Walsall Football Club

Form remained inconsistent in April, although the Saddlers’ promotion flame was still burning brightly. 

Back-to-back away defeats at Sheffield United and Oldham left us in sixth place and momentarily looking over our shoulder. 

But a hugely-impressive 2-1 victory over top-six hopefuls Gillingham restored optimism levels, with a 1-0 triumph over Southend putting us hot on second-placed Burton’s heels. 

We then fell off the pace after a 1-1 draw with Swindon and a 4-0 reverse at Bradford, but a 2-1 win over local rivals Shrewsbury kept our two-two hopes alive. 

Off the pitch, Romaine Sawyers and Rico Henry were voted in the PFA League One Team of the Year. 

Sawyers and Tom Bradshaw were named in League One’s top 15 players of the season, voted for by managers, finishing second and sixth respectively. 

Sawyers was also nominated for League One Player of the Year, while Henry was shortlisted for the Football League Young Player of the Year award.

Walsall took the automatic promotion race to the season’s final day with a comfortable 3-1 victory over struggling Fleetwood. 

Jon Whitney's men now had to win at Port Vale and hope Burton lost at relegated Doncaster to claim second spot. 

We did all we could, thrashing Vale 5-0 thanks to goals from Paul Downing, Sam Mantom, Tom Bradshaw – his 20th of the season – and a brace from Anthony Forde. 

But a goalless draw for Burton ensured they finished runners-up, a point ahead of the Saddlers, who came third on a hugely-creditable 84 points. 

We entered the play-offs and were paired with sixth-placed Barnsley in the semi-finals, but a 6-1 aggregate defeat ended our promotion hopes.