Walsall analysis: Saddlers have only themselves to blame this time

Following the doom and gloom of a 1-0 home loss to bottom of the league Southend United, the Walsall players reacted well with a good first half against a Cheltenham Town team vying for automatic promotion. All of that good work, however, was undone in 12 second half minutes as the Saddlers capitulated, with individual errors again creeping in.

The game, although relatively even, started on a much brighter note for Walsall in comparison to recent results.

The hosts still looked dangerous, particularly when their wing-backs had space and delivered crosses, but Walsall also had opportunities.

The first fell to Elijah Adebayo who had his shot blocked after Rory Holden successfully broke in midfield and slipped in a lovely though-ball.

After that and within the first 10 minutes, referee Sam Purkiss made a controversial decision.

Liam Kinsella was hauled down in the box for what seemed to be a blatant penalty but instead, Purkiss gave a free-kick the other way and booked Kinsella for diving.

Those in attendance at the game were convinced it was a penalty, while fans watching at home seemed to be split on it.

Manager Darrell Clarke was convinced, when speaking to the media after the game, that it was a clear foul.

At the time, Clarke was furious and made his feelings known to the officials, resulting in a handful of warnings from the fourth official.

Following that controversy, Cheltenham began to have more joy down the flanks and a cross from Chris Hussey was met by Andy Williams, who saw his header crash back off the post.

Set pieces seemed to be Walsall’s biggest outlet as several free-kicks and corners flashed across goal.

Dan Scarr had opportunities, either at goal or to head across goal, but failed to make them count.

Only minutes away from half-time the dream moment was inches away for Jake Scrimshaw, who was making his league debut for Walsall.

The 20-year-old striker latched onto a half-volley just on the edge of he box and with the goalkeeper scrambling his effort smashed the underside of the crossbar.

It was exceptionally close and would have been a world-class strike for his first goal in the Football League.

In all fairness, Cheltenham probably could not have had many complaints if Walsall were leading at half-time.

They did not run away with it, instead they marginally edged it, but they played well.

It was far better than the showing against Southend, without a doubt.

But the second half was much closer to that performance a week prior – it was very poor.

Within five minutes of the second half the hosts took the lead, and it was an extremely poor goal to concede.

A long throw-in from Ben Tozer was launched in and through a crowd of bodies goalkeeper Liam Roberts came to collect.

But Scarr met it first and headed backwards into his own net.

Defensively it was soft. Poor is the only word.

Roberts seemed to be calling for it, but with so many bodies to get through, and not getting anywhere near, you have to ask whether he should have come at all?

With Scarr, he towers above most players and should have dealt with it and equally, if he heard a shout from Roberts why did he meet the ball?

It was a mix-up between the pair where they were both left red-faced.

After conceding that goal the Saddlers seemed to panic. They sat back, defended deep and every player acted as if they didn’t want the ball.

They were launching it up field to no-one and failing to string passes together.

It only took Cheltenham a further seven minutes to double their lead.

This time the hosts played through Walsall and after Williams’ shot was blocked they had a stroke of luck as it fell to Matty Blair, who finished high into the net.

The visitors tried to open Cheltenham up and find a way back into the game, but to no avail. It was too easy for them, really.

Despite five substitutes being available to Clarke for the first time, it was rather surprising to see him wait until the 70th minute to make any changes.

Walsall were desperate for some added impetus as the players on the field were not doing the business. The changes were finally made but in the end it did not help.

The Saddlers had a handful of set-pieces, but nothing was working.

As the game ticked into the 89th minute Tozer got on the scoresheet himself when he tapped home following a free-kick. Walsall and Clarke claimed it was offside.

In the end a 3-0 loss is slightly generous for Cheltenham, who otherwise failed to seriously test Roberts in goal, but equally Walsall also failed to force Josh Griffiths into action at the other end.

Cheltenham are a good side that will do well this year, so many Walsall fans may not have been optimistic anyway, but the manner in which the Saddlers collapsed in the second half is most concerning.

The supporters are understandably upset and that makes tomorrow’s game against Newport even more important.

Improved performances and results will bring them back on side but for now the squad needs to find the answers from within.

Only four points separates Walsall from the top seven, albeit some teams have a game in hand, but they cannot afford to allow that gap to widen.