Following Tuesday night's eventful Johnstone's Paint Trophy clash with npower League Two outfit Port Vale, columnist Sam Wright shares his Match Report:
This was a tough one to read going in. Walsall are obviously in the league above our Staffordshire rivals but that doesn’t always mean too much. Dean Smith decided to make three changes to the starting line up from our 2-1 defeat to Carlisle on Saturday. Out went Purkiss, Holden and top goal scorer Bowerman, and in came Hemmings, Downing and local lad Richard Taundry.
Walsall were relatively slow getting into the game, failing to get any substantial possession in the first 10-15 minutes which on the whole was dominated by Vale, who to be fair showed good support for a Tuesday night JPT game.
After this though we began to find our feet and pass the ball around well, and it became apparent why we are in the division above them. We had several chances from set pieces such as a free kick in a good position won by Will Grigg that Taylor hammered into the wall. However we did manage to take full advantage of the dominance as Flo Cuvelier skipped past Duffy and went down, the linesman flagged and a penalty was given. There is some debate over the incident, the Vale fans were apparent in their disagreement, but there was a possible pull, as well as a handball so we’ll take it. Cuvelier stepped up himself and slotted into the keepers right hand corner sending him the wrong way. It must have been sweet for the Stoke loanee to score against the Vale. Walsall 1 up on 25 minutes.
From here on in we managed to slow the pace of the game to suit us. Baxendale was once again instrumental in the midfield as we stuck to our nice passing rhythm, limiting Vale to a few half chance as the first half began to fade away. They did manage to get back into slightly in the last 5 minutes, but overall a solid display from the Saddlers meant they could go for their break in high spirits.
HT: Walsall 1 Port Vale 0
The Saddlers came out flying in the second half. Off the restart we put together a few slick passes and started pretty much as we had played first half. Vale centre half Duffy must have left his defensive discipline in the dressing room as a poor mistake allowed in Will Grigg, who drilled home nicely from an angle. Second half had barely started; most fans were still finishing off their pies but nevertheless Walsall were 2 up.
However, this proved to be somewhat of an anti-climax as we then seemed to think the job was done. A mere 2 minutes later Vale had pulled 1 back. Saddlers were very slow at the back and allowed Burge to shoot, and consequently score to put Vale within one. 49 minutes gone it was Walsall 2-1 The Vale.
We did respond well at first, winning a free kick from which Paterson tested Vale keeper Johnstone, but overall you could see the classic Walsall collapse slowly coming on. As on Saturday we looked to be fighting a losing battle against fatigue. The passing rhythm fell apart and we couldn’t hold onto the ball. At this point, Vale was the much better side, and our mistakes looked like they would soon cost us.
Sure enough, on 61 minutes the mounting Vale pressure proved to be too much for our defence, which at this point was looking like the fourth division outfit. McCombe found Pope, who once again was given time in and around the box, shooting through the defenders legs and into the far corner past Darlow. We won’t want to admit it, but from the second half display it had been coming.
After this though we did well to get back into it, matching Vale in most departments. We cut out the vast majority of mistakes and both defences took control, allowing few chances for each team, and these were not clear cut ones. As the game grew old penalties seemed more and more inevitable, and, despite from a few late chance for the Saddlers after Brandy, Bowerman and Jones were bought on, it did end level and it would be decided from the spot.
FT: Walsall 2 (Cuvelier PEN 25', Grigg 47') Port Vale 2 (Burgess 49', Pope 61')
Penalties started much the way of any shootout. Both teams carded 2 goals 2 misses from their first 4 penalties, Taylor and Bowerman on target for the Saddlers with Paterson hitting the post and Cuveliers effort saved. However after this it must be said things did become a bit of a farce. The shootout then saw 6 straight misses, meaning that it was still 2-2 after 7 penalties a piece. Some pride was then restored with goals from Butler, Downing and Jones matching Vale to make it 5-5 after 10 each. Time for the keepers. Darlow stepped up first and tried to place it low to the keepers left, but to his despair it was saved without too much trouble. Vale keeper Johnstone then stepped up and smashed his in straight to finally end it.
