Don’t ask, but suffice it to say I had fairly harassing day at New Cross hospital, Wolverhampton today. Quite unexpected on a warm day that began with a walk around Walsall Arboretum –interrupted by a phone call and then efficient and friendly paramedics, ambulance staff, A and E people (nurses, doctors and orderlies).

It ended well but one of the things helping me through the day – other than a text about a cheese sandwich – was the offer of a ride to Rochdale for my first game of the season. Cutting it fine – and finally on the outside of a simple (and simply delicious) cheese sandwich – made the rendezvous.

Some getting-together-again banter before setting out on what turned out to be a fairly tortuous journey. Accidents, traffic jams, diversions and red lights for road works. I am, foolishly left in charge of programming a – from what I can tell – state of the art sat nav (as if I would know!) … and eventually get it set – or we are heading for the Rochdale Rugby Stadium. Only time will tell.

There is a request to hold the birthday cake for the return journey and we see some floodlights shining across from the opposite said of a valley as we see Rochdale on signposts. Could it be?

Ends up it is. We jam the car in a tight, just-about-legal space in a one-way street and pile out, going back for the one who is left in the car, stymied by a child lock. We laugh, not sure if he sees the funny side.

We sample the pies inside: steak gets the thumbs up and my meat and potato is most welcome: just hot enough and peppery to perfection.

The Walsall faithful are in good numbers and better voice: in the side stand and we nab seats up at the top with a good view of a well-tended surface in a compact ground.

There is little that can be said for League positions this early in the season. But … we have made a much better start to this season, because it is possible to get left behind from the beginning … and this is what happened last year (we tell ourselves; adding that was then, this is now and nodding wisely). But we start both brightly and – yes, I am going to say it: cockily. Passing easily between players, short passes, long ones, finding a Walsall player. Looking good – and Rochdale seem bemused, ill prepared or just not warmed up. It doesn’t last of course. They soon start to close us down and the passes start to go astray; they are at home after all. But while we seem to pose little or no, neither do they: they seem content to break our play up, rather than following up and doing any harm. Bit of a stale stalemate really. A few chances. Kieron Morris is impressive, intelligently easing the ball away when the Rochdale keeper can’t hold it – Bradshaw cannot put the short pass into the net _ he’s good but not that good! Milan Lalkovic quieter and more easily subdued than I would have liked: he was stunning while here on loan with erratic and brilliant random spins, runs and passes. Everybody has an off day of course: maybe this is his?

Throughout it all there is the rolling thunder of chants and support from our left: not all making geographical sense, but all in a good cause and showing spirit and humour if not musical ability.

And the Rochdale challenges are (diplomatically speaking) strong, prompting no card-reaction from the referee. So, inevitably while we are able to ride these crisp, no-nonsense tackles our stronger players start to front up as well. Fair is fair and the contest equalises out.

 

Second half well under way and a couple of changes: Sawyers and Forde on for Flanagan and Lalkovic.

Rochdale have the ball in the net, but it is bravely –and properly – disallowed: off side prompted derision and mockery from my left. The Rochdale fans go quiet again (“Your support is worse than ours” is the next chant and “Worse than a library, it’s even worse than a library!”)

Adam Chambers has been so busy, covering a lot of the field: the man furthest forward, winning last ditch tackles and shepherding the ball. O’Connor, playing at centre half is strong; his one mistake heading back to an agile goalkeeper who had come out for the ball (and had to sprint back and punch it out). He is an acrobat this Neil Etheridge, busy, stretching and leaping, getting bowled over a couple of times. But also, so far, resilient.

We go ahead marvellously after Taylor starts a move and gets into the box to hammer the goal in.

Some fans around me want us to calm the game down, keep the ball, but we continue to press forwards. Not at all like last season when we sat, mistakenly, on one goal leads and had the game snatched away. Not this season. Sam Mantom gets his second goal in two games (he dedicated the goal last game to his great grandfather) with a powerful, deflected shot.

It is only really then that Rochdale look like a threat going forwards, throwing four men up and taking no prisoners in physical tussles. It is noticeable though that it takes their players longer to get up after the ball has gone. Lack of fitness, ability, commitment or pride?

They do get a consolation goal, but we turn away, with the floodlights lighting up the foliage of sycamore trees and head back to the car for some of that cake!

In international sports news former Olympic athlete and present Tory politician Seb (now Lord) Coe has been elected as President of the International Amateur Athletics Federation). The sport is currently beset – as cycling was a couple of years ago – with allegations, rumours and attention on drug taking to enhance performance. He faces an interesting (Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times) few years.

More locally Worcester will be hosting the international Women’s Wheelchair Basketball finals and, in a bid to understand, the press releases say, the problems faced by wheelchair users the Mayor of Worcester took to the streets today in a wheelchair. If it is a gimmick it is a good one – and just maybe some good will come of it. Good luck to all taking part.

Meanwhile for all that these are the earliest of early days Saddlers are third in the table and a have a home game against top-of-the-table Coventry City coming up. Saturday!