Sadlad's 2009/10 Away Day Report - Accrington Stanley

A Carling Cup game at Accrington Stanley on a wet Tuesday evening in Lancashire standing  on a open terrace with a heavy cold is not to be advised. When your team takes the lead, has a man sent off and

your team lose to an 89th minute goal it is one of those occassions where you ask 'What the hell am I doing here'. It was one of those nights.

Several changes to the team from the Brighton game and a very young looking bench, Walsall had a scare in the 4th minute as Stanley's Lee sent a header wide when he looked easier for him to score.and a few minutes later Walsall were indebted to Rene Gilmartin who dashed out to clear. Walsall were getting more into the game however and then took the lead on 8 minutes with a well taken goal from Alex Nicholls following a free kick by Jamie Vincent.who had to stretch but found himself unmarked and showed no reaction at all as he banged the goal in at the end where the Saddlers fans were assembled.

 A couple of minutes later Gilmartin had to be alert to react from a corner with two Stanley players challenging.Mattis got in a block to prevent danger however Saddlers were still pressing forward and had a golden chance to double their lead as Nicholls found himself with a bit of space following some good work by Parkin and with a bit more composure would have found the net however he snatched at it and his shot went a couple of yards wide.At this stage a second goal would have spurred Walsall on to have won the match you felt.

On 23 minutes captain Rhys Weston went into the book for a silly challenge but worse was to follow 12 minutes later as another foul saw the referee produce another yellow card and he had to go. Not a very good example to set by an experienced defender who should know better. Richard Taundry slotted in to the right back spot and Nicholls out wide in midfield leaving Parkin up front. He had been putting himself about as usual but not winning too much in the air.The home side soon began to make the extra man count and by the time half time came it was clear it was going to be  a uphill battle to hold out for the second period.

The early moments of the second half saw Stanley pressing to get back and when they did get back on terms it really was a case of when they would take the lead. Deeney had come on for Jones but there was very little seen of Walsall as an attacking force and indeed the home side should have taken the lead when a deflected shot by Mc Conville hit a post and bounced back into play. The lively Paul Mullen, who had been a livewire throughout, was sent flying by Gilmartin as he came out to clear and the player needed lengthy treatment. Barracked by the Walsall fans he silenced the travellers with a goal from close range in the 89th minute. The four minutes of time added on failed to produce a worthwhile chance and when the final whistle went the home side understandably celebrated.

That sending off was such a turning point. It will be interesting to read the comments of both player and manager on that. The defence badly missed Mark Hughes, Steve Roberts is far from fully fit. Alex Nicholls worked his socks off and for me was man of the match for Walsall. Rene Gilmartin pulled off some good saves and looked confident enough throughout. Other than those two nobody performed to the level you would expect. We shouldn't have been turned over by Accrington Stanley but overall they were the better team on the night. Chris Hutchings has plenty to think about after this.