There is
always a positive buzz around as the first game of the season dawns. The
feeling that despite the losses of our ‘big names’ in preseason we could still
achieve anything between now and May. In typical first day fashion, the sun was
blazing as the game got underway to a rousing atmosphere all around the ground.
The Saddlers,
with new boys Lalkovic and O’Donnell in the starting line up, began the game
well, and looked to get on the front foot early on, pushing forward and
creating some very nice play. However, nobody expected that this quick start
would have such an immediate impact, with a flowing move culminating with Adam
Chambers ball across to Craig Westcarr who made no mistake and finished well
from deep inside the box. Our season was only 3 minutes old, but it was already
looking like a good one.
At this point
over the last few seasons we’d now go on to say how we sat back after a great
start, however, today was a complete exception to that. We continued to press
forward well, with wide men James Baxendale and Ash Hemmings providing some
brilliant attacking play, and were backed up well from the full backs who both
had good games. We really were pushing Tranmere to their limits. These limits
were broken again after just 25 minutes. Dean Smith’s plan really starting to
shape up as new loan signing Milan Lalkovic slammed home into the bottom corner
after some more great passing, and the chants of ‘sexy football’ rung out
across the Banks’ Stadium once more.
As the first
half grew old, it became apparent that Rovers had turned solely to the
traditional ‘hoof ball’ technique. It was this that saw us get caught slightly
flat footed at the back and forced James Chambers into committing a foul near
to the right hand side corner flag. It was with bemusement, however, when the
crowd realised that Andy Robinson had managed to slam the ball over the keeper
into the far corner of the net. Tranmere back in it, undeserved, just before
half time.
H/T:
Walsall 2 Tranmere Rovers 1
The second
half saw a slightly different start to that of the first. It was clear for
everybody to see that the Tranmere dressing room may not have been the happiest
of places at half time, and they came out looking to bring the game to us. We
counteracted this well, preventing many clear cut chances being created, and it
was very impressive to see the way we could switch to defensive mode so
successfully having had so much of the play first half.
In what was
largely a perfect performance we then managed to once again switch mode and go
back after Rovers in search of that third goal that would surely seal it. It
was after more impressive football from the midfield that created perhaps the
best goal of the game. Westcarr rolled in Lalkovic, who instead of shooting
from distance held on, waited for Westcarr’s overlap and cheekily dinked it
over the defender into his path and he made it three to Walsall from inside 6
yards.
The only
other real chance of the half came from yet another Tranmere freekick. This
time it was in front of goal and a whole lot further out, but the vicious
strike seemed to have gone in having him the underside of the bar, but had in
fact bounced down and out, leaving us safe from a nervous finish to our opener.
F/T: Walsall 3 (Westcarr 4' & 71' Lalkovic 25') Tranmere Rovers 1 (Robinson 40')
ATT: 4,788
REF: B, Malone
Overall I
think everybody have to be wholeheartedly impressed with that performance.
Goals for both of the strikers and a great performance from the whole team. I
was particularly impressed with the wingers who played their hearts out from
start to finish, especially Hemmings. However as he got sponsors man of the
match I will use mine to acknowledge Mal Benning, who was outstanding both at
the back and coming forward in the game.
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