Analysis of Colchester 2 Walsall 1

Walsall walked away with nothing from their valiant attempts at Colchester on Saturday, in another hard luck story which is becoming indicative of their season.

Ifs and buts don't cut ice at the end of term. Claiming you deserved something or pointing to when you took the points during an indifferent run won't magically hand you a play-off place in May.

The Saddlers know this. They realise being gutsy losers won't yield success. They will win sympathy and respect but little else.

There will come a time this season, and that time is fast approaching, when they will have to make performances count.

Never will their endeavour be in question but Walsall have a tag – a tag they are unable to shake. It is of the region's poorer relation who will forever be the underdog when compared to upwardly mobile teams.

Colchester are one of those sides. Having now settled at the Weston Homes Community Stadium – a venue where the Saddlers won 2-0 last season – they can count themselves fortunate to take three points.

Today they sit third in League One and the Saddlers 14th but there was no gap between them on Saturday, no chasm of quality between the sides. Walsall went to Essex confident of a result and they almost stole one but, again, they took nothing when their efforts deserved more.

MK Dons was a similar story, ditto Leeds. Southend and Norwich can be added to the list of gallant displays. Indeed, there have been very few no-shows this season – Charlton and Hartlepool being the only games to look upon with regret.

The fact is Walsall cannot keep preaching from the 'plucky loser' soapbox. They must take the points otherwise the top six will slip away.

Twice they have come within two points of the play-offs to face teams already ensconced in the promotion race and failed, however gallantly.

It is still relatively early in the campaign and the Saddlers are in the midst of the chasing pack in 14th – well within range to make a challenge. But, while they have threatened to break the top six, they are yet to seriously convince they have the nous to do so.

This time they failed to capitalise on a dominant first half, then threw away a positive result when Mark Hughes rashly brought down Josh Payne in the box for Kevin Lisbie to strike the winning penalty.

The afternoon had not started well when Jamie Vincent was ruled out after pulling a calf in the warm-up, meaning Netan Sansara made his first appearance of the season. The 19-year-old was set to be the number one left-back before picking up an ankle injury in pre-season and has watched Vincent's form sideline him since.

Much was expected of the youngster after a breakthrough campaign last year and he didn't disappoint. Like goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin, Sansara has a golden opportunity to fulfil the potential he evidently has.

Booked for a slice of petulance in the second half, he is still raw but certainly has the talent. And he will feel the defeat as much as his team-mates.

Colchester boss Aidy Boothroyd was Hutchings' boot boy and the Saddlers chief will be nursing a few bruises, after the hosts stuck their size 10s in where it hurt to claim a win they barely deserved.

Walsall dominated the first half and Mark Bradley, in by far his best display of the season, glanced wide as the visitors impressed early on. Fluid, patient and precise, they retained possession well.

Peter Till, in his first start since early September, was granted space and used it effectively. With deliveries far superior than the Royal Mail, the winger and Matt Richards on the other flank tossed in some excellent crosses, which neither Darren Byfield nor Troy Deeney were able to bury.

But, just like the trip to MK Dons earlier this month, early promise gave way to despair after 26 minutes. The Saddlers failed to clear, their former striker Clive Platt drilled in and Lisbie stretched to divert past Ince.

It was harsh but within 90 seconds Byfield levelled. The striker, whose selfless running spearheaded the visitors' early attacks, turned a shocked United defence and buried past home goalkeeper Ben Williams.

It was all they deserved from a first half which showed confidence, composure and desire. Till and Dwayne Mattis both went close to giving the Saddlers a half-time lead but were off target.

Richards should have done better than turn over Till's cross after the break as the Saddlers continued their momentum.

Goalkeeper Clayton Ince superbly saved Lisbie's rasping volley, as Colchester began to press and the game turned just after the hour mark.

West Ham loanee Payne – making his debut – was going nowhere in the area but skipper Hughes lunged in and, despite playing the ball, got a large chunk of Payne. Dubious but a penalty was given.

Lisbie sent Ince the wrong way and from then it started to slip away. The Saddlers couldn't claw it back. Plenty of huff and puff but they lacked that certain something to rescue the game.

That extra 10 per cent to carve open a top six team wasn't there. Matt Richards had Williams at full stretch from 20 yards and balls kept on flying across goal without anyone applying a decisive touch.

Steven Gillespie almost added an undeserved third when he hit the post and Richards' injury-time cross had Williams scrambling.

An equaliser would have been just, a plucky point. But for now the Saddlers are winning plaudits, not prizes.

By Nick Mashiter