Earlier today, Sean O'Driscoll's Walsall Football Club played host to Port Vale in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. Pete Sadler was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
I suppose there is only one way to bring the curtain down on Sky's 10in10 feature, a trip to the Banks's to see the high-flying Saddlers take on Robert Page's Port Vale. There were more than enough press in attendance owing to the appointment of Sean O'Driscoll in the home dugout on Friday but even more so with the TV coverage too.
For the home side the new boss opted to replace Jordan Cook in the striking berth with Milan Lalkovic after the former Sunderland player registered a blank on Chesterfield in the midweek FA Cup replay. The other chance saw Kieron Morris start in favour of Sam Mantom who dropped to the bench. It also seemed that Craig MacGillivray must have picked up a late knock as Liam Roberts took his place on the bench.
Whilst the Saddlers expectedly started the game with more possession it was the Valiants that had the ball in the net first, albeit offside. A free kick on the right from Michael O'Connor finished by Ryan McGivern but the former Saddler was adjudged to be offside.
Not a team these days to rest on their laurels, Walsall created the next real chance as a through ball released Lalkovic down the left but the Slovakian fired into the side netting from an acute angle. Arguably the right decision may have been to square the ball to a teammate but there was a lot of pressure from the reeling Vale defenders.
The Saddlers at this point were very much in the ascendancy without actually causing visiting keeper, Jak Alnwick, many issues. Anthony Forde and Romaine Sawyers fired wide if Alnwick's right hand post before the midfield superstar did the same past the left-hand upright. Sawyers that is, not Forde. Just yet.
Vale were far from out of the contest and threw together a couple of opportunities of their own. Firstly Sam Kelly turned nearly in the box before being crowded out by James O'Connor and Andy Taylor. This was followed up by what seemed the millionth free-kick from a similar area from O'Connor which was turned wide by Kelly.
Half time and honours even. Some of the locals bemoaned the patient approach adopted by the Saddlers, which I can partially understand. It wasn't the possession which was the problem, more so the unsureness of Neil Etheridge in the Saddlers goal together with a lack of presence and penetration going forward.
At the break we were treated to a chap hitting the bar (with Banks's™ feel free to send me some by the way) and our very own Cory Lees entertaining us with his theft of the SkySports microphone. He asked a very poignant question of 'A Fan' when said fan suggested the introduction of Jordan Cook in the second period. Laughter ensued.
After the break the game followed the same pattern as the first in the main; Walsall having much of the ball but doing little with it of note and Port Vale defending resolutely.
On the 49th minute Vale's Ajay Leitch-Smith found space in the box to turn and fire a shot goalwards which was parried by Etheridge and hooked clear by the ever impressive Jason Demertiou.
Around the hour mark both sides sought to change their fortunes as Kieron Morris made way for Jordan Cook (much to the approval of the 'fan' and not so much to Mr Lees) for the Saddlers and Uche Ikpeazu replacing the ineffective Louis Dodds for Vale. Walsall reverted to a definite two-up-top system to match the away team.
Both subs looked to make an immediate impact and in fairness Ikpeazu looked a real handful, huge credit must go to Jimmy O'Connor for keeping the on-loan Watford striker at bay. Or was however the flame-haired Cook that seized his chance with both hands in the 62nd minute.
Demetriou ventured forward in what is becoming a trademark run and struck a rasping shot goalwards which was palmed to the right by Alnwick. George Evans sought to flick the loose ball back into the mixer but Anthony Grant controlled the ball and motioned to dribble out of the area, maybe he learnt this at his time in Chelsea's academy (which baffles me even to this day), but lost his footing. Forde nipped in and dribbled left before shooting across goal powerfully, which was again saved by Alnwick...but straight to Cook who volleyed home and jubilantly wheeled away in celebration.
The goal really added wind to the sails if the Saddlers who almost doubled their advantage five minutes later as Evans fired marginally over the bar from some distance. A counter-attack produced the next chance a few minutes later, Sawyers pinpoint through ball fed Cook who nudged the ball left inside the box to Forde whose side-footed controlled finish was saved by the impressive Alnwick.
For the next ten minutes after this the away side pressed for an equaliser an I can't have been the only one than thought it was sure to come, however the calmness under pressure has to be equally as applauded as the willingness to throw their bodies in the way to block shots on at least 3/4 occasions.
With time running out for the Valiants they found the game surely beyond them in the 83rd minute as Andy Taylor crossed from the left into the feet of Evans in the centre of the box. An unusual poor touch under pressure from the Manchester City loanee left the ball at the feet of Jordan Cook who fired the ball into the right-hand side of the net to double his, and Walsall's tally.
Other than the late introduction of Sam Mantom for Evans in added time the game was over. A winning start for Mr O'Driscoll, an early Christmas present for Saddlers being well positioned in 2nd with a game in hand and a welcomed confidence builder for Jordan Cook.
Walsall face a few tough fixtures in quick succession over the festive period and I think these will really define our season and whether the key players choose to stick with the promotion project or look to pastures new. I wish Sean the best of luck in his new role and feel that he is more than equipped to deal with whatever happens.
Here's hoping you all have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Thank you to Bescot Banter for having me write for them in 2015 and to every single one of you for reading my articles and for all comments gratefully received (good or bad). Up the Saddlers.
