Remembering Walsall's great escape of 2011
Losses are rarely discussed, particularly nine years after they happened, but a certain 3-1 away defeat on this day in 2011 turned from disappointment into jubilation for Walsall.
The Saddlers were struggling in League One in the 2010/11 season, with a relegation battle on their hands.
Manager Chris Hutchings left the club in January 2011 with Walsall bottom of the table and Dean Smith took over – initially as caretaker and then as permanent manager.
Smith picked up seven wins and 10 draws in 24 games leading up to the final match of the season, away to Southampton.
The club were actually coming off a 2-0 home win over mid-table Charlton in the penultimate game, but the relegation scrap went down to the final game.
With a line-up consisting of Jimmy Walker, Olly Lancashire, Richard Taundry, Tom Williams, Andy Butler, Matt Richards, Julian Gray, Marco Gbarssin, Marc Laird, Jordan Cook and Jon Macken – it didn’t quite go to plan for Walsall.
Will Grigg, Emmanuel Ledesma and Darren Byfield all came off the bench for Smith’s side too, but they fell to a 3-1 loss.
High-flying Southampton dominated the early proceedings with Guly do Prado eventually firing the hosts in front in the 26th minute.
Within three minutes the Saints had doubled their lead when David Connolly cut inside and netted at the near post.
Walsall were given a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Gray took on two defenders and curled home a long range strike.
Current Liverpool and England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who came through the Saints academy, came off the bench in the 58th minute and began to impact the game – smashing the crossbar with an effort.
And, in the 68th minute, he made his presence felt with a goal of his own to secure the points and promotion for Southampton, while Walsall were left in limbo.
In the end, it perhaps was not as dramatic as it seemed, as the Saddlers retained their League One status after Dagenham & Redbridge lost 5-0 away to Peterborough.
Swindon, Plymouth, Bristol Rovers and Dagenham & Redbridge were eventually relegated as Walsall finished 20th in the division, one point above the drop zone. The great escape was complete.
