Star man blow for Walsall after FA Cup exit
Mat Sadler said Jamie Jellis could miss a few weeks through injury after Walsall were dumped out of the FA Cup by a ruthless Charlton Athletic.
The Walsall boss claimed the thumping did not feel like a 4-0 game after their third tier opponents showed no mercy in front of goal.
During a disastrous first-half for the hosts where Jellis exited injured, Brandon Comley gifted Charlton their second through a misplaced pass before being subbed himself with an issue.
Gassan Ahadme also netted twice for the Addicks with Tyreece Campbell completing the scoring late-on, and Walsall’s unbeaten record against League One sides this season was ended.
Speaking after the loss on Jellis and Comley’s injuries, Walsall boss Mat Sadler said: “Jamie felt his calf, so that was disappointing, so that looks like we will probably miss him for a couple of weeks.
“We will have to see though and how they look.
“Comley’s looked a bad one, someone said he suffered a broken jaw, but I don’t know.”
The Walsall boss added: “That is what the squad is for. Comley got hurt crashing into a challenge, it is what it is.
“Jamie puts so much into the games that its just unfortunate that he has picked up a little nick. But, that is what the squad is there for and we all believe that we have got a good enough squad and I am going to need them all in the way I knew we would.”
In contrast to the first period, Walsall showed promise after the restart looking to replicate the fight shown during their comeback against Bolton Wanderers in the first round.
However, Charlton’s resilient defence stood strong and their attack seized opportunities when they came at the opposite end.
“We gave away a few rubbish goals,” the Walsall boss added. “The first goal was a good ball and the striker is good. The second we gave away.
“I thought in the second-half we really came out and put the pressure on and nothing really dropped in that spell and for us to get that goal and the momentum going.
“I feel as though it is an opportunity missed. I don’t believe it was a 4-0 game.
“Clearly on the day we weren’t quite as ruthless as we have been, in both boxes, which was unfortunate.
“We gave a couple of goals away that we shouldn’t have done and didn’t capitalise on our moments.
“We really gave ourselves a mountain to climb.”
