On Wednesday evening Walsall Football Club played host to Sheffield United in one of the Northern Area Quarter Finals of this season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy competition. Guest Gabriel Sutton of 'The Football Lab' was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
Walsall won 1-0 against Sheffield United, and are now
through to the semi-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern Area. Romaine
Sawyers, not to be confused with Natalie Sawyer, who presented the match on Sky
Sports, scored the winning goal and was arguably the stand-out performer.
He seemed a very different player to the one that was booed
off by his own fans against Crystal Palace a couple of months ago. Operating
more in midfield than his designated attacking role, Sawyers spent a lot of
time looking to track back, link play and help out in deeper areas. For his
all-round performance, he fully deserved his goal, more of which anon.
It seemed rather appropriate that this match was played in a
competition called ‘Johnstone’s Paint’, because the first half was like
watching Johnstone’s Paint dry. In truth, it was a half of few chances, and
little attacking endeavour. Walsall started out with plenty of possession, but
they used the ball in a slightly tentative manner, with some backward passes
and a lot of their play being in their own half.
Having scored 9 goals this season, Tom Bradshaw operated as
the lone striker. He was at times on the periphery of the game, and his only
shot of note was a tame angled effort just before half time. When he did get
the ball, however, he showed some nice touches, and set up Anthony Forde for a
shot in a rare first half breakaway.
The first half was very much a stalemate. Both teams had
prolonged spells of possession, and were prepared to sit deep when their
opponents had the ball. Therefore, when either side did give the ball away, it would
be due to a randomly misplaced pass, rather than a forced mistake. Neither side
had the confidence nor the desire to increase the tempo, get the ball out wide
and commit men into the box.
Sheffield United had most of their possession later on in
the half, but created very little. They were never able to build an attack
centrally, so Walsall’s midfielders, Adam Chambers in particular, deserve
credit for blocking any pathways through the middle. However, from Sheffield’s
United’s point of view, they lacked the drive to force matters. The central midfielders,
Michael Doyle and Stephen McGinn, were too happy to pass the ball sideways,
rather than actively work an opening.
Andy Taylor was at times volatile at left-back for Walsall,
so Sheffield United looked perhaps most likely to make things happen when they
got the ball to the right flank. Craig Alcock is not known for being a
naturally attacking full-back, but he did fairly well supporting the lively
Ryan Flynn. However, neither player showed much quality in terms of the final
ball, and were not helped by a lack of numbers in the box.
Sheffield United started the second half as they ended the
first; probing patiently, without creating a clear-cut chance. Walsall stood
firm, and their good organisation was soon rewarded. Out of nowhere Jordan
Cook, who had struggled to have an impact on the game at that point, flicked
the ball past a defender and unleashed a powerful shot. His shot was deflected
behind, but the move seemed to lift the home fans. With the resultant corner, Anthony
Forde whipped the ball in towards the near post, and Romaine Sawyers glanced it
into the far corner. The Bescot was jubilant, celebrating just Walsall’s 20th
goal in 21 games this season.
Sheffield United continued to have possession but did not do
much with it, a scenario becoming all too familiar for the Blades, who searched
for a 1st goal in 3 games. Some supporters want them to sign a
goalscorer, with Ched Evans controversially linked for a return, but a more
pressing matter may be the lack of initial chances created. It says much about
the cautious nature of Sheffield United’s midfield that centre-back Harrison
McGahey was their most forward-thinking passer.
There was a brief period mid-way through the 2nd
half in which Walsall looked under threat, and perhaps defended so deep that
they invited too much pressure onto themselves. Sheffield United failed to
capitalize on this though, and the closest they came was a long range shot from
Louis Reed, which was saved by a solid-looking Richard O’Donnell.
For most of the second half, Walsall provided the greater
attacking threat. Craig Alcock continued to get forward for the opponents, and
this opened up space on numerous occasions for Walsall to counter down the
left. Striker Mathieu Manset came on for Bradshaw at half-time and made an
impact, although he was a little wasteful with the chances which came his way. Dean
Smith also decided to bring on Sam Mantom for Michael Cain, who was tiring
slightly. Mantom impressed in the final 20 minutes, and Walsall fans seemed
happy to see him back in a red shirt, after he had recently suffered a
long-term injury.
This 1-0 win for Walsall sees a continuation of their habit
of doing better against the bigger teams. The Saddlers would be 5th,
rather than 16th, if all of their league matches were against top
half opposition, but bottom if they were all against teams in the bottom half.
However, if Walsall do tend to up their game against better opposition, this
match may not be the perfect example, because their win was partly down to a
poor display from Sheffield United. The Yorkshire visitors are struggling for
goals, and simply must improve on Tuesday night’s performance, if they are to
catch Bristol City and Preston in the League One promotion race.
RESULT WALSALL 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0
By: Gabriel Sutton.
RESULT WALSALL 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0
GOALS SAWYERS 55'
VENUE: The Banks's Stadium, Walsall.
COMPETITION: Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
ATTENDANCE: 2,127 (342 Sheffield United)
REFEREE: Mr. David Coote, Nottinghamshire.
WALSALL O'Donnell; Purkiss, J.Chambers, Downing, Taylor; A.Chambers, Cain (Mantom 72'); Cook (Grimes 71'), Sawyers, Forde; Bradshaw (Manset 45')
SUBS NOT USED MacGillivray; O'Connor;
SHEFFIELD UNITED Turner; Alcock, Harris , Basham, McGahey , Flynn, Doyle, McGinn (Scougall 79'), Reed, Porter (Baxter 79'), De Girolamo (Campbell-Ryce 83')
SUBS NOT USED Howard; Kennedy