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NEXT GAME:Leicester City FC
Saturday 4th May 2024
Kick off 12.30 pm
Kingpower Stadium
Championship
Walsall (h) Tuesday 30th Jan 18
- Thread starter Drog
- Start date
Walsall.... Just what the Doctor ordered as the Rovers nursed the bruises inflicted by Northampton just 3 days earlier. For two teams locked together on points just above the relegation zone I know who I'd wager my hard earned on to avoid the drop! Walsall bless em came to play football and not wage war like the cobblers did. Exemplary for sure but not what is needed in their position. Despite being way behind on possession I'd imagine that the Rovers had committed most fouls until Walsall committed a late flurry just before the end.
So Danny Graham with a shot across the keeper from a narrow angle ('across the keeper and inside far post' is sound advice handed down through the ages but which many choose to disregard... as did Adam Armstrong just a few minutes later.) and a carbon copy header from the Northampton match after he had peeled off to the far post just a few minutes later put the rovers into a comfortable 2-0 lead by the half hour mark.. I said at the start of the season that if we deliver the ball in the right areas that he will score a bagful in this division and so it is proving. Needless to say we are putting the ball into those areas more consistently than in the earlier months of the season. Unfortunately our preference to win only after gifting the opposition a goal a game is becoming a bad habit! Decidedly dangerous one too as we have shown plenty in the last few weeks. A tussle between Edwards and Nyambe ended with Edwards coming out with a free run at goal. Downing to his initial credit got quickly back in between Edwards and the goals only to remain rooted to the spot as Edwards all too easily rounded him to fire home. I quite liked the look of Edwards who played on the Walsall left wing despite being predominantly right footed. He cut inside and played a number of delightful crossfield balls and was a thorn in Nyambe's side throughout. Strange then that Downing didn't a. anticipate and b. prevent him turning onto his strongest foot. A definite black mark for Downing just as Lenihan is (hopefully) regaining his fitness. To everyone's relief Dack restored the two goal lead just after the break with an accomplished and supremely confident finish from Danny Graham's lay off. In truth although Walsall still played nice passing football the Rovers could have gone nap but for a number of really top saves by Roberts in goal.
All three new players played from the start with Payne showing nice touches, Armstrong providing plenty of evidence that he will be first choice on the left when Mowbray can select from him, Conway and Antonnson (odd that he apparently doesn't like playing left wing) and 'Ding' Bell looking a real find! Not only does this lad have a great body swerve and decent defensive qualities but he appears to me to be a natural athlete to boot. If there is such a thing as 'a languid turn of pace' he has it! Certainly I cannot see Williams reclaiming the left back berth very quickly.
A word for Mowbray at this point... I have to say that the squad is looking leaner and fitter than for some years. The damage to fitness done under the dreadful Owen Coyle regime has taken some time to repair but credit where it's due, and with that fitness has come improved effort and a sense of enjoyment and pride in their game from the team.
Raya... 6 Little to do tbh.
Nyambe...7 Up against the tricky Edwards but apart from the goal stuck well to his task and has become much more confident going forward.
Downing... 5 The man most at fault for Walsall's goal imo and still the worst passer of a ball by some distance in the squad.
Williams.. 6 Did well defensively covering for Mulgrew but obviously a class apart in his ability to influence and dictate play.
Bell... 8 Assured display from a lad who imo (admittedly from the little that I have seen) would be comfortable playing at a higher level.
Smallwood...7 Did well keeping Walsall's midfield quiet and breaking up play.
Bennett.... 7 Captain for the night and gave his usual effort and an all action display in midfield.... watch and weep Evans and Whittingham. Dare I say it but I've a feeling that he might be a better actual Captain than Mulgrew. He certainly seems more vocal.
Payne...7 Neat and tidy all round display, a little lightweight but certainly a better option than Samuel on the right wing.
Armstrong... 7 Small of stature but certainly no pushover. Should have scored but blazed wide and could have scored with free kick that rebounded from the bar. Nice to have the option perhaps of a right footer standing over free kicks with the left footed Mulgrew. Not that nice for opposing keepers though.
Dack... 7 Two games now that Bradley Dack has interspersed touches of brilliance with the touch of Shefki Kuqi! Took his goal with assurance and confidence. Most good things this season have come from Dack but now I look forward to the new signings sharing that bur den.
Graham... 8 Peter Jackson MoM and probably right too. 2 goals and an assist plus a mightily relieved pair of centre halves when he was replaced by samuel on 80 mins after he'd had the better of them all evening.
