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Walsall 0 Notts County 1
Tuesday 31st January 2012, 9:50PM GMT.
Lee Hughes downed woeful Walsall as Notts County piled more relegation pressure on the sloppy Saddlers.
The former Albion star, who was charged with sexual assault yesterday, drilled in after just three minutes to win it for the Magpies.
The Saddlers rarely threatened but were denied a priceless point after George Bowerman’s second half goal was harshly ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Stuart Nelson by Manny Smith.
They deserved little reward though – despite an improved second half performance – which keeps them out of the League One relegation zone on goal difference.
But after just two minutes and 21 seconds County scored when Hughes latched onto Ben Burgess’ flick and drilled unerringly past Jimmy Walker from 16-yards.
It was a disastrous start from the Saddlers and almost got worse a minute later when Alan Judge curled inches wide from the edge of the area.
County were dominant against the hosts and only Walker’s dive kept out Burgess’ deflected drive.
Walsall failed to keep possession as the visitors – winless in their last eight games – bossed their hosts with worrying ease.
Jon Macken limped off with a hamstring injury eight minutes before the break – and was replaced by Bowerman to compound the Saddlers’ woes.
They had stopped the tide of County attacks but barely had the quality to mount any of their own.
Jamie Paterson was well shackled by the visitors, who regularly put three men on the 20-year-old winger to nullify his threat.
Walker was replaced by David Grof at half time with a hamstring injury and the Saddlers conjured their best chance on 56 minutes when Anton Peterlin fed Alex Nicholls, only for the striker to shoot straight at Nelson.
Florent Cuvelier replaced Peterlin on the hour to mark his debut after signing on loan from Stoke and instantly brought a measure of missing quality
And the Saddlers thought they had equalised with 17 minutes remaining after Bowerman tapped in following Smith’s challenge on Nelson.
But Smith was penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper – although the decision looked harsh – and was booked for his furious protests.
The Saddlers were at least pressing – however ineffectively – and County were restricted to efforts from distance.
And although the visitors were forced to frantically defend at the death they held on.
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It was never a foul on the keeper by Smith, the ref was awful tonight. Cuvelier highlighted what we’ve been missing all season, a quality creative midfielder. We’ve only got him for a month Deano so please please please play him as much as possible!
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Taxi for Smith, may as well copy and paste his comments every week. He’s not up to the job and neither are the players he picks. Can’t keep blaming the crowd mate, you pick the team.
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Too much talk from the Walsall players and not enough action on the pitch. Deano has got to find some magic from somewhere – he needs to play Cuvelier every game to give him a chance to settle in and make an impression…but why have we only got him for a month? Any sign of any more loan players? A striker, dare I say it like Lee Hughes, who can finish would be a good start. We have very little quality upfront and it shows in how few goals we score. We must not lose against Scunthorpe on Saturday.
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Week after week Smith starts with the same team yet we only ever look lively after the subs come on. At Carlisle playing two wingers after 70 minutes, Nicholls & Patterson with Bowerman and Jarvis upfront we made a real impact yet what happens next game! Back to the same totally ineffectual starting line up. As for signing a premier league midfielder and leaving him on the bench it beggars belief. Sorry to say it but Smith is totally out of his depth, and that is being kind.
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We were second to everyball, particularly in the first half. Whats worse is Notts County players queing up to be first to the ball!!!!
There is no shame in playing route 1 and winning ugly! The only time we looked dangerous yesterday was hitting it long and pushing the centre backs up top. SIGN BIG STRIKERS!!
He doesnt know where the first half performance came from? I will hazard a guess it was the testimonial feel to the game. Walker picking the music, the gaurd of honour, the pre match presentation. TO MUCH BANTER!!! Walker could have been honoured in a post season friendly and should not have taken over a vital league match!!!
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Baggies fan here, but was at the match last night to honour Jimmy Walker on his fantastic achievement. Loyalty is such a rare thing in today’s money-driven world of football I doubt we’ll see the likes of it again at any of our Midlands clubs. Congratulations Jimmy, you deserve all of the accolades for being such a wonderful servant to Walsall FC.
Unfortunately, Notts County didn’t read the script for last night’s match. Thought they totally dominated the first half, midfield in particular. It was, at times, men against boys. Second half was a marked improvement with the Saddlers showed much more attacking intent but the final ball into the box was often sadly lacking. After conceding so early on and having to also play against an over-officious, pedantic referee and a linesman who could not keep up with play it was never going to be easy. Thought they absolutely killed the game as a spectacle, and if that was a foul by Manny Smith on their ‘keeper before the disallowed ‘goal’ then the game as we know it is dead.
I wish you all the best for the remainder of the season and hope you will still be watching division 1 football next season. Good Luck!
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I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again. Lee Hughes should not be allowed to play football ever again for what he did, never mind for what he’s been charged with now!
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On the official site Smith points out something us non-footballing folk would never have thought of: “We need to start winning games”. What’s that phrase involving Sherlock?
Last night was woeful. We keep playing the same players and playing the same tactics and we’re surprised when it keeps getting the same results???
Smith, I’ve supported you up to yet but the writing is becoming very clear on that wall.
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5 Coventriansaddler
Would agree that the Saddlers were second to every ball last night but as far as looking most dangerous hitting it long, I don’t think so. County’s two centre halves won absolutely everything in the air and looked totally dominant. Walsall seemed most effective when the ball went out wide and got their back four turned, but as a mentioned before, it was only the final ball into the box which was lacking.
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New kid from Stoke comes on and changes the game with some intelligent passes on the floor.
5 minutes later our bright spark of a ‘manager’ lumps our centre half up front so we can boot the ball up to him, completely taking Cuvelier out of the game. HOOOOF.
Ginger Mourinho? Don’t make me laugh.
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One wonders how long this ‘comedy of errors’ is going to be allowed to continue.
Surely, it is time for a change in manager?
Deam Smith is not up to the job and his performance and signings prove it. The Premiership player should have been on from the start. Why would you bring him to the club, if you leaving on the bench for the first hour.
The Board need to act quickly and rectify their poor choice of 12 months ago.
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