On Saturday afternoon Walsall Football Club travelled to Oakwell to take on Barnsley, in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. Pete Sadler was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
If this report doesn't get many reads I will totally understand, that's not to suggest that my writing ability is anything but average. Suppose the same can be said for the performance.
The spring sunshine didn't put me off the obligatory hat/scarf combo but I was concerned by the absence of both Jordan Cook and Anthony Forde in the matchday squad. Reece Flanagan retained his starting place alongside captain Adam Chambers which kept Leicester-loanee Michael Cain on the bench. The return of last season's Player of the Season, Sam Mantom was a welcome sight. For the home side former Saddlers Milan Lalkovic started on the left side and the newly signed Jabo Ibhere started on the Tykes bench.
Barnsley flew out of the traps and pressed the Saddlers straight from the off, much to the annoyance of the travelling away fans. It seemed that it would only be a matter of time before the breakthrough came and unfortunately this came in the 15th minute. An in-swinging corner on the far side was bundled home by George Waring. Despite the protestations from the Chambers twins and a few others that the goal came with the use of a hand, referee Stuart Attwell allowed it to stand.
I'd love to report on an instant response from the Saddlers, unfortunately I can't. The ball didn't seem to stick up top for the away side and I can't help but feel that it's obvious that long humped balls forward to lone frontman Tom Bradshaw aren't going to work against the tall, powerful centre backs for Barnsley in Lewin Nyatanga and Martin Cranie.
I really am struggling to recall any moments of brilliance or of note at least in the first half for Walsall. Suppose it didn't help that they were attacking the end furthest away (clutching at straws). The wind and/or sunshine caused problems but in fairness the conditions were the same for both sides.
Ben Purkiss was given a thorough test by Lalkovic the whole of the first period, so much so in fact that he may have picked up a knock and had to be replaced at the break. James Baxendale also left the action at the break, with Ashley Grimes entering the fray on the right-hand side in front of James O'Connor who replaced Purkiss.
I'm not one to criticise but I felt a bit for Baxo. The much maligned midfielder was pulled off before Flanagan who I really thought struggled to cope with the physicality and work rate of the Tykes centre midfielders. My preference would have been Cain starting in place of the ginger youngster and Mantom coming on for a cameo at worst.
The second half started marginally better and the ball found it's way from the left-hand side with Romaine Sawyers to the on-loan Jordy Hiwula who mis-cued a shot inside the area that rolled out for a throw. Shoots of a comeback? Nah.
Shortly after the substitutions of Flanagan for Cain and Lalkovic for Sam Winnall for the home side the second goal came for the Tykes. Waring was allowed to venture down the left and jink into the box where he finished with aplomb into Richard O'Donnell's far side of the net. 2-0 and impossible to see a way back into the game after an hour. The locals got noisy and the travelling fans bemoaned their teams efforts.
As the goalscorer Waring left the field to much ovation from the home fans to be replaced by Ibhere with just over 10 minutes to go the game had become open but still Walsall could not capitalise on the additional space they were given. Instead a further goal came to round off a convincing win for Barnsley as substitute Winnall lashed a powerful shot into the net from the left in the last 2 minutes of the game. Over and out and not even a shot on target to report on in our favour. I'd struggle to pick a MOTM but of a lethargic performance I'd go for Hiwula.
A bit of perspective I have to say that whilst the result and performance was disappointing I was honestly not surprised. With the games coming thick and fast and a couple of unfortunate injuries it is hard to keep competing with larger teams in the division with larger squads. We simply do not have the strength in depth that others do and as such the results will suffer. If that is to change there has to be more investment in the playing staff for a couple more quality players to create competition for places and allow some to rest also. For now though, we go again.
BY: PETE SADLER
BARNSLEY 3 - 0 WALSALL
1 HT 0
GOALS Waring 15' & 71', Winnall 89'
LOCATION Oakwell (Barnsley)
ATTENDANCE 9,275 (338 Walsall)
REFEREE Mr. Stuart Attwell
50 POSSESSION (%) 50
12 SHOTS 2
6 ON TARGET 0
4 CORNERS 3
6 FOULS AGAINST 10
0 YELLOW CARDS 1
0 RED CARDS 0
BARNSLEY
BARNSLEY SUBS NOT USED
Dibble, Berry, M'Voto, Jennings
WALSALL
O'Donnell; Purkiss▼ (▲O'Connor 46'), J.Chambers, Downing, Taylor , A.Chambers, Flanagan▼ (▲Cain 68'), Baxendale▼ (▲Grimes 46'), Sawyers, Hiwula, Bradshaw
WALSALL SUBS NOT USED