Walsall 1 Southampton 3: Big match analysis
Dec 7 2009 by Paul Castles, Birmingham Mail
WALSALL missed a chance to climb into the League One play-off zone when they were beaten by a talented Southampton side at the Banks’s Stadium.
It was a case of a bit of genuine quality triumphing over hard work and team spirit as the Saints collected their fourth successive away win and, despite the 10-point deduction which penalised them at the start of the season for financial problems, they could yet figure in the promotion shake-up.
The Saddlers opened well and looked comfortable until a dagger thrust of a throughball from Lloyd James let in David Connolly to score with an instant low drive which gave Clayton Ince no chance in the 32nd minute.
Six minutes later another shot from the livewire Connolly was deflected to the feet of Dean Hammond who made it 2-0, and the home team looked shell-shocked.
Walsall, however, played with enough courage and endeavour to suggest they can recover from this setback, but if they want to stay in the race for a play-off place they may need to strengthen the side in January.
More quality is required in midfield, and manager Chris Hutchings indicated that he would receive the necessary backing should he decide to bring in someone on loan in the new year.
No disgrace in losing to this Southampton side whose manager, Alan Pardew, was spot on when he said that technically they could turn up the power and jump a level above most teams in this division.
During their good run against lesser opposition, the Saddlers have sometimes escaped with defensive errors, but you just knew that when the Saints came marching in any scoring opportunities would be taken, any slips punished.
Such a shame that on this day Darren Byfield notched the 100th goal of a career which started at Aston Villa. When he scored in the 66th minute from a Matt Richards cross, Southampton were already three ahead, and the striker’s celebration was therefore low-key.
As the game started, the 1,791 visiting supporters in a crowd of 5,681 chanted “We’ve brought more fans than you”, but they were silenced by Walsall’s opening blitz in which Mark Bradley hammered a shot over, Troy Deeney had a shot deflected into the side netting, and a Byfield header clipped the far post.
Walsall’s encouraging run of five league games without defeat looked like being extended until the excellent Connolly cut them down to size, and with the visitors leading 2-0 at half-time Chris Hutchings warned his men that the next goal was likely to be crucial.
Unfortunately it went to Southampton, and once again that man Connolly did the damage with a pass that left expensive strike partner Rickie Lambert unmarked to pick his spot and score his 15th goal for the club in the 65th minute.
Almost immediately Byfield registered his ton, but hard as they tried the Saddlers couldn’t get another.
Substitute Sam Parkin connected with a Rhys Weston cross in the last minute, but his header was confidently saved by Bartosz Bialkowski.
Walsall were still pushing forward in the 95th minute, which underlined their commitment.
WALSALL: (4-4-2) Ince 7; Weston 7, Smith 7, Hughes 7, Sansara 6; Jones 5, Bradley 6 (Parkin 73), Mattis 6, Richards 7; Deeney 7, BYFIELD 8. Subs: (not used) Gilmartin, O’Keefe, McDonald, Nicholls, Till, Westlake
SOUTHAMPTON: (4-4-2) Bialkowski; Murty, Perry, Jaidi, Harding; James, Schneiderlin (Wotton 77), Hammond, Lallana; Lambert (Paterson 90), Connolly (Antonio 69). Subs: (not used) Forecast, Thomas, Mellis, Trotman.
Referee: C Pawson (South Yorkshire)
