Richard Money happy to get another FA Cup chance

Dec 3 2007 By Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail

RICHARD Money admitted Walsall had to lean hard on their "durability" to preserve their FA Cup run at Northampton.

Against a Cobblers side much quicker and better than in the previous week's league meeting, the Saddlers were hard-pressed at times.

In the first half especially, they struggled to find any attacking fluency. So they were indebted to a defence superbly led by Anthony Gerrard.

"Northampton made it a real cup tie, exactly as we thought they would," Money said. "But we have got a real durability about us at the moment and that stands you in good stead in games like that.

"They edged it, if anybody did. We got very deep in the first half and invited too many balls into the box.

"I think sometimes the team is so used to Anthony Gerrard or Scott Dann or Clayton Ince dealing with the ball they are happy to let it come in. But if you let it come in too many times and somebody makes an error you are in trouble.

"I wasn't very happy with the way we played in the first half, but we were better in the second."

Walsall were without Peter Sweeney in midfield after Stoke City decided, on Friday, that they did not want the loan player cup tied.

His absence gave Alex Nicholls a chance on the bench and, a week short of his 20th birthday, he impressed when sent on in a left-wing role.

"Alex did extremely well when he came on," Money said. "He has really picked up his levels in the last two or three reserve games and I was very pleased with his efforts."