If ever there was a chance for Chris Hutchings boys to
give their new boss his first away win since taking charge
of Walsall this was it.Walsall started brightly enough and
after forcing the first corner of the game through some good
work by Jabo,Gerrard got his feet in a tangle when he found
himself unmarked following Zaaboub's flag kick.
A minute or so later Hartlepool should have found the net
when Ince came charging out to Porter but from an angle
the player hit the side netting.
However on 10 mins the early Walsall pressure paid off when
following an exchange of passes between Nicholls and
Zaaboub Troy Deeney scored with a fine volley arriving late
to leave their defence flat footed.
It was no more than Saddlers deserved and almost went
further ahead on the half hour when the livewire Zaaboub
was brought down and sent the resulting free kick just
curling wide.At this point Walsall were clearly the much
better side and it was so obvious that Hartlepool were there
for the taking.
However a moment of madness by Ant Gerrard gave the
home side a boost when he sliced a ball into the net when
it was so easier to belt it clear.Clayton Ince had got down
well to parry a dangerous shot from Robson and with Gez
under no pressure from a few yards out scored an absolute
howler into the top of the net.He lay on the turf for a few
moments but no it wouldn't open up for him.It was right
under the noses of the travelling Saddlers faithfull too.
The start of the second period saw the Saddlers lose their
grip on the game and Hutchings brought on Sam Williams
in place of Jabo who as ever gave his all but never looked
like scoring in a month of Sundays.Five minutes later
however Hartlepool took the lead with another moment
of madness-this time from the normally Mr Dependable
Ince.He scuffed a goal kick that went straight to Porter
who had the simple chance of rounding the keeper to
score his 17th of the season.He won't have a more simple
chance the rest of the campaign.
Ince had to make one smart save from a header and Walsall
came more back in to it with Nicholls and Zaaboub floating
balls over from Williams and Deeney to attack.From one
of Nicholls's crosses Williams beat the keeper to the ball
to nod home for his first goal since arriving on loan from
the Villa.He almost got the winner just after with another
header that just went over the bar.4 mins of time added on
gave Saddlers more hope of getting the winner but not to
be.
So for me a game that we could and should have won by 2
or 3 nil ended in a draw.If only those two moments of madness
hadn't have crept into our game.A bit of a suprise to see
Hughes back in the line up.He lasted the course of the game
and was his usual self-some good work and some wasted
passes.The pitch was in good nick and not too cold really.
Just annoying to think of what might have been.....