Walsall 3 Sheffield United 2 - analysis

Walsall's exhausted players took the plaudits after showing their steel.

There have been few seminal moments in the Saddlers' season to date but this was one of them. One of those which you knew counted for much more than just the result.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures from the game.

The race for survival is on and remains in the Saddlers' hands after last night's stirring 3-2 win over Sheffield United.

Boss Dean Smith revealed Sam Mantom's debut goal was rehearsed just three-and-a-half hours before kick-off after his deadline-busting loan move from Albion yesterday.

It sparked the Saddlers as they avenged August's 3-2 defeat to the Blades. That was a bone of contention for Walsall, to have played so well and got nothing still rankled with a few.

And this time, again as underdogs, they had nothing to lose. In the drop zone while second-placed United chased promotion.

The game belied the respective league positions and ensured a continuation of recent progress for Walsall, now five unbeaten.

Three wins and two draws represent a valuable return which has moved them two places and two points above the League One bottom four – with a game in hand.

Indeed, their position rather undermines their record of two defeats in the last 10 games. The players have always maintained they should be higher, now they are proving why.

They have refused to buckle since the turn of the year. Three defeats in 2012 is the evidence and there is real momentum now, palpable momentum, going into the run-in.

Hartlepool visit the Banks's Stadium on Saturday and another win – or indeed a point – would be their best league run in over three years.

They scored three goals in the league for the first time this season and are suddenly converting the chances which eluded them earlier.

The Saddlers hadn't lost their confidence they'd just misplaced it, forgetting it had fallen down the back of the sofa.

But now they have dug it out, like an errant TV remote, and found the 'on' switch, they will find it hard to hit the off button – none more so than their youthful midfield of Mantom and Florent Cuvelier.

Cuvelier's maturity and tenacity was evident as the on-loan Stoke man took the lead in the Saddlers' engine room despite being just 19.

And the Belgian was a bright spot in an even start with Kevan Hurst firing wide after six minutes.

But neither keeper was troubled with the Blades blunted and the Saddlers solid, if not spectacular.

The hosts kept the high flying visitors at bay, even if United edged possession, and harried the Blades to the point where they failed to create anything.

Walsall conjured one, brief, opening on 32 minutes when Cuvelier crossed from Taundry's fine ball but Macken was crowded out by Johnny Ertl.

David Grof gobbled Ched Evans' effort but the Saddlers were untroubled aside from losing Taundry to a hamstring injury five minutes before the break.

But both teams' defensive solidity turned into fragility in a mad 26 minute second-half spell – sparked by Mantom.

George Bowerman, on his full debut, did well to win a 55th minute corner and when Hurst popped it low to the Albion man on the edge of the box he unleashed a first-time dipping effort into the top corner.

Bowerman's low shot was then tipped wide by Steve Simonsen but Walsall were pegged back when a cute ball from Evans teed up Lee Williamson to drive past the exposed Grof on 65 minutes.

The Saddlers had been undone and United turned the screw as Grof denied Cresswell after Butler's error before saving from ex-Wolves man Matt Hill.

Walsall were rattled and Bowerman wasted a glorious chance when he blazed over with just Simonsen to beat on 72 minutes.

Yet, a minute later, the superb Macken kept the goals flowing when he fired into the corner after shrugging off Ertl's weak challenge.

The lead lasted three minutes though when Evans broke the offside trap to dispatch a fizzing effort past Grof.

But he Saddlers weren't finished there and nine minutes from time Mat Sadler crossed for Nicholls to power in a stunning header and settle a scintillating game.

By Nick Mashiter