fight. We went down kicking and screaming. That’s all we could have asked for. Thanks Paul.}

^{Walsall 3-2 Rotherham United}