Author: David Evans
Walsall went six games without a win follwing their 0-1 defeat at Sheffield United and slipped down to 15th position in League One. The Saddlers cause wasn't helped by the sending off of central defender Dean Holden in the 14th minute. There were no complaints from anyone in the Walsall camp as Holden brought down Dave Kitson with a cynical challenge following a terrible back pass from Jamie Patterson. Nick Blackman tricked Karl Darlow with a stuttering penalty conversion. Saddlers withdrew midfielder James Baxendale and replaced him with young Paul Downing in the heart of the defence.
Walsall's heads didn't drop and actually coped quite well with just ten men. There were a couple of chances involving striker Will Grigg in that first half. Put through from a superb run by Flo Cuvelier, he got in a shot from close range which keeper Long somehow managed to palm away for a corner. Then with just the keeper to beat he was brought down but the referee didn't even give a foul.
The second half was quite even as Saddlers knocked the ball about and tried their best to get back on level terms. Darlow didn't have too much to do in the Walsall goal with skpper Andy Butler his usual tower of strength and young Downing doing his defensive duties well. George Bowerman replaced the hard working Grigg in the latter stages but try as hard as they did Walsall couldn't get back in the game as the clock ran down. Walsall badly need to get back to winning ways at Bury.ihi
