Bury 1-1 Walsall – Match Report

by Priestley_Saddler

There’s been a running theme in a number of matches this season. Play well first half, dominate for long periods, only to throw it away at the end and not getting what we deserve from a game. On that basis, yesterday was quite refreshing as we were completely battered for 90 minutes and still, somehow, came away with a point.

The decisive moment in the game was probably our goal, as Grigg charged down a backpass, their keeper tried desperately to haul him down but Grigg kept his feet to tap in from close range. I said at the time, and still believe now, that we’d have been better off if Grigg had gone down and we’d have the penalty and their keeper sent off. Alas, taking a 1-0 lead away from home is not to be sniffed at and we carried on 11 vs 11. The goal was probably against the run of play and Grof had already pulled off a couple of smart stops when Bury equalised just four minutes later. The home side had clearly, and quite correctly, targeted Taundry as the weak link in our side and all of their effective stuff went down our right.

We hadn’t looked like scoring before our goal, and never looked like scoring again after it. Bury on the other hand saw Andy Butler diving header one off the line (it really wouldn’t be a Walsall match without a Butler diving header would it?), before hitting the post after half time, having another shot drift agonisingly wide, and miss a glorious chance when Featherstone flicked on a Bury corner only for the ball to bounce off Sodje’s bandana at a funny angle and fly wide when it looked easier to score.

Sodje epitomised just how weak our attack is, as if we’d had that big bustling striker we’re so desperately crying out for Sodje would have been in for a very difficult afternoon. As it was, despite his obvious limitations you still felt he had Grigg in his back pocket. At some point we MUST take the plunge and get a decent forward in. I suspect however, this will be a later in the season job and we will just make do in the meantime.

We’ve looked jaded in recent weeks, would like to see a few rested next week (if we have enough players??) to make sure we hit the ground running when our league campaign resumes a week later.