Febian Brandy bags treble as Walsall FC romp to victory

A storm threatened the game at Meadow Lane before it had even started but in the end it was Notts County who were blown away. There was no meaningless bluster, just a whirlwind of a 5-1 romp – the first time Walsall have scored five or more league goals away from home in 17 years.

The huff and puff was backed up by Febian Brandy's hat-trick and the result will send shockwaves through League One.

Walsall are not under the radar any more.

They were so rampant, and County such willing victims, Walsall could have had double figures. It felt like another watershed moment in their progression.

In three years Smith has taken the Saddlers from rock bottom to serious play-off contenders on a shoestring, losing players like Jamie Paterson along the way.

But this victory at the Magpies, which propelled them back to sixth before tomorrow's visit of Swindon, removed any doubts about their quality and staying power.

Six games unbeaten and momentum gathering, it is precisely the kind of result on which foundations are laid – just think back to what that 4-2 win at MK Dons did last season.

The biggest problem the club will have is keeping hold of the manager if the trajectory continues. Make the play-offs – an end product to the work – and it will rubber-stamp Smith's capabilities.

He, along with Richard O'Kelly and Jon Whitney, have created something most Walsall fans never thought possible when he took the hotseat.

And look beyond the results and there is a willingness to work for a manager who has turned an unfashionable club around. The return of Brandy highlights just that.

He won't go as far to say his move to Sheffield United was, in hindsight, a mistake but his return to play for Smith this month is penance enough.

He was brought back to add an extra spark, to be the difference between finishing sixth or seventh, and on the weekend's evidence he can be just that.

But Walsall are aiming higher. His assertion they can break into the top two may have been the adrenaline talking, but it is not as far-fetched as it initially seemed.

There is a belief within the camp they can achieve something special and possibly even bridge that 12-point gap to the automatic promotion places. Smith has assembled the strongest squad the club has had in years and, while Brandy will steal the headlines, this victory was a team effort.

The tireless Craig Westcarr was exceptional with three assists and a goal, Richard O'Donnell saved at crucial times and Mal Benning, in for the injured Andy Taylor, excelled in his first start since August. Notts County were not just beaten, they were annihilated to the extent the final scoreline flattered them.

Andy Butler could have had a hat-trick, Milan Lalkovic missed two fine chances and Westcarr was twice denied.

From the moment O'Donnell saved from Callum McGregor, there was little doubt over Walsall's supremacy. It took 25 minutes to break the deadlock when Westcarr's pass dissected the hosts' defence and Brandy rounded Bartosz Bialkowski to score.

Minutes later Westcarr's shot was blocked and Butler's header cleared but a second arrived when a rapier-like break saw Westcarr clear to Lalkovic and his pass was brilliantly volleyed in by Brandy.

Just over 10 minutes later he had his first senior hat-trick, nodding in Westcarr's cross after Lalkovic's deflected shot fell kindly.

It was game over but the Saddlers weren't finished – Butler nodded in three minutes after the break and Westcarr got his deserved goal when he raced onto O'Donnell's long clearance to net.

There was still 35 minutes to go and even McGregor's fine free-kick failed to restore any of County's battered pride.

Lalkovic missed a one-on-one and was denied again by Bialkowski, ditto Westcarr, Mantom shot wide, Butler was thwarted and then blazed over at the death.

It could have been 10, the Saddlers settled for five.

And for now they are sitting nicely in the top six.