Paul Merson: Like an FA Cup final for Walsall
Former Walsall player and manager Paul Merson has said this Sunday's eagerly anticipated showdown at Wembley should be treated like an FA Cup final.
Merson, who was manager of the Saddlers more than 10 years ago, was the special guest at the town's Yates's Bar in Leicester Street on Monday.
The specially arranged Question and Answer session at the town centre bar came in the run up to the club's biggest match in the history.
The countdown is ticking until the club face Bristol City in the St Johnstone's Paint final at the home of English Football - which will be Walsall's first ever match at Wembley.
And Merson, a regular face for football fans all over the country as a pundit on Gillette Soccer Saturday, told a packed crowd Sunday's showdown clash was a tough one to call.
"For clubs in League One and League Two the St Johnstone's Paint Trophy is their own FA Cup.
"No disrespect but teams from those leagues are not going to win the FA Cup so this is as close as it gets for them.
"It's going to be a tough game for both sides and I cannot call it. Whoever copes with the pressure the best will be the winner on the day.
"Walsall are coming up against a very good team in Bristol City who are the best team in the league because but Walsall are a good side as well.
"My mate (Karl Robinson) is the manager of MK Dons and he said the best team to come and play there this season were Walsall after they beat them 3-0.
"I've played at Wembley a number of times and it is all about mental toughness.
"Players from both teams will go there and be absolutely petrified on the Saturday night as they are trying to get to sleep.
"They will get up on Sunday arrive at the stadium make their first run and won't be able to think straight - hoping the worst case scenario does not happen.
"Whoever copes with that pressure best will win because I don't think there is an awful lot between the teams."
Merson was capped more than 20 times for England in a successful playing career which saw him win the FA Cup, League Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup.
He took over the reigns at the Bescot Stadium more than a decade ago, after just nine months as a player, replacing Colin Lee in the hot-seat.
But his spell as a manager proved a hard lesson for the former Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth star as he suffered relegation to League One in the 2003-04 season.
After a 14th-place finish the following season they were battling to avoid the drop, he was sacked in 2006.
Nine years on and he has not managed another club since and now is a regular pundit for Sky Sports.
Despite his unsuccessful spell with the club, Merson was all smiles as he entered the stage to a round of applause from fans.
"I wasn't expecting that kind of reception," he said. "I always wanted to be a manager and I'll always be grateful to the club for giving me that chance.
"I don't have any regrets from my playing days but I do as a manager. Sadly, it just never worked out for me here.
"Looking back, if I could have done it differently I would have."
The Merson Q & A was the first of a number events taking place at Yates's in the run up to Walsall's big day on Sunday.
Other events include live performances from The Assist who will be playing their new celebratory song 'Walsall FC Go To Wembley' and a Wembley themed party.
And on Sunday more than a dozen coaches will be picking fans up from the pub to take them to the big game.
Lindsey Wakeman, the pub's general manager, said: "The town is buzzing with Wembley fever and we thought to celebrate it we would do a number of events throughout the week."
