Sadlad's Away Day Review - Charlton 2009/10
Last updated : 23 August 2009 By Andy Van Hagen
Dwayne Mattis returned to the midfield for the visit to Charlton but he, like the others, could do very little to stop a very useful looking side who were quite simply too much for Walsall for long periods of this game. As early as the second minute Clayton Ince was called upon to make a save from Richardson. Four minutes later Nicky Bailey saw his header go just over.
Walsall's first shot came on 15 minutes but Peter Till shot tamely and was easily delt with. A minute later Walsall won their first corner which was taken by Jones which resulted in no danger for the home side. Charlton were lively going forward and it needed Hughes and Smith to be alert. Lloyd Sam was tormenting the Saddlers defence time and time again and his tricky runs were giving cause for concern.
On the half hour mark Charlton took the lead with a most bizarre goal. From a free kick Sam and Llera both found themselves unmarked and ended up going for the same ball which trickled over the line off a post with both players landing on top of each other. Players and fans alike were looking for a linesman's flag which never came.On the stroke of half time the home side came close but a combination of Smith and Hughes cleared the danger.
Walsall sent on Taundry for Jones at the start of the second half. On 50 minutes Ince was called upon to make a save from former Walsall loan striker Deon Burton.Alex Nicholls came on to replace Till. A chink of light emerged when Sam was substituted but this proved to be a false dawn as a few minutes later Saddlers found themselves two down. Nicholls lost possesion whilst trying to set up a Walsall attack and a beutifully weighted diagonal pass found Wagstaff and he drilled home a low shot that gave Ince no chance.On 84 mins Nicholls tried a shot from outside the box that whistled high over the bar.
Walsall can have no complaints from losing this one. Charlton proved too good for them and on this showing they should make a return back to the Championship. Walsall did have a few openings with Sam Till and Nicholls all having efforts on goal.Hughes did get the ball in the net but was offside. Norwich is the next away day a week on Saturday and that won't be much easier.
