On Tuesday evening Walsall Football Club played host to Rochdale in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. Bescot Banter blogger Pete Sadler was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
The Super Saddlers set out this evening to capitalise on the good result on Saturday in beating Doncaster 2-0 away from home, to allay fans fears of home tie jitters and kick on with a potential play-off push. The visitors were Rochdale who had previously put 4 past us in the reverse fixture but had lost a big player in the January transfer window, namely Matty Done to those Sheffield bigger boys.
The only change in the starting XI for the home side proved to be loanee Jordy Hiwula, rewarded for his goalscoring debut on Saturday, in place of Ashley Grimes who dropped to the bench.
Before kick-off there was a minutes silence for the memory of former Walsall FC captain, Albert McPherson, which was impeccably observed by both sets of fans. A real touch of class from the travelling Dale. Thank you.
An unusually sharp start for the Saddlers, at home at least, was pleasing to watch and get the home faithful off their seats into applause. The deadlock was broken on 13 minutes following a disputed corner on the right-hand side which was taken by Anthony Forde and headed home via a ricochet or two by James O'Connor; his first in a Walsall shirt.
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Whilst I was busy texting friends to gloat about the scoreline the lead was doubled. On 19 minutes a swift counter-attack on the left lead to Jordan Cook feeding Romaine Sawyers who played a delicious cross-field pass to Anthony Forde who galloped clear into the penalty box and finished at the near post with aplomb. Majestic.
The flow of the attacks didn't stop there; the home side continued to floor forward at every opportunity which resulted in a third goal to the good on 22 minutes. Adam Chambers taking advantage of a scrappy piece of defending on the edge of the Dale box to prod the ball through to Hiwula who finished clinically through the advancing keepers legs.
HALF TIME WALSALL 3 ROCHDALE 0
Looking to change things up, as they were clearly not working the visiting manager, Keith Hill, made two quick substitutions in replacing their centre back and left back...that latter for a striker if the programme is to be believed, however the home side remained on top without much more of note, save as for a blinding save from the in-form home stopper Richard O'Donnell. How crucial that proved to be.
Half-time and not many people in the ground could complain about either the scoreline or the performance. A fan even managed to hit the crossbar...could anything go wrong this evening?
After the break Forde was replaced by James Baxendale on the right side of midfield, however I'm unsure if this was tactical or because of injury. I'm surely not the only one that hopes it is the former, as the following events exemplified.
Rochdale came out much the more positive side and reduced the deficit on 55 minutes after a free-kick which was conceded by Adam Chambers, delivered into the box and was not cleared sufficiently, leaving Peter Vincenti to slot home. 3-1. Surely no need to panic just yet.
The game ebbed and flowed between the two teams. Cook had a chance to restore the three-goal cushion on 61 minutes but fired high and wide. Two minutes later a corner conceded by Paul Downing was bundled into the net by defender Ashley Eastham, much to the appreciation of the jubilant travelling fans. Ok maybe a little bit of worry now 3-2.
Deano responded by substituting Cook for young Rico Henry on the left side of midfield around the 70 minute mark in a defensive change but also possibly to introduce a fresh ball-carrier to proceedings. He didn't disappoint, much lauded by the vocal home support he showed glimpses of such a prodigious talent that I hope to see more of over the coming years.
Still though Rochdale refused to give up, much to their credit, however the game became broken with fouls from both sides and the home side slowing down proceedings much to the disgust of the away fans. O'Donnell just in front of the Dale fans will not be expecting many Christmas cards from the Rochdale area.
Matt Preston was introduced in added time for Michael Cain but that was of little relevance. The Saddlers hung on to the win and all three points, which took them above Dale and into 8th place in the league.
Anthony Forde took the MOTM honours with the sponsors which was not a bad call, however I thought Romaine was superb. In a game which went from the sublime to the ridiculous from the first to the second half he was the one player who remained calm and although losing the ball on occasions (which goes with the turf as I've previously said many times over) his assist, ball carrying, work rate to win flick-ons and being available to receive passes showed his real worth to a young team.
A hard-fought win with a Sawyers show to boot. Imagine if you called that before the game! (Check my tweet before the game...I did. Not that I know anything). Congratulations lads, onto Port Vale Saturday. Let's keep up the winning feeling.
By: Pete Sadler.
RESULT WALSALL 3 ROCHDALE 2
GOALS O'Connor 13', Forde 19', Hiwula 22', Vincenti 55', Lancashire 63'
AT Banks's Stadium (Walsall)
ATTENDANCE 3,567 (183 Rochdale)
REFEREE Mr. Stephen Martin (Staffordshire)
WALSALL O'Donnell; Purkiss, Downing, O'Connor, Taylor; Cain (Preston 90+2'), A.Chambers; Cook (Henry 71'), Sawyers, Forde (Baxendale 45'); Hiwula
SUBS NOT USED MacGillivray; Flanagan; Murphy, Grimes
ROCHDALE Lillis; Cannon, Vincenti, Eastham, Lancashire, Camps (O'Connell 26'), Dawson, Tanser (Bunney 26'), Allen (Logan 75'), Henderson, Andrew
