Richards beaming with performance

Matthew Richards championed his team mates inspired performance on Saturday, as well as speaking of his delight at his brace in the game.

Walsall came from behind to win 2-1, and Richards bagged both goals with superb free kicks.

The 25 year old put a neat free kick in the net late in the first half, before setting up his second in a well rehearsed free kick with Richard Taundry, putting the ball in the net with pin point precision.

He said (of the second goal) to the Saddlers Player: ‘I was just going to shoot, but Reuben Reid had a word to do it differently, and thankfully it paid off.’

‘To get two goals in a game is special for me, I haven’t got 2 goals in a game before.’

This now takes his tally to 4 goals this term and second highest goalscorer behind Reuben Reid. Also, he is the only player to have a 100% appearance record this season.

He added: ‘Our confidence has been getting better and better as the games have gone on.There was a big lift in the team, everyone wanted it and I knew we were going to get something from the game and hopefully this will continue at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday and in our forthcoming games.’

Richards and Richard Taundry have put the improved performance partly down to a teamtalk that happened last week, where all the players were able to air their grievances at the Saddler’s poor form this season.

Richards continued: ‘We set ourselves targets and I think that’s been very positive on us, we came into the game raring to go and it worked.’

Taundry added: ‘”It spurred us all on. We`ve gone through what`s good, what`s bad and what needs to be done and it was a positive reaction from all the boys…it was a fresh start for us and it was massive for us to show the fans and the staff we can do it.”

Richards has put in alot of effort so far this season and his two goals came at the perfect time for the confident Saddlers. We look ahead to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow and let’s hope its onwards and upwards!