For over an hour on Tuesday night Walsall were simply superb at Bramall lane as they took the game to Sheffield United with their best performance for years and whilst 2-0 up in the second half the supporters were in dreamland thinking that they were about to witness such an unlikely victory but once the home side got a goal back they upped their game and Walsall soon let the lead slip. The 3-2 defeat was hard to take as the players had worked so hard in that first half and had their passing game working so well and defended stoutly to go in at half time 0-0.
To give an idea of how one sided the first half was, Saddlers had 10 chances on goal compared to The Blades 4. John Macken had one shot knocked onto the post by their keeper and out for a corner. Macken also had two other chances as Walsall linked up so well. Towards the end of the half Jimmy Walker was called into action but was comfortable enough.
It took Walsall just 20 seconds to take the lead after the interval. Left winger Kevan Hurst, who started out at Bramall lane, cut inside and fired a low shot which home keeper Simonsen could only get a hand to. Seven minutes later Walsall doubled their lead when Will Grigg hooked home from close range
On 55 minutes it really should have been 3-0 to Walsall when Claude Knakapa was faced with a one on one but allowed the keeper to push the ball away. A few minute's later Sheffield United's Lowton finished off a move to finally get their night moving.Within next to no time the scores were level due to substitute Williamson. By now the home side were really buzzing. However Williamson went down so easily in the box and Cresswell struck home the penalty. There was stilll time for Saddlers to come close on several times including a shot coming back from the inside of the post. It was destined not to happen however but the players still got a great hand when they left the pitch.
