Rene Gilmartin continued in goal for Walsall with the unavailabilty
of Clayton Ince. Michael Ricketts had to be content with a place
on the bench following his five match ban but the other four subs
had so little first team experience between them- keeper Belshaw,
Davies,Bacchus and Craddock.
The game started off with a series of fouls committed by Millwall-
two from Jason Price and two from Alan Dunn and we had to wait
until the 11th minute for the first shot of the game- a 35 yarder
from Troy Deeney that was saved comfortably enough by home
keeper David Forde.
Price tested Gilmartin two minutes later but on 17 minutes shot
past him after an assist from Whitbread.The game really came to
life on 27 minutes when the hardworking Jabo found the corner of
the net from the edge of the box and the same player had a shot
go just wide on 41 mins however just when it looked like Saddlers
would go to the break on level terms Gary Alexander powered home
despite Gilmartin making a good first save he couldn't keep out the
second effort.
Just eight minutes into the second half it was game over as the
impressive Alexander grabbed his second depite a good effort from
Palmer to keep it out.However even work was to come for Walsall
when Mannie Smith was knocked out cold from a challenge and never
moved for the eight minutes he was treated by the medical staff.He
was taken straight to hospital.Ricketts came on and Weston took
over in the heart of the defence but the rest of the game didn't really
matter as the horrible-looking injury to Smith seemed to overshadow
anything else.
So a defeat for Walsall but they can have no complaints.The visitors
did have a purple patch in the first half but not much was seen of them
as an attacking force in the second half.Deeney tried hard but it was
one of those days when not much seemed to go his way.Millwall
looked the part at times and were too good for the Saddlers on the day.