How Walsall's 2016 play-off collapse marked the end of an era
The catastrophic collapse in the 2015-16 League One play-offs not only marked the end of a dream; it was also the end of an era.
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Dean Smith had carefully assembled a squad capable of fighting at the top end of the table. His departure just three months into the season was a blow, but Walsall combatted a managerial merry-go-round to stay in the hunt.
The final day ended in heartache, with a 5-0 crushing of local rivals Port Vale still not quite enough to achieve automatic promotion.
Instead, Walsall dropped into the play-offs, but entered their semi-final tie against Barnsley with a spring in their step.
"We only do it one way. We are an attacking team but we do it from a defensive base," manager Jon Whitney said beforehand.
"We are not going to go to Barnsley and shut up shop."
Perhaps that would've been advisable once Adam Hamill struck the first of three hammer blows before the break.
