It is a case of what might have been for Jacko at the Bescot Stasdium this afternoon as the Terriers relinquished a two goal lead in this seven goal thriller. Town were magnificent in the first half and the Saddlers could not cope with Booth's aerial presence or Beckett and Abbott's running as Town found themselves two goals up after just twelve minutes. Wonder strikes from Merson and Fryatt, his first of a hat-trick, reduced the deficit to one at half-time which was quickly found by Fryatt from the penalty spot just after half time. A third from the young striker handed the Saddlers the victory.

There were no surprises with Peter Jackson's team selection as he opted for the 4-3-3 formation to accommodate strikers Booth, Abbott and loan frontman Beckett. The only change to the side which beat Bournemouth the previous week was the inclusion of Chris Brandon for Tony Carss who underwent hernia surgery midweek. Rachubka continued in goal charged by the boss with keeping a clean sheet - Town's first since November. Sodje and Yates continued their centre-back partnership flanked by full backs Rob Edwards and Nat Brown on the left and right respectively. Joining Brandon in midfield was skipper Jon Worthington and Welsh under 21 international Lee Fowler.

Mark Wright had Paul Rachubka scrambling back across his line on four minutes when the right back miss-hit his cross which almost looped over the Town stopper and into the net.

The home side came inches away from opening the scoring on five minutes as Town struggled to clear their lines. Firstly, after shouts of off-side from the Town players, Leitao came inches away from adding the finishing touch to Merson's well placed cross. Fryatt drove the ball back into the danger area where Sodje cleared. The resulting Wright corner was aimed at the head of Merson but the Saddlers' boss headed over.

Town responded immediately and a few moments later found themselves in front after poor defending from the home side saw Bennett lose out Andy Booth who gave Town the lead with a well taken chip from just inside the area.

Town made it two after eleven minutes when loan sensation Luke Beckett stabbed home Town's second. A Brown throw from the right was hammered by Booth straight at Murphy who spilt the ball into the path of Beckett who was on hand to poke past the stranded stopper.

Town almost grabbed another almost immediately but Beckett saw his effort ricochet behind for a Town corner. The Fowler in-swinger was well cleared by the home side.

Troubled boss Paul Merson led by example and pulled one back in emphatic style for the Saddlers. A looping ball bounced on the edge of the Town area where Merson waited and let fly with a sweetly struck volley which bounced in off the inside of Rachubka's left hand post.

On 22 minutes Luke Beckett was booked for diving in the area.

Abbott went close soon after with a rasping, tight-angled drive from range and moments later the Pole turned neatly in the area and shot but his effort was easily collected by keeper Murphy.

Twenty seven minutes Leitao turned and shot in the area forcing a superb one handed diving save from Paul Rachubka.

Town earned another corner and kept the pressure on the home side with ten minutes of the half remaining after Efe Sodje saw his beautifully struck shot from outside the area ricochet behind. Town added a third from the resulting Edwards corner which was particularly well worked and looked like another from Town's expanding set-piece repertoire. Club captain Edwards simply floated the ball to the back post for Booth to head back across goal where Beckett was waiting to prod the ball home for his second.

The Saddlers came close to reducing the defict just before half time but skipper Kinsella's first time effort with the outside of his boot spun wide of goal. Matty Fryatt did add a second for the home side with the last kick of the half and, fair play, what a strike it was. He chipped Rachubka with a looping left foot thunderbolt from thirty-five yards which gave the keeper no chance at all.

Half Time: Walsall 2 Huddersfield Town 3

The second half picked up where the first left off and on 50 minutes the home side were awarded a penalty after Sodje had been adjudged to have handled in the area. The assistant referee flagged immediately and referee Fletcher pointed to the spot. Fryatt bagged his second of the game from the spot.

Beckett, Brandon Booth and Abbott all had chances to put the Terriers back in front on 59 minutes but some desperate last ditch defending from the keeper and back four ensured the scored stayed level.

Fryatt was denied his hat-trick on the hour mark by a superb reaction save form Rachubka who saved the strikers point blank header after a Saddlers corner.

On 66 minutes Lee Fowler was replaced by Adnan Ahmed.

Taylor came inches away from putting the home-side in front when he latched on to Wright's cross from the right flank but, well placed in front of goal, he could not hit the target

Sodje found his way into the referee's book on 71 minutes for a challenge on Leitao. Minutes later Bennettwas booked for a similar challenge on Booth.

Fryatt did get his hat-trick on 74 minutes after a break by Wrack down the left-flank saw the midfielder lay the ball off to Merson who fed Fryatt. The striker picked his spot and spanked the ball past Rabs to give the home side the lead for the first time in the game.

On 80 minutes David Mirfin replaced Nat Brown

Jacko made his final change of the game on 86 minutes replacing Steve Yates with Danny Schofield.

In the dying minutes Schofield saw his right-foot half-volley fly wide of the mark.

Full time: Walsall 4 Huddersfield Town 3

Attendance: 5727