Following last night's '125th Anniversary Match' versus Aston Villa, Bescot Banter columnist Calum Williams shares his Match Report;
Both
sides lined up with a typically mixed pre-season team sheet, Dean Smith opting
to give youngsters like Keiron Morris, Ben George and Mal Benning a run out,
against a strong Aston Villa side including the likes of Christian Benteke, and
Gabriel Agbonlahor.
It
was Villa that made by far the better start to the game, very early on a ball
threaded through to Andreas Weimann looked threatening, but young Saddlers
left-back Mal Benning was on hand to clear the danger.
More
Villa pressure ensued, a free kick on the edge of the box was send over the
crossbar by Karim El Ahmadi, before a ball across by Gabriel Agbonlahor found
Weimann in space, only for him to scuff a weak shot wide of the left hand post.
Walsall
were simply giving the premier league outfit too much time and space, and paid
the price on the 9th minute. Nobody seemed to track the run of
Fabian Delph, and when the Saddlers midfield backed off, he tried his luck from
20 yards out with a fierce strike, beating O’Donnell diving to his left,
despite the keeper appearing to get a hand on the ball.
GOAL
Walsall 0-1 Aston Villa (Delph 9’)
Villa
continued to pressure, winning a string of corners soon afterwards, but without
posing a threat to the Saddlers goal. The first Walsall attack came during this
time, only for Craig Westcarr to find himself offside after a neat ball was
played into him.
It
was again more corners for the visitors in a period where the Walsall players
had very little time to think, Agbonlahor trying his luck saw his shot blocked
for a corner, with O’Donnell at full stretch. But it was the pacy striker who
made a breakthrough. In fact, he managed break through the midfield and defence
with a blistering run, before slotting the ball coolly between the keeper’s
legs.
GOAL
Walsall 0-2 Aston Villa (Agbonlahor 33’)
It
took a matter of seconds after the kick off for Villa to regain possession, and
when the ball was played into Christian Benteke, his curling that initially
looked slightly optimistic, clipped the frame of the goal to the relief of a
stranded Richard O’Donnell.
Walsall’s
best chance of the first half came on the 40th minute, Villa shot
stopper Jed Steer rolling the ball out a little too casually, allowing James
Baxendale the chance to capitalise on the error. But he seemed to crack under
the pressure, and his indecision was punished by the keeper, who gathered to
avoid further embarrassment.
A
final chance for Villa saw Benteke turn well in the box before firing over the
bar, in a half where the Villains were certainly living up to their name,
spoiling the Saddler’s 125th anniversary party, after a thoroughly
dominant half!
H/T:
Walsall 0-2 Aston Villa
The
second half started with changes from both sides, the Saddlers fielding 10
fresh players, defender Ben George the only player to remain on the field. It
was a slower start to this half than the first, Benteke with the first shot on
goal after 6 minutes, forcing a save out of Saddlers substitute keeper Shane
Lewis.
But
soon after Villa were up to their old tricks again, good work down the right by
Weimann allowed him to play the simplest of balls into Benteke, and the Belgian
international had no hesitation in helping the ball into the back of the net,
after having escaped his marker.
GOAL
Walsall 0-3 Aston Villa (Benteke 52’)
The
Saddlers then began to find their feet and, most importantly, the Villa half of
the field. James McQuilkin found himself in space, and played a well angled
ball over to Milan Lalkovic, who couldn’t make a connection, although he had
been flagged offside anyway.
Villa
then took off their ‘big guns’, sparking hope amongst Saddlers fans, that they
could finally see a goal. They were right, but unfortunately, it again came at
the wrong end. More suspect defending allowed Jack Grealish a free run on goal,
and he didn’t disappoint, firing the ball low underneath the keeper. A composed
finish by the youngster.
GOAL
Walsall 0-4 Aston Villa (Grealish 67’)
Walsall’s
Milan Lalkovic tried to made his mark on the game in the 74th
minute, a promising run down the left saw him face Villa resistance, and when
he fell to the floor like a sack of spuds, the referee clearly saw it that say
too, and waved away any protests.
After
that the game quietened down considerably, Lewis having to make a few simple
saves, but most of the possession being fought in the middle of the park. That
was until the 87th minute, which certainly woke up those still in
the ground. A thunderbolt from 35 yards out by Gary Gardner caught everyone off
guard, and found its way into the top corner of the goal to give Villa a 5th
goal.
GOAL
Walsall 0-5 Aston Villa (Gardner 87’)
There
was just time for a final hurrah from the Saddlers, neat work in Villa’s half
saw Chelsea loanee Milan Lalkovic find space, but his angled shot was well
saved by the visiting number one, Brad Guzan.
In
truth, this game was one in which the premier league side showed their class,
and the Saddlers were outplayed throughout. Not the ideal way to celebrate a
125th anniversary, not that this result really means anything in the
grand scheme of things. With Tranmere Rovers first game of the season on the
horizon, that will be the focus for Dean Smith’s side.
In
the words of The Enemy, in the song that sent the fans out of the ground at the
end of the match ‘Saturday will make it all okay’.
F/T Walsall 0-5 Aston Villa (Delph 9’, Agbonlahor 33’, Benteke 52’, Grealish 67’, Gardner 87’)
ATT:
7720
REF: S, MartinBy: Calum Williams