Following Saturday's visit of Preston North End, Calum Williams shares his Match Report;
The Saddlers went into this game at the Banks’s Stadium, on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Stevenage, ending their 5 game unbeaten run, whilst the Lillywhites were confident they could get a result, after their convincing 5-0 victory over Hartlepool on Tuesday night. Walsall were boosted by the return of striker Febian Brandy who recently returned to full fitness, whilst 21 year old keeper Karl Darlow, currently on loan from Championship outfit Nottingham Forest, started in goal for the Saddlers.
The Saddlers went into this game at the Banks’s Stadium, on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Stevenage, ending their 5 game unbeaten run, whilst the Lillywhites were confident they could get a result, after their convincing 5-0 victory over Hartlepool on Tuesday night. Walsall were boosted by the return of striker Febian Brandy who recently returned to full fitness, whilst 21 year old keeper Karl Darlow, currently on loan from Championship outfit Nottingham Forest, started in goal for the Saddlers.
And
it was a lively start to the game, Walsall’s Nicky Featherstone getting an
early shot on goal, which was tipped over well by North End keeper Steve
Simonsen, the resulting corner coming to nothing. Both teams were battling to
grab an early goal, a Preston cross found John Mousinho, who couldn’t get a
clean connection on the ball, followed by a Walsall attack soon after, left
back Andy Taylor whipping in an inviting ball, which no one could get on the
end of
However,
after just 10 minutes, the first goal did come. A Preston attack left the
Saddlers wide open at the back, and a smart cross found its way to Joel Byrom,
who headed powerfully into the bottom right corner of the goal, despite
Saddlers goalkeeper Karl Darlow getting a hand on the ball.
GOAL: Walsall 0 Preston North End 1 (Byrom 10')
Walsall
looked to make an immediate response. Just minutes later, winger Jamie Paterson
made a darting run into the box, and his low cross eventually found Florent Cuvelier,
whose shot was blocked after some good pressing from the North End defence.
After
that, the game got a bit scrappy, goalscorer Joel Byrom picking up a yellow
card on the 15th minute. It was then the turn of Stuart Beavon to
make a nuisance of himself, the man who scored 21 goals for Wycombe Wanderers
last season, despite their relegation into Npower League Two. A strong header
after some good build up play from the Lillywhites saw Walsall keeper Karl
Darlow forced into a smart save to tip the effort over the bar, and out for a
corner.
The
game continued to look very even, Walsall’s Florent Cuvelier missed an attempt
after a defensive mix up, but the Saddlers found it hard going forward, with
North End closing down well, James Baxendale the next player to fire wide. And
it was Baxendale who created another chance on the 32nd minute,
winning a free kick on the edge of the box, which was struck well by Florent
Cuvelier, stinging Steve Simonsen’s fingertips.
A
tactical change was made by Preston manager Graham Westley, bringing on centre
forward Akpo Sodje, for 18 year old William Hayhurst in search of a second
goal. But it was Walsall who were eventually rewarded for all of their
attacking pressure. Striker Will Grigg got on the end of a Nicky Featherstone
cross, before laying it off to James Baxendale, who curled the ball
magnificently over Steve Simonsen from some 25 yards out, to pull Walsall
level.
GOAL: Walsall 1 (Baxendale 38') Preston North End 1
There
were few chances after the goal, the final attempt coming from Nicky Wroe who
fired over in the 2 minutes added time, after being given too much space by the
Saddlers defence.
HT: Walsall 1 Preston North End 1
North
End made their second substitution to start the second half of the game,
Jeffrey Monakana joining the action, replacing defender Paul Huntington. The
Saddlers started the second half relatively well, some attacking play required
the Preston defence to stand firm, Florent Cuvelier the stand out performer for
Walsall, causing problems for the Lillywhites in the middle of the field, and
also going forward.
The Saddlers continued to attack, in search of a second goal, and when striker George Bowerman was taken down by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, referee Lee Collins showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and giving the Saddlers a chance to go in front for the first time in the match. Bowerman was the man given the responsibility, and he showed no sign of nerves, slotting the ball coolly into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, sending the keeper the wrong way, to put the Saddlers 2-1 to the good.
The Saddlers continued to attack, in search of a second goal, and when striker George Bowerman was taken down by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, referee Lee Collins showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and giving the Saddlers a chance to go in front for the first time in the match. Bowerman was the man given the responsibility, and he showed no sign of nerves, slotting the ball coolly into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, sending the keeper the wrong way, to put the Saddlers 2-1 to the good.
GOAL: Walsall 2 (Bowerman (PEN) 55) Preston North End 1
Walsall
kept up the momentum, Preston being forced to put bodies on the line to defend
against more attacking pressure. But when George Bowerman picked up the ball on
the edge of the box, buoyed by his goal just 3 minutes previous, he took what
appeared to be an ambitious effort from just outside the box, which crept into
the bottom left hand corner of the goal, out of the reach of North End keeper
Steve Simonsen.
GOAL: Walsall 3 (Bowerman 58') Preston North End 1
Preston
then struggled to regain control, the Saddlers weren’t prepared to sit back and
defend, and continued to push forward with the ball. A free kick on the 66th
minute, curled over the wall by Andy Taylor, saw Simonsen forced to parry for a
Walsall corner, which subsequently fell to Dean Holden, who fired high and
wide.
More
chances came the Saddler’s way, Jamie Paterson picked up the ball in a
promising position, North End keeper Steve Simonsen risked coming some way out
of his area to close him down, and clear the danger. Soon after, a long ball
from Ben Purkiss found James Baxendale, who let the ball bounce once, before
smashing it at goal, Simonsen again called to action, to get strong hands on
the attempt, allowing his defence to clear the danger.
Graham
Westley knew his side needed to gain more control over the game. He brought on
pacy youngster David Amoo for John Mousinho on the 81st minute, and
The Lillywhites did begin to put the Saddlers defence under some pressure, but
looked somewhat unconvincing going forward, and never really looked like
scoring in the last 10 minutes.
James
Baxendale came off for Richard Taundry on the 87th minute, receiving
huge applause around the ground, after yet another impressive performance. But
it was George Bowerman who stole the show on the day, as the loudspeaker
announced him as sponsors man of the match, he too received a healthy cheer
from the Saddlers faithful.
Late
substitutions for the Saddlers saw Jamie Paterson go off for Jake Jones, and
Will Grigg go off into stoppage time, for defender Paul Downing. Walsall held
on for another solid result against a strong Preston side. They move up to 7th
in the league, pushing North End down to 11th. The Saddlers once
again proving they could be this year’s dark horses of League 1, with striker
George Bowerman moving up to joint second in the League 1 top goalscorers list,
with 5 goals.
FT
- Walsall 3 (Baxendale 38', Bowerman (PEN) 55', 58') Preston North End 1 (Byrom
10')
ATT: 4,189
MOTM: George Bowerman
REF: Lee Collins
By:
Calum Williams