For the home side the new boss opted to replace Jordan Cook in the striking berth with Milan Lalkovic after the former Sunderland player registered a blank on Chesterfield in the midweek FA Cup replay. The other chance saw Kieron Morris start in favour of Sam Mantom who dropped to the bench. It also seemed that Craig MacGillivray must have picked up a late knock as Liam Roberts took his place on the bench.
Whilst the Saddlers expectedly started the game with more possession it was the Valiants that had the ball in the net first, albeit offside. A free kick on the right from Michael O'Connor finished by Ryan McGivern but the former Saddler was adjudged to be offside.
Not a team these days to rest on their laurels, Walsall created the next real chance as a through ball released Lalkovic down the left but the Slovakian fired into the side netting from an acute angle. Arguably the right decision may have been to square the ball to a teammate but there was a lot of pressure from the reeling Vale defenders.
The Saddlers at this point were very much in the ascendancy without actually causing visiting keeper, Jak Alnwick, many issues. Anthony Forde and Romaine Sawyers fired wide if Alnwick's right hand post before the midfield superstar did the same past the left-hand upright. Sawyers that is, not Forde. Just yet.
Vale were far from out of the contest and threw together a couple of opportunities of their own. Firstly Sam Kelly turned nearly in the box before being crowded out by James O'Connor and Andy Taylor. This was followed up by what seemed the millionth free-kick from a similar area from O'Connor which was turned wide by Kelly.
Half time and honours even. Some of the locals bemoaned the patient approach adopted by the Saddlers, which I can partially understand. It wasn't the possession which was the problem, more so the unsureness of Neil Etheridge in the Saddlers goal together with a lack of presence and penetration going forward.
At the break we were treated to a chap hitting the bar (with Banks's™ feel free to send me some by the way) and our very own Cory Lees entertaining us with his theft of the SkySports microphone. He asked a very poignant question of 'A Fan' when said fan suggested the introduction of Jordan Cook in the second period. Laughter ensued.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - HALF TIME
WALSALL 0 PORT VALE 0
After the break the game followed the same pattern as the first in the main; Walsall having much of the ball but doing little with it of note and Port Vale defending resolutely.
On the 49th minute Vale's Ajay Leitch-Smith found space in the box to turn and fire a shot goalwards which was parried by Etheridge and hooked clear by the ever impressive Jason Demertiou.
Around the hour mark both sides sought to change their fortunes as Kieron Morris made way for Jordan Cook (much to the approval of the 'fan' and not so much to Mr Lees) for the Saddlers and Uche Ikpeazu replacing the ineffective Louis Dodds for Vale. Walsall reverted to a definite two-up-top system to match the away team.
Both subs looked to make an immediate impact and in fairness Ikpeazu looked a real handful, huge credit must go to Jimmy O'Connor for keeping the on-loan Watford striker at bay. Or was however the flame-haired Cook that seized his chance with both hands in the 62nd minute.
Demetriou ventured forward in what is becoming a trademark run and struck a rasping shot goalwards which was palmed to the right by Alnwick. George Evans sought to flick the loose ball back into the mixer but Anthony Grant controlled the ball and motioned to dribble out of the area, maybe he learnt this at his time in Chelsea's academy (which baffles me even to this day), but lost his footing. Forde nipped in and dribbled left before shooting across goal powerfully, which was again saved by Alnwick...but straight to Cook who volleyed home and jubilantly wheeled away in celebration.
The goal really added wind to the sails if the Saddlers who almost doubled their advantage five minutes later as Evans fired marginally over the bar from some distance. A counter-attack produced the next chance a few minutes later, Sawyers pinpoint through ball fed Cook who nudged the ball left inside the box to Forde whose side-footed controlled finish was saved by the impressive Alnwick.
For the next ten minutes after this the away side pressed for an equaliser an I can't have been the only one than thought it was sure to come, however the calmness under pressure has to be equally as applauded as the willingness to throw their bodies in the way to block shots on at least 3/4 occasions.
With time running out for the Valiants they found the game surely beyond them in the 83rd minute as Andy Taylor crossed from the left into the feet of Evans in the centre of the box. An unusual poor touch under pressure from the Manchester City loanee left the ball at the feet of Jordan Cook who fired the ball into the right-hand side of the net to double his, and Walsall's tally.
Other than the late introduction of Sam Mantom for Evans in added time the game was over. A winning start for Mr O'Driscoll, an early Christmas present for Saddlers being well positioned in 2nd with a game in hand and a welcomed confidence builder for Jordan Cook.
Walsall face a few tough fixtures in quick succession over the festive period and I think these will really define our season and whether the key players choose to stick with the promotion project or look to pastures new. I wish Sean the best of luck in his new role and feel that he is more than equipped to deal with whatever happens.
Here's hoping you all have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Thank you to Bescot Banter for having me write for them in 2015 and to every single one of you for reading my articles and for all comments gratefully received (good or bad). Up the Saddlers.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - RESULT
WALSALL 2 PORT VALE 0
GOALS | Cook (63' & 83')REFEREE | Mr. Kevin WRIGHT | Cambridgeshire
BY | PETE SADLER | @Pistol_PeteS9