Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Walsall 2 Fleetwood Town 0 – Fat Man

Chris Hutchings is on the line after this WIN!

Woeful Walsall have veteran keeper James Walker and on loan striker Rueben Reid to thank for keeping them in the Cup and setting up a second round tie at Torquay.

But when the south coast club sees a DVD of this game they can be forgiven for starting to plan for the 3rd round.

I don’t know what the behind the scenes situation is at the Bescot, but Hutchings should start packing his bags if the West Midlands outfit loses against Carlisle on Saturday.

The abuse being hurled at the directors at half time must have been difficult to take and I don’t know of too many football board members who can take that sort of thing for too long.

The Saddlers boss didn’t do himself any favours at the post match press conference either. When asked about Walker’s six or seven terrific saves, he initially brushed the keeper’s performance as “his job”.

Yes, it’s his job to act as a last line of defence, but this performance from a 37 year old was beyond the call of duty.

In the 26th minute the local favourite dived at full stretch to tip a 35 yard drive from midfielder Anthony Barry past the post.

Three minutes later defender Shaun Beeley picked out midfielder Gareth Seddon on the edge of the box, but again Walker thwarted the gutsy Blue Square Premier side by turning the low shot around the upright.

From the resulting corner Walker was then called on again to palm away a close range effort from midfielder Jamie McGuire.

In the 35th minute winger Sean Clancy’s shot ricocheted across the box to Lee Thorpe and the striker’s stooping header from six yards was blocked by Walker. Then on the stroke of half time Clancy had a ten yard effort of his own blocked by Walker.

You probably get the idea – Walker was doing an impression of King Canute trying to turn back the tide and everyone on the opposing side was having a pop at him.


My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football

Things were a little quieter for Walker in the second half, but he still managed to dive low to stop another McGuire effort from 16 yards in the 51st minute.

This was probably the nest goalkeeping performance I have seen in a number of years … but it’s his job, eh Chris?

I felt for Reuben after the game. When a striker grabs a couple of goals he obviously likes to talk about them and his part in the game, but again the questions centred on the building pressure on the side and the manager.

Reid’s first goal came in the 58th minute when he slid in at the far post to connect with Alex Nicholls cross and score his 5th goal of the season.

But Fleetwood didn’t give up even if they were then restricted in terms of clear cut chances.

Baggie loanee Reid settled things though in the 90th minute when he rounded Cod Army stopper Scott Davies to leave the fishing port team to concentrate on their league ambitions.

I’m very aware that this report focuses on Walsall’s shortcomings rather than Fleetwood’s extremely capable showing and I apologise to them for that. They deserve more credit than I have possibly given them, but the real story is about Walsall and whether they can stop the rot.

The away support were magnificent and when they chanted good-naturedly (if that's possible) “you fat bastard” at their own rather rotund skipper, Steve McNulty, it brought a grin to my face. McNulty resembles a Sunday league player in physique, but boy has he got a good football brain. He picked out passes and anticipated the movement from Walsall’s front two for most if the game and while I reckon I could match him in terms of our respective waistlines, he didn’t look out of place on the pitch while I was blowing heavily just sitting in the press box.

And should anyone who wasn’t there last night feel I’m harsh in my criticism of Walsall, it’s nothing compared to the frustration shown by the home support – just ask the directors.

N.B. I'll be posting quotes from Hutchings, Reid and Fleetwood boss Micky Mellon on tomorrow's blog.

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