'I'm just glad we don't have to travel all the way from Wembley': Gutted Saddlers fans who stayed home to watch the math find one bright spot amid the devastation of defeat

After watching their team lose at The Met Sports Bar we spoke with may Walsall FC fans who were relieved they did not have to endure a 120 mile trip home after tasting defeat.

Lee Fenn, from Chuckery, was glad he did not make the trip to Wembley. 

He said: "Winning at Wembley is a great day out. But when you lose it is a long way back home. I'm glad i saved my money. I thought they would play awful."

It was all so different 90 minutes before as friends laughed with one another whilst drinking back the optimism that can only be enjoyed before a ball is kicked. 

The Davenports owned sports bar, at The Wharf, was standing room only as the town's Villa, Wolves, Manchester United and other assorted fans all were Saddlers for the day. 

Met Sports Bar general manager Nikki Smith was delighted with the turnout for the Bank Holiday Monday  Division Two Play Off Final.

She said: "I did not think it would be this busy because so many people said they were going. But it is great to have such support because it will be a day to remember. 

"It was wonderful seeing everyone supporting Walsall even if they are not Saddlers fans. It is bit like an England game everyone supporting the same team, it does not happen very often." 

Villa fan Bomber, 64, and Man Utd fan Ken, 60, from Birchills, have "known each other too long" and were supporting Walsall today. Ken said: "We are supporting Walsall, it is good the for town if they go up plus I had a £50 bet with my Cockney nephew they will win."

After the final whistle the pair shouted at the TV but were soon back in the swing of things and taking the mick out of each other's teams.  

12-year-old Riley Smith, resolutely Walsall till the end, said bitterly as Wimbledon were celebrating their promotion: "We were cheated out of two penalties. The referee lost us that game, what a disgrace."

Met Sports Bar manager Nikki lamented the result but praises her regulars, she said: "What a gutting final result. But we go again. We will be back next year and hopefully will not need a play off. But we've had a day to remember, it really felt like the community came together.

"I am really proud of my team, they all worked hard to ensure everyone's glass was full when they wanted it to be."

As the final whistle went the packed bar cleared out quicker than the Wimbledon defence repelling another futile Walsall attack. 

Brian Davies, from Willenhall, said: "I did not get my hopes up too much, especially as we blew it months ago. But it was a good day until the football started."