MK Dons 1 Walsall 0 - analysis

Players and fans were left with a lot to ponder after Walsall slipped to defeat on Saturday, but it wouldn't be the Saddlers if they made everything easy.

Jermaine Easter's first-half strike won it for MK Dons in a game which lacked any genuine pace, desire or passion.

But Chris Hutchings' side should have claimed at least a point, against a Dons side who flattered to deceive.

They were nothing special and, had the Saddlers taken advantage of a dominant first 25 minutes, they would have returned victorious. They again proved a match against one of the fancied teams but slipped up when it mattered most.

Defeat at stadium:mk, affectionately nicknamed the Moo Camp after the town's concrete cows, left them four points from the relegation zone and five from the play-offs.

This, it seems, is enough for fans to question the manager. While you can understand frustrations, is there a boss in the country who has brought unbridled success in 10 months

It's either three wins in 14 or three defeats in nine, glass half empty or a quarter full and there are now two factions – those who expect progression and the realists.

The former demand improvements and question the manager's selection and tactics. They ask why he has yet to get the best out of his squad.

The realists point to Hutchings' hands being tied financially. The Saddlers cannot attract the calibre of players needed to make a mark on this league.

Both sides have valid points. Football fans are the most demanding punters on the planet but sometimes partisan views cloud judgement.

The 2-1 win over Huddersfield two weeks ago pushed the Saddlers to within two points of the play-offs and there was talk of breaching the top six. Now, after defeat against one of those play-off chasing teams, the gloom sets in.

Opinions are formed on what happens on the pitch and, had Darren Byfield scored at least one of his highly presentable chances, then they would be very different.

The Saddlers are a frustrating conundrum, because while fans expect better how can they when the boss is doing the best with what he's got? Walsall, as a club, are what they are. A mid-table League One side.

That's not an outrageous statement. It's not a positive outlook, but nor is it overly negative. It's just reality. They are three or four players short of a play-off challenge but they are also three or four players above a relegation fight.

Thus, there are vacancies in this squad. Some jobs currently being carried out are inadequate, Mark Bradley and Matt Richards being the two chief culprits.

Bradley, for all his fighting talk, has not convinced this season and, with the energetic Richard Taundry nearing a return, his place is under threat. Games are passing him by and, while there is past evidence of a good player, the 21-year-old simply is not delivering.

His below-par performances have a knock-on effect on Dwayne Mattis, who becomes overrun and nullified. The Saddlers need a snap, something which is severely lacking, and a shake-up is essential both in the middle and out wide.

Hutchings' philosophy of utilising the wingers failed on Saturday because they did not receive enough of the ball, but Richards is struggling regardless. He lacks the pace or the skill to threaten and his distribution is suspect.

The 24-year-old had his best spell in the middle alongside Mattis, so maybe one of the problems is also the midfield solution.

Steve Jones and Alex Nicholls are the favourites to take the wing berths but, with Nicholls relegated to the bench and Jones substituted in the second-half on Saturday, they are yet to convince the manager.

But what cannot be questioned was that the Saddlers lacked a spark to really threaten MK Dons.

Aside from Byfield, there was little to suggest they would breakthrough a defence which looked fallible.

The striker had one great chance which was shanked wide early on and they bossed the opening 25 minutes without finding the goal that was so desperately needed.

Hutchings had previously spoken of the game resting on how either side dealt with the opposition when they were on top. MK Dons succeeded, the visitors didn't.

Paul Ince's side had already started to build some momentum before Easter's winner and when it arrived on 32 minutes it was all too simple. Aaron Doran skipped down the right and, with a challenge from Jamie Vincent failing to materialise, squared the ball for Easter who could not miss.

It was a momentary lapse from the Saddlers and one which cost them. Without the sufficient nous to recover, the game slowly died.

Byfield should have levelled just before the break when neat work from Troy Deeney put the veteran through but he could only find goalkeeper Willy Gueret's legs.

As chances go it was golden and rare against a top six side. It needed someone, anyone, to take the game by the throat in the second half but the only brief action was when goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin denied Easter.

Byfield's angled shot kissed the bar late on and substitute Sam Parkin headed over in injury time. But the Dons could deal with those efforts until the cows come home.

By Nick Mashiter