Walsall babes impress

Walsall 0 Millwall 0

Walsall manager Richard Money got his wish on Saturday although not in the way he would have imagined and probably at least half a season too early, writes Bob Downing.

In terms of experience, Troy Deeney and Alex Nicholls are mere babes when put alongside Tommy Mooney and Michael Ricketts.

But Money has long held a desire to see Deeney and Nicholls in harness under first team conditions just to see whether the partnership they have developed in reserve team football is capable of going on to the next level.

Of course, it is too early to say what impact they might make after just over one half of football. Individually, as much as the team, they need the presence of a Ricketts or a Mooney.

An old head relying on young legs.

But the young pair did enough on Saturday to brighten up a tie that could quite easily have gone stale for Walsall when Ricketts had to be replaced just before half time with a niggling thigh injury.

There had been debate before the game whether it would be Deeney or Nicholls who would partner Ricketts in the continued absence of the injured Mooney.

Consensus appeared to favour Deeney until kick-off, when Nicholls was given the front role.

Ricketts' injury gave Money the chance for his gamble.

New signing Martin Brittain went into midfield – a move that saw Deeney and Nicholls up front; plenty of pace, bags of enthusiasm and the energy of youth.

Many times it nearly worked. Inside 10 seconds of the

re-start, Nicholls had gone past two Millwall defenders and produced a fine save from Lenny Pidgeley; Deeney's snap shot flying across the face of goal midway through the half and runs into the heart of the Millwall attack underlining further proof that Money's youth policy is gathering pace.

If you are good enough, you are old enough seems to be the Money mentality.

The partnership that might have had an airing in a

pre-season friendly or an end-of-season "nothing" game was suddenly thrust into the spotlight against a Millwall side that had recovered well from the three-goal mauling they suffered at the Banks's Stadium just two weeks earlier.

But Millwall were better this time. Clayton Ince had to do more, pulling off a tremendous save from Jay Simpson in the 10th minute with a shot that must have stung his

fingertips, while the ever dangerous Adrian Forbes probed and sprinted at the defence and gave Ian Roper an uncomfortable return to the first team.

Time and again both teams had the essence of a good move developing only for the final pass or the final shot to let them down. Even before he was joined in attack by Deeney, Nicholls was showing that filling in for Mooney was not going to be a problem.

In the 20th minute, his shot from 25 yards was turned round the post by Pidgeley, resulting in a Daniel Fox corner that saw the diving Roper putting a header just wide.

Mark Bradley was not far away in the 37th minute with another effort but at no stage in the first half could either side convince they were getting the upper hand.

Walsall must have felt they had enough in the locker to avoid a trip to the New Den when, at the start of the second half, the Deeney-Nicholls combination begin to grow in

confidence and stature. Certainly, Nicholls' exciting run with 10 seconds of the restart got the crowd on its feet.

It would be wrong to suggest it was a one-way route.

Millwall also had their opportunities and Zak Whitbread would have been disappointed that he did not get enough power on a header to give Ince a more worrying time.

As the half went on, however, it was Walsall who looked the side more capable of winning. Time and again, they stretched the Millwall defence, but no matter how well the youngsters were trying, that vital experience of a Mooney or Ricketts, when with a clear sight of goal, was missing.

With an average age getting lower all the time, the need for an old head is required, someone to keep young feet on the floor and the level-headed approach that only time can bring.

This is where Darren Wrack steps into the line-up.

He may well be considered one of the elder statesmen at the Banks's Stadium but without players like him, Walsall could well lose the direction they need.

It was a pity Wrack allowed a yellow card to spoil his day, getting caught up in rash moment with Ali Fuseini.

Wrack was incensed, rightly, of the challenge by Fuseini which apparently left battle scars on his leg, but then to be booked within seconds for a foul on the same player was a yellow card just waiting to happen.

The young players need direction and assistance in more ways than one.

The man who must be hoping he gets the chance to put the record straight at the New Den is Ed Sonko.

Two weeks ago he had a great chance against Millwall but scuffed his shot and on Saturday he was again looking for the spectacular only for his volley to almost clear the stand.

Money does not seem bothered about the glut of matches his side now face. Five games in 14 days and

Saturday-Tuesday dates for the next fortnight will surely put his squad under pressure but his belief that they will get better with the more football they play could yet see Walsall stretch their unbeaten League and Cup record beyond the current 16.

One famous football pundit once reckoned kids win you nothing in football. Walsall are going the right way to proving that wrong again.