"They were so professional" - praise for Saddlers' FA Cup victory
Gateshead manager Alun Armstrong praised the organisation and respect shown by Walsall as Mat Sadler’s side avoided an FA Cup upset with a 2-0 win against the National League strugglers, writes Mark Carruthers.
The Saddlers were strong favourites to claim a win in the North East and secure a spot in Monday’s third-round draw - but they had to avoid all of the hallmarks of an FA Cup giant killing.
With the TNT Sports cameras broadcasting the tie around the world and heavy rain battering the North East throughout Sunday, Walsall could have followed League One play-off contenders AFC Wimbledon in falling at the hands of the Tynesiders.
However, Sadler’s men rarely looked troubled throughout the game and extended their cup run into the third round with a Daniel Kanu penalty midway throughout the first half and an Aden Flint effort in the early stage of the second half.
The Saddlers kept their non-league hosts at arms’ length throughout a 90-minute display full of confidence, composure and control that drew special praise from former Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough striker Armstrong.
He told the Express & Star: “They didn’t come out of the areas we were trying to exploit and we tried to suck them into the areas they didn’t want to be in.
“They were so professional in their performance, I congratulate them. I think they’re a difficult team and they full deserved their win in the end.
“I was hoping he (Sadler) was going to rotate a bit but I saw their team and he hasn’t fallen for it, especially with their game on Wednesday.
“That shows the massive respect they paid and Mat said before the game that he has seen the good football we play - and we do.
“We are just too open at times, things are going against us, two set-plays have cost us today - and we have come up against teams that are riding high in recent weeks.”
Gateshead will now turn their focus towards their attempts to preserve their National League status and Armstrong is adamant their FA Cup exploits can boost their bid for survival.
“We have got to take the positives from it,” explained the former Middlesbrough and Ipswich striker. “You look, we came up against a team full of confidence, they knew exactly what they were doing and we knew it was going to be tough.
“We knew we needed a bit of luck to win the game but it wasn’t to be.”