Subs
Conway... 6 Plenty of effort, didn't weaken the team but no real end result.
Samuel.... 6 Ditto
Travis ..... 6 Ditto
Referee Steve Martin .. 6 7. I decided to give him another point because in comparison to the last two we've had this chap was like Perluigi Collina!! Again a Ref who appeared to have left his cards at home although tbh there was no pressing need for any compared to Saturday. Unlike that goon he did at least have his foam with him.
So Danny Graham with a shot across the keeper from a narrow angle ('across the keeper and inside far post' is sound advice handed down through the ages but which many choose to disregard... as did Adam Armstrong just a few minutes later.) and a carbon copy header from the Northampton match after he had peeled off to the far post just a few minutes later put the rovers into a comfortable 2-0 lead by the half hour mark.. I said at the start of the season that if we deliver the ball in the right areas that he will score a bagful in this division and so it is proving. Needless to say we are putting the ball into those areas more consistently than in the earlier months of the season. Unfortunately our preference to win only after gifting the opposition a goal a game is becoming a bad habit! Decidedly dangerous one too as we have shown plenty in the last few weeks. A tussle between Edwards and Nyambe ended with Edwards coming out with a free run at goal. Downing to his initial credit got quickly back in between Edwards and the goals only to remain rooted to the spot as Edwards all too easily rounded him to fire home. I quite liked the look of Edwards who played on the Walsall left wing despite being predominantly right footed. He cut inside and played a number of delightful crossfield balls and was a thorn in Nyambe's side throughout. Strange then that Downing didn't a. anticipate and b. prevent him turning onto his strongest foot. A definite black mark for Downing just as Lenihan is (hopefully) regaining his fitness. To everyone's relief Dack restored the two goal lead just after the break with an accomplished and supremely confident finish from Danny Graham's lay off. In truth although Walsall still played nice passing football the Rovers could have gone nap but for a number of really top saves by Roberts in goal.
All three new players played from the start with Payne showing nice touches, Armstrong providing plenty of evidence that he will be first choice on the left when Mowbray can select from him, Conway and Antonnson (odd that he apparently doesn't like playing left wing) and 'Ding' Bell looking a real find! Not only does this lad have a great body swerve and decent defensive qualities but he appears to me to be a natural athlete to boot. If there is such a thing as 'a languid turn of pace' he has it! Certainly I cannot see Williams reclaiming the left back berth very quickly.
A word for Mowbray at this point... I have to say that the squad is looking leaner and fitter than for some years. The damage to fitness done under the dreadful Owen Coyle regime has taken some time to repair but credit where it's due, and with that fitness has come improved effort and a sense of enjoyment and pride in their game from the team.
Raya... 6 Little to do tbh.
Nyambe...7 Up against the tricky Edwards but apart from the goal stuck well to his task and has become much more confident going forward.
Downing... 5 The man most at fault for Walsall's goal imo and still the worst passer of a ball by some distance in the squad.
Williams.. 6 Did well defensively covering for Mulgrew but obviously a class apart in his ability to influence and dictate play.
Bell... 8 Assured display from a lad who imo (admittedly from the little that I have seen) would be comfortable playing at a higher level.
Smallwood...7 Did well keeping Walsall's midfield quiet and breaking up play.
Bennett.... 7 Captain for the night and gave his usual effort and an all action display in midfield.... watch and weep Evans and Whittingham. Dare I say it but I've a feeling that he might be a better actual Captain than Mulgrew. He certainly seems more vocal.
Payne...7 Neat and tidy all round display, a little lightweight but certainly a better option than Samuel on the right wing.
Armstrong... 7 Small of stature but certainly no pushover. Should have scored but blazed wide and could have scored with free kick that rebounded from the bar. Nice to have the option perhaps of a right footer standing over free kicks with the left footed Mulgrew. Not that nice for opposing keepers though.
Dack... 7 Two games now that Bradley Dack has interspersed touches of brilliance with the touch of Shefki Kuqi! Took his goal with assurance and confidence. Most good things this season have come from Dack but now I look forward to the new signings sharing that bur den.
Graham... 8 Peter Jackson MoM and probably right too. 2 goals and an assist plus a mightily relieved pair of centre halves when he was replaced by samuel on 80 mins after he'd had the better of them all evening.
Subs
Conway... 6 Plenty of effort, didn't weaken the team but no real end result.
Samuel.... 6 Ditto
Travis ..... 6 Ditto
Referee Steve Martin ..
It's like 2001 all over again. Two outstanding squads being run all the way by what appears on paper an inferior team.