were dashed last night when his club suffered a 2-0 away loss to Gillingham.

With just one match remaining, and already with an inferior goal difference to Shawn Goater's Bristol City, who have two matches left, Walsall have all but lost their chance to get into the top six.

The loss leaves Walsall in eighth place, three points behind City who could seal the final play-off spot tonight with a home win over Chesterfield who had their own play-off hopes dashed on Monday night when they were beaten by Stockport.

Now only one team, seventh placed Blackpool, can catch Bristol City. However, to do so they would need to win away to Wrexham on Saturday in their final match while hoping that City lose their two remaining games.