Walsall_fan1992 wrote:Unbelievable! :shock: Just got back as I live in liverpool and I am in shock. 3-1 down and out and we just start passing the ball on the floor, calm with nothing to lose and the belief just gradually came. Macken scores a lucky goal and the fans were just sucking the ball in behind that goal, marshall had a great volley saved. I thought that was it but then up pops butler, Que pandaemonium!
Couple of points, Was impressed with Bevan apart from his kicking, he seems to be a very good communicator with his defence.
Lescott is still awful. Macken and Grigg played very well together in the last 10 minutes, everything seemed to stick.
Really enjoyed the atmosphere even when 3-1 down, kept behind the lads all the way through, kept singing and once we believed we could get that 3rd we were just sucking the ball in.
Overall a promising performance but wish we wouldn't have let our heads drop when we conceded that 1st goal.
Taundry in the stands also was pleasing to see, shame our club captain wasn't around as well. Arsenal were playing.
UTS!
Whilst we were a bit unlucky with the own goal, and their 3rd when Butler was down injured, apart from the last 10 mins we were crap!
We were trying hoofball against a big, physical Tranmere side, and I don't think the players knew where they were supposed to be (Variously Nicholls, Paterson, Jones and Grigg were playing the wings).
However, when Gray came on we became more balanced, with Nicholls back on the right and Grigg up front with Macken, this, combined with a change to playing along the ground seemed to work wonders and the lucky 2nd goal gave us a real lift, and you always knew the 3rd was coming. Richards could even have won it in the dying seconds.
As for the team:
Bevan: Looked much more solid than Brain (that said, so does a paper bag), couldn't really do much for the 3 goals, but could do with a bit of work on his kicking. Also has a lovely beard.
Westlake: Got turned a few times but got a few tackles in.
Lescott: Sunday League footballer
Smith: Managed to keep Showumni fairly shackled.
Butler: Distribution was a bit patchy but showed some class
Paterson: Seemed to be playing on the left at first, which really didn't suit him, switched to the right which didn't either. Tried to take on his man and failed most of the time - needs to be judged in his proper position though.
Jones: Ineffective
Marshall: Poor at taking corners, sweet shot as we pushed for the equaliser which was well saved by Warner, but didn't look up to it.
Richards: MOTM; Industrious, took his goal well, maybe wouldn't have scored the OG if he had hair on his slap bonce.
Nicholls: Fairly anonymous, tried a couple of shots but not much else.
Macken: Had no chance with the hoofs played to him against Goodison, much better when Goodison went off - he held the ball up much better when passed to feet.
Subs:
Grigg: Looks promising, showed some good touches.
Gray: Balanced the midfield out.
Lets hope the change of play in the last 10 mins, and confidence it created can be carried over to Tuesday. We can play well when passing it around (we seemed to control the ball much better too) and we have a keeper we can be more confident in, however unless we start getting wins it may be too little, too late.