Earlier today, Walsall Football Club played host to bottom of the table side Crewe Alexandra in the latest Sky Bet League One fixture of the season. Bescot Banter columnist Scott Brotherton was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
Former Saddler Febian Brandy started for the
Alex and, after scoring in their win over Coventry last week, he looked lively
early on.
Crewe
started well and had two chances in the first 10 minutes when, with Paul
Downing out due to a sickness bug, the patched-up defence's marking went awry.
First
an excellent raking ball found Brad Inman and he tried to volley a chip over
Richard O'Donnell, adding too much power and sending it over.
Then
Matt Tootle's floated free kick landed on the boot of defender Adam Dugdale who
put over from an awkward height. Again, a player was totally unmarked at the
far post.
There
was some probing Walsall passing but no chances were created by them in the
opening quarter of an hour.
Reece
Flanagan dallied and was robbed on edge of his own box, but Anthony Grant only
fired a tame shot at the goalkeeper to the relief of the flame-haired youngster.
At the
other end Romaine Sawyers drove wide with what was more of a hopeful attempt
when some space opened up for him.
A
misjudged header from and Andy Taylor then allowed for a handy pullback to
Brandy. He hit straight at O'Donnell who made a bit of a meal of the spinning
shot, eventually pouncing on the ball gratefully.
On-loan
Swansea man Alan Tate darted to the near post for George Cooper's corner and
put a solid header over as the match neared half an hour played
Advancing
to left-winger with Taylor back from illness, Mal Benning took a wild swipe at
one but keeper Ben Garratt didn't have anything to worry about.
Despite
a lot of chances for the Railwaymen, Walsall had a lot of the ball, but their
first genuine opportunity came in rather fortuitous fashion.
From a
corner passed to him on the edge of the area Andy Taylor had a strike on goal.
It looked as though Garratt was going to clutch it until the ball cannoned off
the head of Jordan Cook, flying narrowly wide if the opposite post.
A
tenacious Adam Chambers then won the ball back in the final third but Benning
couldn't benefit from his captain's great work, scuffing the ball wide from 20
yards.
The
players came out for the second half as though they had been plugged into the
mains during the break. There were few clear cut chances, but it was end-to-end
stuff and much better from both sides.
Dean
Smith's men were in control though and had huge spells of possession. Cook had
a decent chance when he sent a header straight down Garratt's throat from a
looping Forde cross.
The
introduction of Mathieu Manset in the 61st minute brought a bit more strength
to the forward line, and the Frenchman smashed across goal from a wide angle.
Cook
may have been pushed out wide to accommodate Manset, but his sumptuous chip
from 18-yards or so nearly provided a glorious opener. It caught the keeper off
guard and he needed to backpedal to tip it over the crossbar.
Manset
had another shot blocked by a desperate sliding defender and it looked like
Walsall were the more likely scorers.
But
after being quiet for the majority of the half Crewe grabbed the decisive goal
with just six minutes to go, and one that left a really sour taste in the mouth.
There
was a goalmouth scramble when the Walsall defence couldn't hack clear from a
corner. It fell to Dugdale and the centre-half couldn't miss from just a few
yards out.
Steve
Davis side did well to restrict the game after that and it rather petered out,
moving the Alex to within two points of the Saddlers who slip into the
relegation zone.
F/T: Walsall 0 Crewe Alexandra 1
F/T: Walsall 0 Crewe Alexandra 1
By: Scott Brotherton.
RESULT WALSALL 0 CREWE ALEXANDRA 1
GOAL: Dugdale 84'.
AT: Banks's Stadium, Walsall.
ATTENDANCE: 4,127 (438 Crewe)
REFEREE: Mr. Darren Handley, Lancashire.
WALSALL O'Donnell;
Purkiss, J.Chambers, Butler, Taylor; Flanagan (Clifford
66'), A.Chambers; Forde (Baxendale 81'),
Sawyers, Benning (Manset 61'); Cook
SUBS NOT USED MacGillivray;
O'Connor; Morris; Grimes
CREWE ALEXANDRA Garratt; Ray, Tate, Dugdale, Tootle, Grant,
Inman (Atkinson 90'), Turton
, Leigh, Brandy (Haber 65'),
Cooper , (Waters 82')
SUBS NOT USED Shearer; Guthrie, Oliver, Ness