Following Wednesday evening's pre-season friendly between Walsall and visitors Leicester City, Bescot Banter columnist Calum Williams shares his Match Report.The Saddlers made a long awaited return to the Banks’s Stadium for this encounter against Premier League new boys Leicester City, and there was plenty of talent amongst the Foxes’ starting line-up, including Ex-Villa winger Marc Albrighton, and target man David Nugent. For Walsall, it was nice to see so many players from last season’s team, with new signings James O’Connor and Ashley Grimes fitting in at right back and up front respectively. A trialist, Mathieu Manset, also got a start up front wearing the number 2 shirt.
With such an impressive starting line-up, it was no surprise to see Leicester take an early lead. A well-placed cross by Marc Albrighton found Wes Morgan in a busy penalty area, who made a connection despite the best efforts of Paul Downing, and guided the ball into the net past Richard O’Donnell.
GOAL: Walsall 0-1 Leicester City (Morgan 7’)
With the Premier League visitors taking such an early lead, many Saddlers fans would’ve been hoping a repeat of last season’s 5-0 pre-season drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa was not on the cards. But despite the calibre of players on display for the Foxes, they made their fair share of mistakes, and did present Walsall with some chances.
Notably, just after a quarter of an hour of play, a poor clearance by ‘keeper Ben Hamer was given straight to the Saddlers’ latest recruit Ashley Grimes, who took the opportunity first time, but saw his effort sprawl agonisingly wide of the right hand post.
That was a chance that certainly would’ve left the Leicester stopper red faced, but his mistake was redeemed for, with a second goal for the visiting side not long after. Walsall did their best to defend a City break, but struggled to clear the ball from danger. When it rolled into the path of David Nugent, the striker who has over 50 goals to his name for the Foxes, hit a perfectly executed shot with the outside of his boot into the top corner of the goal, past O’Donnell who was at full stretch between the sticks.
GOAL: Walsall 0-2 Leicester City (Nugent 26’)
The remainder of the first 45 minutes was a typically quiet pre-season affair, with the Saddlers opting to retain possession and frustrate their opposition. There was creativity going forward, but much of their play on the break was either intercepted by City, or broken down with misplaced passes from midfield.
Despite not having many efforts on goal as the end of the first half loomed, a chance did present itself on the stroke of half time. It was gifted to the Saddlers thanks to some poor defending on the visitor’s part. A lack of communication between defender and goalkeeper allowed Mathieu Manset to muscle his way through, and dink the ball over the head of Ben Hamer, to give the Walsall fans something to cheer about.
GOAL: Walsall 1-2 Leicester City (Manset 45’)
There was clearly no intention of giving away the identity of the big centre forward, with the loudspeaker seemingly referring to the player as ‘number 2, I don’t know who!’ to the amusement of the Saddlers faithful. But in all seriousness, this had been a half full of positives for the hosts, who hadn’t been outplayed by any stretch of the imagination.
H/T: Walsall 1-2 Leicester City
The start of the second half saw Walsall’s mystery man up front create another opportunity, a burst of pace down the left flank, and a drilled cross into the box found Ashley Grimes, and he did well to get in front of his marker, and place the ball into the net at the near post. Nothing the ‘keeper could do to prevent his side from losing their lead after some great build-up play from the Saddlers.
GOAL: Walsall 2-2 Leicester City (Grimes 49’)
Much of the reminding 40 minutes was used as a chance to try out some of the younger faces at the club, including Walsall’s latest professional footballer Rico Henry, who impressed me with some neat play under pressure. Walsall’s number 9 for next season Tom Bradshaw also got a run out, but his service was limited and he didn’t really get a chance to make a mark on the game.
One player who did get a chance towards the closing stages, was Leicester substitute Danny Drinkwater. He was given too much space and made no mistake with an effort late on, a powerful strike into the top corner, to ensure the 611 Foxes fans went home with a victory.
GOAL: Walsall 2-3 Leicester City (Drinkwater 87’)
But I didn’t see many Walsall fans leave the match with glum expressions on their faces, and rightly so, as the Saddlers fought hard and gave their star studded opposition a run for their money. Granted, pre-season friendlies aren’t a fair reflection of how a team will perform in a competitive game, but this Walsall side seem to be prepared for the season ahead, and the young players also represented themselves professionally.
Walsall’s goal scoring trialist Mathieu Manset was given the man of the match accolade, and his healthy applause from the Saddlers fans will certainly give manager Dean Smith something to think about, as the new season draws nearer. But for now, sights will be set on what will be another tough test against Aston Villa on Tuesday evening, which should welcome a good number of fans, and hopefully, a good number of goals to boot!
F/T: Walsall 2 (Manset 45', Grimes 49',) Leicester City 3 (Morgan 7', Nugent 26', Drinkwater 87')
ATT: 2,119
REF: Mr. S. Martin.
Walsall: O’Donnell, Taylor (Henry 65), O’Connor, Downing, Benning (Morris 71), J Chambers (Holden 79), Baxendale (Heath 79), A Chambers (Kinsella 85), Sawyers (Bakayoko 79), Grimes (Bradshaw 65), Manset (Webber 65).
Leicester City: Hamer, Konchesky (Schlupp 68), Morgan (Wasilewski 61), Pearson (De Laet 61), King (Drinkwater 68), Hopper (Knockaert 61), Hammond (James 68), Mahrez (Moore 61), Albrighton (Taylor-Fletcher 61), Nugent (Ulloa 68), Wood (Vardy 58).
By: Calum Williams.