Unbeaten month for The Saddlers...
2014 started with a New Year's Day visit from a Sheffield United side that were showing signs of recovery under Nigel Clough.It was The Blades who took the lead during the opening period, however, The Saddlers got into our stride after the break and levelled matters from the penalty spot through Craig Westcarr.
We took the lead ten minutes later when James Chambers weighed in with his first-ever career League goal and it proved to be the winner.
After a blank weekend in which the players were taken away for a team-bonding trip to the Peak District, we returned to action at Tranmere Rovers.
Dominating the possession during the first half, we took a deserved lead on 19 minutes through Milan Lalkovic. However, we were unable to add to the goal and were pegged back with an equaliser with just over ten minutes left on the clock.
A run of two home games in a week started with the visit of Oldham Athletic.
The Latics proved to be tricky opponents and posed a number of questions before Sam Mantom popped up with the decisive goal mid-way through the second half.
Next up it was League leaders, Brentford, who were looking to make it nine wins in a row.
In what was a great contest between two talented and committed teams, The Bees drew first blood through Clayton Donaldson but his effort wiped out when Craig Westcarr equalised on the stroke of half-time.
It was Walsall who had the upper hand for much of the second period, but in the end honours finished even.
A trip to Notts County followed and after a pre-match storm, The Saddlers came out of the blocks like a bolt of lightening.
Our hosts simply had no answer to us as we tore them apart and created numerous chances. Going in at the break three goals to the good thanks to a perfect hat-trick from Febian Brandy, who returned to the club on loan earlier in the month, we continued where we left off after the restart when Andy Butler and then Craig Westcarr added to our score.
Whilst County were able to pull a goal back, they had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the score down as we had an amazing 30 attempts.
It left us in good heart for our final game of the month as we entertained Swindon Town.
Again we started well and took the lead with a well-worked goal that was finished off by Romaine Sawyers.
Unfortunately we couldn't add to our lead and The Robins managed to grab a share of the spoils from a set-piece.
It meant that we ended the month unbeaten.