Walsall 1 Swindon Town 0
That Walsall won on Saturday should come as no surprise to Saddlers fans. They are Swindon Town's bogey team after all.
The Robins haven't won in Walsall since 1969, and were beaten twice last year by the narrowest of margins. That the game finished one-nil will, however, remain one of the great mysteries of the season.
Crossbars rattled, posts shuddered, shots were cleared off the line and last-ditch tackles made as chance after chance came and went.
Swindon packed nine men behind the ball and still should have scored a couple. For their part, Walsall threw everything they had at the visitors and still nearly came away with a draw.
The difference between the two sides, as will often be the case this season, was Matty Fryatt. And even he had an off day.
"He was poor," said Walsall player-boss Paul Merson of his match-winning striker. "But he's the only one who looked like scoring."
The youngster's goal and the manner in which he took it will only enhance his reputation with potential suitors. Much more of this and January will see a change of home for the goal-getter who struck just before the hour mark.
Walsall's Kris Taylor swung in a fine cross from the left which visiting goalkeeper Thomas Heaton came for and missed, Jorge Leitao knocked it down for Fryatt, and he squeezed the ball in from a tight angle at the near post.
Merson has played in his fair share of one-nil wins. Arsenal used to be famous, or infamous depending on your view, for them. None will have been as open as this.
'Boring, boring Walsall' is not a chant likely to be heard in League One this season.
George Graham would certainly have had a few words to say to his former star player and while Swindon arrived with five strung across midfield in search of a point, Walsall play the type of football that invites opponents to attack them.
Merson's influence is there for all to see. Clever passing football that sucks in opponents, mixed with an impetuous side that throws caution to the wind and leaves gaping holes all over the pitch.
There is something of Graham about Merson's managerial style. The flair and panache which comes naturally to the Saddlers' player-boss, mixed with the steely practical approach of his former manager.
This, then, is the antithesis to the Arsenal of the past on the surface at least. Underneath old habits die-hard.
"It's nice to win one-nil, I get that from me old manager," said a smiling Merson. "I'd rather win one-nil than win three-two."
It was Walsall's second clean sheet in less than a week: "a first since I've been at the club," said Merson. But the Saddlers' boss wasn't entirely happy with the display that saw his side caught on the break several times. "Teams are going to come and stick nine behind the ball. We've got to be patient and pass the ball across the back," he said,
"We're not going to lump it forward, we're going to try and pass through people, and sooner or later we will get chances."
One-nil is not a score line normally associated with Walsall or Swindon.
Neither is noted for their defensive ability and for large parts of Saturday's encounter they seemed determined to re-enforce these hard-earned reputations. Schoolyard, next-goal-wins football was the order of the day, or at least it would have been if the finishing had matched the approach play.
But there was also some fine defending from both sides. For Walsall, skipper Chris Westwood and Anthony Gerrard have the beginnings of what looks like a fine defensive partnership, while Swindon were well marshalled by Patrick Collins and the impressive Jerel Ifil at the heart of their backline.
It is far too early to say whether or not the Saddlers' goal difference will reach double figures come the end of the season. A 3-3 scoreline is still just as likely as 1-0.
But two clean sheets give them a basis on which to build, and if Merson can let the cold calculating aspects of George Graham cool his natural impulsiveness then ' one-nil to the Walsall' may yet become a recurring theme this season.