Result: Walsall 2 (Cuvelier PEN 25', Grigg 47') Port Vale 2 (Burgess 49', Pope 61') (Vale win 5-6 on penalties)
Attendance: 2,845 (943 from Vale)
My Man of The Match: James Baxendale
This was a tough one to read going in. Walsall are obviously in the league above our Staffordshire rivals but that doesn’t always mean too much. Dean Smith decided to make three changes to the starting line up from our 2-1 defeat to Carlisle on Saturday. Out went Purkiss, Holden and top goal scorer Bowerman, and in came Hemmings, Downing and local lad Richard Taundry.
Walsall were relatively slow getting into the game, failing to get any substantial possession in the first 10-15 minutes which on the whole was dominated by Vale, who to be fair showed good support for a Tuesday night JPT game.
After this though we began to find our feet and pass the ball around well, and it became apparent why we are in the division above them. We had several chances from set pieces such as a free kick in a good position won by Will Grigg that Taylor hammered into the wall. However we did manage to take full advantage of the dominance as Flo Cuvelier skipped past Duffy and went down, the linesman flagged and a penalty was given. There is some debate over the incident, the Vale fans were apparent in their disagreement, but there was a possible pull, as well as a handball so we’ll take it. Cuvelier stepped up himself and slotted into the keepers right hand corner sending him the wrong way. It must have been sweet for the Stoke loanee to score against the Vale. Walsall 1 up on 25 minutes.
From here on in we managed to slow the pace of the game to suit us. Baxendale was once again instrumental in the midfield as we stuck to our nice passing rhythm, limiting Vale to a few half chance as the first half began to fade away. They did manage to get back into slightly in the last 5 minutes, but overall a solid display from the Saddlers meant they could go for their break in high spirits.
HT: Walsall 1 Port Vale 0
The Saddlers came out flying in the second half. Off the restart we put together a few slick passes and started pretty much as we had played first half. Vale centre half Duffy must have left his defensive discipline in the dressing room as a poor mistake allowed in Will Grigg, who drilled home nicely from an angle. Second half had barely started; most fans were still finishing off their pies but nevertheless Walsall were 2 up.
However, this proved to be somewhat of an anti-climax as we then seemed to think the job was done. A mere 2 minutes later Vale had pulled 1 back. Saddlers were very slow at the back and allowed Burge to shoot, and consequently score to put Vale within one. 49 minutes gone it was Walsall 2-1 The Vale.
We did respond well at first, winning a free kick from which Paterson tested Vale keeper Johnstone, but overall you could see the classic Walsall collapse slowly coming on. As on Saturday we looked to be fighting a losing battle against fatigue. The passing rhythm fell apart and we couldn’t hold onto the ball. At this point, Vale was the much better side, and our mistakes looked like they would soon cost us.
Sure enough, on 61 minutes the mounting Vale pressure proved to be too much for our defence, which at this point was looking like the fourth division outfit. McCombe found Pope, who once again was given time in and around the box, shooting through the defenders legs and into the far corner past Darlow. We won’t want to admit it, but from the second half display it had been coming.
After this though we did well to get back into it, matching Vale in most departments. We cut out the vast majority of mistakes and both defences took control, allowing few chances for each team, and these were not clear cut ones. As the game grew old penalties seemed more and more inevitable, and, despite from a few late chance for the Saddlers after Brandy, Bowerman and Jones were bought on, it did end level and it would be decided from the spot.
FT: Walsall 2 (Cuvelier PEN 25', Grigg 47') Port Vale 2 (Burgess 49', Pope 61')
Penalties started much the way of any shootout. Both teams carded 2 goals 2 misses from their first 4 penalties, Taylor and Bowerman on target for the Saddlers with Paterson hitting the post and Cuveliers effort saved. However after this it must be said things did become a bit of a farce. The shootout then saw 6 straight misses, meaning that it was still 2-2 after 7 penalties a piece. Some pride was then restored with goals from Butler, Downing and Jones matching Vale to make it 5-5 after 10 each. Time for the keepers. Darlow stepped up first and tried to place it low to the keepers left, but to his despair it was saved without too much trouble. Vale keeper Johnstone then stepped up and smashed his in straight to finally end it.
Result: Walsall 2 (Cuvelier PEN 25', Grigg 47') Port Vale 2 (Burgess 49', Pope 61') (Vale win 5-6 on penalties)
Attendance: 2,845 (943 from Vale)
My Man of The Match: James Baxendale
By: Sam Wright