Scunthorpe United v Walsall

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne (Wright 73), Mirfin, Pearce, Mills, Lansbury, McCann, Togwell, Hurst, Hayes (Odejayi 68), Hooper.
Subs not used:
Trotter, Woolford, Lillis.

Walsall :
Ince, Palmer, Weston, Smith, Boertien, Nicholls, Hughes, Mattis, Zaaboub (Taundry 70), Ricketts (ibehre 77), Deeny.
Subs not used:
Gilmartin, Sansara, Bradley.

OPPOSITION VIEW

FROM THE EXPRESS & STAR

THE acid test of how far Walsall had come was at Scunthorpe last night.

In monsoon conditions, against a team with an impressive home record, the Saddlers walked away knowing they should have won.

Troy Deeney's point-clinching strike was worthy of winning any game but the Saddlers had to settle for a draw thanks to the heroics of former keeper Joe Murphy.

The ex-Albion stopper spent time on loan at the Banks's between 2004 and 2006 but denied Deeney and Alex Nicholls at the death as the Saddlers searched for a fourth straight win.

It wasn't to be but the result emphasised Walsall's progress.

Three previous wins had been chalked up over teams who offered little in the way of a challenge. Last night was a real test of the new look Saddlers and it was one they passed with flying colours.

Falling behind to Kayode Odejayi's 79th minute header - after dominating for much of the second half - could have been soul destroying.

Instead, it was sleeves up time as Deeney levelled before he and Nicholls were denied by Murphy.

It was never going to be pretty. Calling it ugly would be a disservice to the conditions. Torrential rain and wind lashed the pitch and the players as both teams struggled in the first half.

Passes went astray and footing was lost but the Saddlers shrugged off the conditions and escaped bedraggled but happy.

Deprived of hamstrung Anthony Gerrard, Rhys Weston returned after recovering from a calf injury to partner Manny Smith at the back. Again Smith was outstanding and, with Gerrard sidelined for three weeks, the 20-year-old has the opportunity to put down his marker.

Undoubtedly there will be a new face to counter the loss of Gerrard but after another faultless display, Smith should remain an automatic choice.

He was in the thick of the action early on but it was defensive colleague Chris Palmer who hurriedly cleared Gary Hooper's 12th minute cross as the game finally saw some excitement.

It had been a solid, if inauspicious, start from the visitors as both sides tried to adapt to tricky conditions and it wasn't until the 23rd minute when the Saddlers' goal came under threat.

Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury, a constant danger throughout, cracked an angled volley which Clayton Ince did well to parry.

It was the catalyst for some concerted Scunthorpe pressure and Smith had to clear Kevan Hurst's cross from underneath his own bar.

Paul Boertien blocked from Lansbury as the Iron upped the tempo and Southampton loanee Joseph Mills shot straight at Ince. However, it was Lansbury who was the biggest threat to the Saddlers.

His ongoing tussle with Boertien was the story of an understandably scrappy first half. The former Derby defender had his hands full with the England under-19 captain who, try as he might, couldn't find a way through.

But, as the conditions worsened, Walsall grew in stature and finished the half with a flourish.

Deeney's overhead kick from the edge of the area demonstrated his confidence but did little to trouble Murphy.

Michael Ricketts failed to hit the target after good work from Deeney and Sofiene Zaaboub before Dwayne Mattis flicked Zaaboub's free-kick over as the half edged, unpleasantly, to a close.

If the teams were hoping conditions would improve after the break, they were left disappointed as the rain continued unabated.

Deeney prodded wide and Cliff Byrne's effort deflected wide as the sides traded early half chances.

There was more willingness to keep the ball on the deck but as Ince's goal-kick arched backward and threatened to return from whence it came, it was evident the conditions were not finished yet.

Scunthorpe had upped the ante with the game almost entirely being played in the Saddlers' half but the visitors almost took the lead just before the hour.

Nicholls was felled and from Zaaboub's resulting free-kick, Deeney cracked an eight-yard header against the bar and Mattis was unable to turn in the rebound.

It was now Walsall's turn to worry the hosts and Deeney should have fired them ahead shortly after. With 19 minutes remaining the striker latched onto Ince's long kick but screwed his shot wide after holding off Krystian Pearce's challenge.

The match had opened up as the Iron fired low, testing balls which skidded across the Saddlers' six-yard box but, much to the chagrin of the home fans, there was no telling touch.

Despite home advantage and an impressive Glanford Park record of only three League One defeats all season, the hosts had been second best to their opponents for the majority of the second half.

The Saddlers looked most likely to score so it came as somewhat of a surprise when Scunthorpe went ahead 11 minutes from time. Grant McCann lifted a free-kick in from the right, Odejayi stole in ahead of Ince and couldn't miss.

It was the first time the Walsall defence had been breached in 441 minutes and was late enough to make you think it would be the winner.

Regardless, it was harsh on the Saddlers. But they didn't have to wait long for the equaliser. Boertien launched a long free kick forward, Mattis controlled and laid it off to Deeney. The striker still had a huge amount to do but cut back, looked up and curled the ball in off the bar from 18 yards for a deserved leveller.

It was a sign of a man in form. Seven goals in 10 games is a far cry from the three he plundered in his previous 68 outings.

It was the least the visitors warranted and they came agonisingly close to a winner in the dying stages.

Sam Togwell tested Ince before Nicholls almost won it when Murphy pushed his 25-yard effort wide.

The winger refused to rest and then set up Deeney who looked certain to score but Murphy's heroics ended his hopes of claiming victory.