They are having a laugh and if the cap fits, wear it

Last updated : 17 March 2003 By Tony Scholes

The points were won by Walsall and the team fifth from bottom have all but secured First Division football for another season. Walsall boss Colin Lee was certainly the only manager happy at the end of the game.

"We got there in the end," said Lee. "We showed a lot of determination but there was a lot of tension.

"It took us a while to get started this afternoon and Burnley were on top initially but we defended well before getting in front.

"We were certainly playing well at 3-0 and there was a lot of mental strength in our performance with the determination and I thought we took our three goals extremely well.

"I thought Martin O’Connor led by example in midfield and he complements Vinny Samways so well but Darren Wrack missed out after being sent home well.

"I had no complaints about the penalty but I wasn’t so sure it was a red card decision. I thought there were two defenders there. I’ll take a look at the video and if that’s the case I’ll ask the referee to take a look at it again. But it was a definite penalty.

"The sending off of James Walker was always going to have an effect on the game though, when you are down to ten men it is always difficult but he was unlucky to get his marching orders."

Stan was stunned at the poor performance at Sheffield United but this time he was angry at the performance.

"We got what we deserved today," said Stan, "And that was nothing. We had two or three chances early on but after that we were woeful by our standards.

"We were three down but in the last fifteen minutes we got back to 3-2 and could have got something out of it, but that’s too late.

"The performances in the last week have been totally unacceptable and the players are all aware of how I feel about it, they are having a laugh. They are not playing with any enthusiasm, there is no spark and no brightness.

"Something has to be done and I intend to get to the bottom of it. I can’t kick the ball off the line for them or into the goal, that’s the players and if the cap fits they can wear it."