A look back at our final day fixtures over the past decade...
HAVING studied our opening day fixtures over the past decade earlier this week, it is now time to look at our final day encounters.We have been at home six times in these ten games, the same number as for our opening day fixtures, however, we have only won three of the games, with two ending in a draw and five defeats.
The 2004/05 campaign ended with a convincing 3-0 home victory over Stockport County as Mark Wright, Kris Taylor and Matty Fryatt got their names onto the scoresheet.
The following season saw us lose 2-1 at home to Barnsley as we suffered relegation. Our only goal of that game was scored by Dean Keates, who popped up to score on the final game of the following season, but this time in more happier circumstances as his late leveller at Swindon Town saw us clinch the League Two Title in dramatic fashion.
A run of three successive home final day fixtures started in 2007/08 as we drew 2-2 with Hartlepool United as Tommy Mooney and Michael Dobson found the net. This was followed by a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Oldham Athletic, who recovered from an early goal from Troy Deeney to end the campaign with a win. There was another 2-1 scoreline in 2009/10, this time in our favour as Manny Smith and Matt Richards helped us overcome the challenge of MK Dons.
Despite losing 3-1 at Southampton on the final day of the 2010/11 season, it was a joyous occasion for everyone at St. Mary’s as The Saddlers completed the ‘Great Escape’ whilst The Saints were heading to promotion. Julian Gray scored our consolation goal that day.
Two further away assignments came, firstly in 2011/12 as we took on MK Dons and beat them 1-0 thanks to Will Grigg’s goal, before 2012/13 ended with a 2-0 set-back at Crewe Alexandra as we suffered our first defeat since the previous January.
Last season also ended in defeat, this time on home soil, as we succumbed to Colchester United.
So, who will we face on the final day of the 2014/15 campaign? All will be revealed on Wednesday morning when the fixtures are announced on www.saddlers.co.uk...