That was one crazy match.With Swindon in such a lowly
position in the table and something like one win in 14 or
something and with the Walsall players wanting to show
Mr Hutchings what they can do I really thought we would
do well at the County Ground-how wrong I was.
Swindon were up for this game from the off and with just
8 mins on the clock carved the Saddlers defence up and
Amankwaah shot home with Ince looking to have seen it
late.
Walsall really looked all at sea for the rest of a poor first
half.On the few occassions we were up the field we looked
devoid of ideas and their defence had us in their back
pockets.
On thirty minutes from a move that looked blatently offside
the livewire Simon Cox smashed the ball home from fully
25 yards giving Clayton no chance.We looked woeful at
this point and half time couldn't come quick enough after
this as the home side's confidence rose.
It came as no real suprise when Town went 3-0 up a few
mins after the restart when Billy Paynter slotted home.I feared
a real hiding as Swindon knocked the ball about and were
first to the ball time and time again.
Out of the blue in a rare Walsall attack Chris Palmer let one
rip from the edge of the box that hit the top of the post on
53 mins.On 68 mins two fed up Walsall fans asked the
steward to open the door and they went home in disgust!
One fan shouted out to them,"you'll miss the big comeback
lads, this has got 3-3 written all over it!" And that chap was
very nearly right!
What happened between the 75th minute and the long period
of time added on was truely amazing.Jabo scored his first
goal in ages following a set-up by Richard Taundry and within
two minutes Troy Deeney scored and this really was game
on!
Swindon's players and indeed fans were suddenly subdued,
the 150 travelling Saddlers fans suddenly discovered their
voices and remarkably Walsall were taking the game to
Swindon.You could hear the groans from the home fans
when the fourth official put up 4 mins-yes they were time
wasting-but I swear it was more like 6 or 7 mins as it seemed
the ref almost wanted Saddlers to level!
We won two successive corners almost at the end and we
were all shouting for Incey to come up.He came as far as
the half way line but no further.Alex Nicholls was so unlucky
with one goal-bound effort that was deflected but it wasn't
to be.
The players came off to quite a good ovation.The fans were
so taken back at the effort to get back into this game that
they couldn't do otherwise but I shall always remember this
game for just how awful we were for most of it.
If Chris Hutchins didn't know the size of the job he has on
his hands when he came into the hot seat he certainly does
now.On paper his opening two games against such lowly
opposition should have given his a return of 4 if not 6 points.
As it turned out just a point from the Hereford and Swindon
games is not good enough.
So Lazaat my friend you were so right-a narrow win for the
Robins and I have to say Swindon deserved this win.The
four signings that the home side made is showing the fans
they are determined to improve.Unless Mr Bonser wipes
the cobwebs off that chequebook this could turn out to be
a relegation battle.Certainly on the evidence of the first 75
minutes.