IT WAS another miserable day for The Saddlers as promotion-hopefuls, Huddersfield Town recorded a 3-1 victory to keep us rooted to the foot of the table and leave us facing League Two football next term.

With three minutes on the clock, Craig Pead forced a corner out of Danny Adams and Dean Keates' teasing cross into the danger zone caused problems for the visitors' defence as Anthony Gerrard saw his effort blocked by Martin McIntosh.

The Saddlers started with real purpose and on five minutes, Mads Timm's run ended with a shot that flew over. Shortly afterwards Pead's endeavours ended with a loose ball falling out to Keates who dragged a low shot wide of the mark.

After David Graham's shot flew over for the visitors, Steve Claridge charged down a Paul Rachubka clearance but the ball fell kindly for the visitors who were able to clear.

On the quarter-hour mark, James Constable got on the end of a long clearance by Oakes to set up strike partner, Claridge whose jinxing run ended with a shot straight at the 'keeper.

A free-kick conceded out wide by Constable was swung into the area where David Mirfin came up from the back to plant a firm header wide.

There was a direct and pacy run by Timm on 24 minutes which saw him make good progress before firing wide. However, in the next attack, Huddersfield snatched the lead out of the blue when David Graham fired home from distance.

A handball on the edge of the area gave Walsall a free-kick in a dangerous position just before the half-hour mark as Timm was forced to limp out of the action with what looked like a hamstring problem. He was replaced by Kevin James, just back after his own hamstring injury, as the free-kick was fired into the defensive wall before being cleared to safety.

There was a nervy moment with ten minutes to go until the break as Graham lifted the ball over the on-rushing Oakes only to see Chris Westwood shepherd the ball wide.

A melee involving Claridge and Nathan Clarke saw both players booked before the last action of the half saw Keates drag a free-kick wide in injury time at the end of the first period.

The visitors came out of the blocks brightly at the start of the second half kicking towards their army of travelling fans.

However, The Saddlers came to life as a deep cross from Osborn in search of Constable saw the front-man appear to be held back by Mirfin as he went for the ball. Constable continued his protests as the action went on before being duly booked.

It saw an edge start to creep into the proceedings in what was a crucial game for both clubs but for very different reasons.

On 55 minutes Graham broke away only to see his effort well saved by Oakes as he closed in on goal. Four minutes later Fox was booked for a late challenge before Andy Booth met an inviting cross with a deft back-header that struck the top of the crossbar with Oakes scrambling across his goal.

Osborn was replaced by Michael Leary just minutes before The Saddlers were reduced to ten men when Chris Westwood clashed with Booth in front of the visiting fans.

It meant that we had to play the final 20 minutes with just ten men but we battled on and Leary was unlucky to see a low drive flash wide of the post.

The Terriers doubled their advantage with eight minutes left on the clock when a break-away saw Booth pick out substitute Pawel Abbott in space in the middle and as his initial effort hit the post, he was fortunate to be able to guide the rebound into an empty net.

The final minute saw Walsall pull a goal back as Fox's ball into the area fell to Leary who was able to turn and hit a shot that flew past Rachubka to reduce the arrears.

There was still enough time for Huddersfield to hit back and grab a third when a driven ball in from the left was headed home from close range by Booth to complete another miserable day for The Saddlers as our fate was sealed.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography.