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Match Report – Plymouth 1-0 Walsall

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The Saddlers suffered their second defeat in the space of a few days down on the Devon coast, a defeat which sees the Saddlers just three points above the drop zone.

The defeat ends a very poor festive period for the Saddlers, drawing two and losing three of the five games.

Walsall boss Jon Whitney made four changes to the side which lost against Rotherham last week – in came Liam Kinsella, James Wilson, Reece Flanagan and Amadou Bakayoko at the expense of Nicky Devlin, Kory Roberts, Kieron Morris and Daniel Agyei.

The home side looked the more dangerous throughout and on twenty five minutes the home side had their first real chance. A curling free kick had Gillespie back peddling and he parried it around the post. From the corner the ball fell to an unmarked Plymouth player who failed to hit the target, Saddlers let off.

The game was reliant on long range efforts and the dangerous Sarcevic tested Gillespie from distance which he claimed with ease. Carey and Sarcevic had a few more long range efforts before the half time whistle approached.

With the Saddlers struggling to get a hold on the game, Oztumer went for goal direct from a corner however the Plymouth keeper was equal to it.

It was the visitors that started the second half brighter, with Ismail firing wide from a good position.

Sarcevic and Carey continued to test Gillespie from distance with the latter causing the visiting keeper to tip behind.

The hosts took the lead moments later down to some absolutely diabolical defending from the Saddlers. Lameiras was able to run half the length of the field unchallenged and found Taylor on the edge of the box who somehow squirmed a shot past Gillespie – it was horrific.

Ismail instantly caused Plymouth problems and his shot was saved by Matthews and on the rebound Reece Flanagan was brought down but the officials didn’t award a penalty.

Whitney made more bizarre substitutions as Kouhyar replaced our main threat Oztumer.

It was yet another afternoon to forget and with the Saddlers precariously edging towards the drop zone many fans are calling for the board to sack Jon Whitney.

The next month will define our season.

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