Walsall 4-0 Hartlepool – Report

Wow. We didn’t expect that.

The Saddlers ran out comprehensive winners against a very poor Hartlepool side but let’s take the positives.

That was probably our best all round performance in the past few years. Our pressing throughout the match even at 4-0 was so pleasing to see.

Taylor Allen (who probably would’ve been a substitute had Liam Gordon been fit) caused wave after wave of problems for the Hartlepool defence and Peter Clarke at the age of forty barked out instructions all afternoon to his defence to keep them composed and organised.

We mention those two players and forget about the hat-trick hero Danny Johnson who was deemed surplus to requirements by Nigel Clough and Mansfield. He gives signs of the striker we have missed for too long. His sweet left foot and hassling of defenders will have League 2 defences quaking in their boots.

Brandon Comley was the sweeper of all lose balls, Liam Kinsella was Liam Kinsella and Issac Hutchinson (what a player he will be) gave us that missing link from midfield to attack.

Williams like Johnson, is clever. He knows when to press, knows where the ball is going to fall and stored energy for chances/attacks when needed.

Manny Monthe was colossal and so was Donervon Daniels. Hartlepool could still be playing next week and I’d doubt they would get past.

The few shots at goal Owen Evans dealt with easily.

Even the subs showed glimpses of what they’re capable of.

Every player could be given the man of the match award. It was a team performance and a team performance which the fans and Michael Flynn was proud of.

For a team that has had fifteen summer signings you’d have thought they’d been playing together for years. So many positives but it is only one game, there will stiffer competition to come but what a start.

We are top of the league!