The Saddlers were not at the races yesterday but still managed to get a point in a low entertaining game at the Banks’s Stadium.
We looked tired and the Tuesday/Saturday fixture list had taken its toll on this group of warriors but also reiterated as to why the signings of Connor Ronan and Connor Johnson will help in weeks to come with the Saddlers lacking real depth in their squad.
An injury to Josh Ginnelly was a setback to the Saddlers start and yesterday proved how important he is to this side with his pace and his crossing ability.
Blackpool had a game plan and executed it superbly and could have easily won the game – having more efforts on target, well it was quite easily to beat our ZERO shots on target (according to BBC) and if it wasn’t for the offside flag then the Saddlers would have come away without a point and you wouldn’t have begrudged the Seasiders all three points.
Credit to Blackpool’s defence and keeping us quiet all afternoon. Special mention to Blackpool centre half, Curtis Tilt. The lad from Walsall certainly proved a point to his local side as he had an outstanding game. Yes he cheated at times and frustrated us the opposition but he’s the sort of player you want playing for us and not against us. Think Mr Whitney missed a trick in not signing him last summer.
However we managed to do what we haven’t so far this season and got a clean sheet – a positive to build on heading into Barnsley next week.
At least six of these players should be rested for the pointless Checkatrade game against Burton in the week and hope we are fresher as we face our toughest game of the season so far at high flying Barnsley next week.
The Saddlers are still undefeated in League 1 and currently five points clear of 7th place – if someone had offered us that after six games we would have snatched their hands off. Let’s hope we don’t have many more off days like yesterday.
We move on. Onwards and upwards.
