Pictures and analysis of Taunton 1 Walsall 1
Fans who arrived to see the new-look Saddlers at Taunton Town may have later left wondering if anything had changed.
The 1-1 draw in Somerset last night bore some all-too familiar hallmarks from the dark, closing days of last season, writes Matt Maher.
Dean Smith's men conceded a freakish goal when Dean Holden headed past his own keeper and then contrived to miss a host of chances before Kieron Morris' late, bullet of a strike rescued a draw.
Results are secondary in pre-season but, even so, a defeat to a team from the eighth tier is always something best kept off the record.
Morris' goal seven minutes from time came as a relief as the hosts looked to have held out.
But Smith didn't agree with the comparisons to last season when the suggestion was put to him.
"I think there is a contrast to last season because we have some new players and some young players who are finding their feet as well," he said.
"They have played in a fatigued state as well because we wanted them to work hard over the last couple of days just to test them out."
The manager has a valid point. After all, neither XI which started each half – as Smith made eight changes at the break – is the one which will take the field against Port Vale 23 days from now.
And it is quite possible the formations used, 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond in the first and 3-4-1-2 in the second, will both be discarded well before then.
The switches in shape were nevertheless interesting, possibly an admission from Smith that his team had become perhaps a little too easy to work out.
But while there is plenty of mitigation, the sheer number of missed chances was cause for frustration.
Best really to miss them when it doesn't matter – though maybe not if you are Javier Lopez Iglesias.
When on trial and fighting for a contract, you really have to hit the target with headers from six yards out.
That's something the 25-year-old Spaniard failed to do midway through the first half when meeting James O'Connor's inviting cross.
That was the visitors' best chance of the opening period, as they peppered Joe Perry in the Taunton goal with shots from distance.
The hosts showed some occasional threat in the final third too and four minutes before the break the unlucky Holden showed Iglesias how it should be done.
He directed Nat Pepperell's cross over the head of goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray and into the top corner of his own net.
Transformed by wholesale changes, the Saddlers set about their search for an equaliser and almost got one when Jordan Cook – impressive throughout his 45 minutes on the pitch – forced Perry into a fine save with a low drive.
Moments later Matt Preston saw his shot hit a defender and bounce off the post from a corner.
Taunton appeared to have weathered the storm when Morris picked up the ball 25 yards out and proceeded to rifle a low drive past Perry and inside the near post.
The keeper would however have the last triumph when he denied Amadou Bakayoko at close range.
"We played some really good stuff and just did not take our chances," reflected Smith. "The second half we were a lot better."
By Matthew Maher
