Alan Houghton's view on Bolton's exit from the FA Cup

Our pre-match deliberations were in the Locker, a club on site with a section for away fans. It took me back to my youth club days as the doorman stamped my hand as I paid my £2 entry fee. But it was worth it as they had Doombar on draught and massive vegetable samosas for lunch.

It was a relief to get away from the pressure of league football, to face the Saddlers, who have been doing very well in League Two. We had been primed to expect a few youngsters in the team as Ian Evatt gave some players a rest but in the event, he went for some of his squad players, with a few youngsters on the bench.

The game was a proper cup tie with Walsall being up for it from the start, creating and missing two glorious chances at the start. We came back into it, forcing their keeper into some good saves. 
We had the better of the first half but nothing to show for it. Come the second half, cometh the man as Josh Sheehan fired us ahead with a superb free kick.

Things were looking good but Walsall didn’t give up and caught us on the break a few minutes later, when ex-Wanderer, Liam Gordon raced through to slam home the equaliser. 

Then just as the match looked to be heading for historic extra time, as there are no replays now in the first round of the FA Cup, Walsall again caught us on the hop as Jamie Jellis ran through to net the winner. On the day, we were beaten by a better team, who deserved it. We congratulate and wish them well in the next round.

As disappointing as it is to go out of the cup, we have a much bigger target to go for. We are building momentum in the league, during a difficult time with injuries. The review into the causes of the horrendous list of injuries over the past couple of seasons, is most welcome. 

We need to keep things going until we get all our injured players, back up and running. Stockport County away will be a massive game.