NEIL Smillie was full of optimism for next season after seeing his Blues round off the season by outplaying Walsall to record their fourth away win.

Smillie said after a 1-0 success, which was far more emphatic than the score suggested: "I'm very pleased. It could have been a nothing end of season game for us but the lads worked as though there really was something on it. I've learned a lot about the players and I'm delighted with them."

"The movement was good up front, the boys passed the ball around very well and played some lovely stuff.

"The players showed what they are are capable of it and it shows that we have got a good nucleus.

"There were some good signs there. They have just got to believe a bit more. There's some young players there who need to know that they are good and be encouraged to get the ball."

Although he was disappointed Blues did not stack up the goals their football deserved, he was delighted they did not collapse as Walsall piled on the pressure late on in search of an equaliser.

He said: "The good thing is that although we missed some chances we didn't give the points up. One goal is just as good as five, you still get three points for it.

"I'm very pleased with the last 12 games since I took over. We've managed to get ten results which is great and that should give the boys confidence for next season."

The big disappointment for Wanderers was that Mark Stallard failed in his bid to become Wycombe's record goalscorer.

Stallard, who hammered a hat-trick against the Saddlers at Adams Park couldn't manage the one goal he needed to equal Miquel De Souza's Blues record of 18 league goals in a season.

He couldn't find a way past Walsall goalkeeper James Walker who had spent the week being quizzed by police over his part in a bar-room brawl.

The ever-present goalkeeper was arrested on Wednesday and kept in a cell. He was doubtful to play until police led him go with a caution.

Stallard had two golden opportunities to beat him and claim the record but on both occasions he blew his chance and missed the target altogether.

In the first half, he seemed certain to earn his place in Wanderers history when Mo Harkin's header gave him a one-on-one with Walker but Stallard lost his nerve and screwed it well wide.

He came close to that elusive record again in the second half when from John Cornforth's up-and-under cross he headed wide with Walker nowhere.

With Stallard off form it was down to forgotten man Paul Read to do the scoring and he obliged on 17 minutes.

Read, did what he has been doing in the reserves, when he pounced on goalkeeper Martin Taylor's long punt down field and headed the bouncing ball over Walsall's advancing keeper as the ball reared off the hard surface.

It should have been more as Wanderers, free from the shackles of relegation fear, created chances at will, particularly in the first half.

Wanderers, missing Keith Scott and with Steve Brown sitting in the stands suspended, were enjoying themselves in a surprisingly open end-of-season encounter.

Read could have had a second but Alan Beeton's cross, which found him unmarked eight yards out, bounced up in front of him over his head and the chance was gone.

And the ginger haired striker went even closer when Ian Roper hacked another effort off the line.

Jason Kavanagh also went close with a header from Nicky Mohan's freekick, while Dave Carroll's 25-yarder was well held by Walker.

At the other end, Blues keeper Martin Taylor had to be at his best to preserve the fragile lead when he turned away Didier Tholot's 20 yard drive.

And long before Wanderers really got into their stride they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Jason Cousins man-handled Tholot. The Blues defender grabbed at the Frenchman's shirt but the exciting foreigner, one of three Frenchmen in the West Midlands side, did himself no favours when he hit the ground as though he had been shot.

In the second half, as Walsall had more of the ball, Read snatched at a marvellous chance to give Blues the two-goal cushion they needed.

Wanderers looked as though they might pay for their misses when Clive Platt shot widly over after a mistake from Keith Ryan.

At the end Blues fans celebrated the result with a conga on the terraces, in stark contrast to the Walsall supporters who staged a demonstration outside to protest over their disappointing season.

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