Wednesday 19 November 2014

Walsall 0 Peterborough United 0

Jordan Cook believes Walsall are ready to dish out a spanking.


Cook, 24, tormented the Posh defence as the Saddlers dominated without finding the net, but the tricky winger said:

"We believe we can beat anyone.

"We need to put all the good things we're doing in training into games. We're not far off and we'll spank someone soon."

Cook found himself dumped by home town club Sunderland and Charlton before joining Walsall in the summer and revealed:

"I love it here, it's brilliant. It's a good team and we play good football and that's the reason I came here. We get the ball down and move it around on an excellent surface.

"The belief is there and nine times out of ten we'll pick up a point or a win."

Peterborough keeper Ben Alnwick, 27, made sure of a first point in four games by shutting out striker Romaine Sawyers late on and then said:

"We didn't come for a draw, but the clean sheet is something to build on. There's not much between many of the teams in this division and so we have every chance of pushing on from here."

Walsall manager Dean Smith will extend the loan deal for influential Leicester midfielder Michael Cain today (Monday). He revealed:

"We've had a conversation, we've agreed to it and so we're just waiting for the paperwork to be done. He's got better and better since he's been here and to be honest I think our performances have got better and better as he's got better and better."

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson is actively looking to bolster his squad and said:

"We've made enquiries. I've only got sixteen outfield players fit. There are areas we need to look at. It's not a slight on my players, it's a case of numbers."

Oxford United 1 Wycombe Wanderers 2

Paul Hayes has revealed that Wycombe's table topping battlers were inspired by a trip to the Somme.

Skipper Hayes levelled in the second half before midfielder Peter Murphy nodded the winner to take the Chairboys to the top of League Two.

And Hayes, 31, revealed he and his teammates were taken to the  Footballers’ Battalion Memorial at Longueval by manager Gareth Ainsworth ahead of Remembrance Sunday next weekend.

He explained:

"The gaffer had been there a few years ago. We were there to pay our respects for two days and learn. We definitely did. It was a very humbling experience.

"I must admit I didn't know too much about the sacrifices that were made and neither did many of the others, but we were so moved that when we came back, we started researching the war and the footballers who took part. You wonder whether we would have the bravery these days to do what they did."

Wycombe's squad also laid a poppy tribute at the Thiepval Memorial to former player James McDermott who lost his life at the Battle of the Somme, but whose body was one of over 72,000 never recovered.

And Hayes praised Chairman Andrew Howard for backing Ainsworth. Hayes said:

"Everyone knows how tight finances are at the club at the moment. We only have nineteen players and we'd have to draft in the kit man, tea lady and a couple of others if we wanted to play eleven-side and work on our shape in training, but he paid for our trip out of his own pocket, so full credit to him."

Ainsworth explained:

"I was asked to represent the players at the Footballers' Memorial four years ago and thought that one day I'd like to take my young lad over so he could understand what happened. Then, a few weeks ago, I thought 'hang on, I'm responsible for some other young lads', so we arranged the visit.

“It helped give the players a sense of perspective and a real insight into the heroism of footballers just like themselves who fought and died for their country. It was part of our development for the team and it was great to go over there at a time when they have been performing so well.

“The players really bought into the whole experience and I was a proud man to see the respect, interest and enthusiasm they showed throughout the whole trip.”

Oxford striker Danny Hylton opened the scoring from the spot in the first half, but then shot himself in the foot to gift Wycombe the win by sending an injury time penalty over the bar.

Boss Michael Appleton said:

"When you're top of the league, that's what happens and when you're bottom of the league, that's what happens. Once they got the goal to equalise they were on the front foot."

Walsall 1 Chesterfield 0

Tom Bradshaw is turning his Walsall adventure into a real family affair.

Striker Bradshaw, 22, joined the Saddlers from Shrewsbury in the summer and scored his sixth of the season to pull them out of the drop zone after missing four games through injury. He then revealed:

"In the corner where I celebrated I had about twelve family members. I managed to get six in free and had to scrimp together for the rest.

"We're a very close family so that's not an uncommon thing. My Dad and three of my uncles once drove eighteen hours to watch me play in an Under-19 game for Wales in Liechtenstein. I think they turned it into a bit of a road trip. It helps when you're having bad days and its doubly as good when you have good ones."

Bradshaw was also on standby to earn his first senior Wales cap in the recent Euro qualifiers against Cyprus and Bosnia before straining his hamstring, but said:

"First and foremost I just want to be scoring goals for Walsall. In football you can't plan too far ahead and have to live in the here and now.

"Every footballer has their aspirations though and playing for Wales is definitely one of mine. I think this is the first time in years where the lads have a realistic chance of qualifying. When you look at the team with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, big household names, it's an exciting time. I wouldn't be surprised if my uncles have got half an eye on that one - whether I'm involved or not."

Walsall boss Dean Smith was delighted with Bradshaw and said:

"Tom kept the two centre-backs busy. They never had two minutes peace."

Chesterfield have only picked up one point in four games and manager Paul Cook groaned:

"What you must do at times like this is stay strong."


Swindon Town 2 Rochdale 3

Rochdale boss Keith Hill's was delighted after former Paris Saint Germain youth prospect Bastien Hery came off the bench to win the points at the death and he revealed:

"We were having a little joke on the bench and asking each other whether it was the night for a Parisian and then Bastien came on and showed us it was.

"I'm very happy. We played against the best footballing side in League One. They're incredible. We matched them. We took them on, we really took them on. They're a ball playing side and we counter-attacked superbly.

"It's a magnificent achievement. Tremendous. Every goal was a very good goal."

But Hill's euphoria was tempered by a bad knee injury to winger Peter Vincenti. He said:

"It's his left one. We don't know one hundred percent at the moment, but I think it's a serious one."

Swindon manager Mark Cooper was left seething and said:

"If you score two at home, you should win.

"It looked as though we were going to go on and win it and then our centre back loses his man and they score another goal.

"We did have some really good performances, but defensively we weren't good enough."