Post-Match Thread and Ratings Walsall 0 -1 Southend United

[shrimperjon]

Seems as though the 2 match ban for AF was a blessing, as it may have given him the opportunity to get his head together and rest his ancient 32 year old limbs!

Yep i make you right. Funny when he got sent off people said it might be a blessing, give himself time to re-evaluate etc. Seems to have worked. A fit, focused AF is still a real asset to our football club.

 

[ace]

We commented before kick off that the lads seemed to have their match face on. All looked determined. Think all of them put a shift in. Cox was superb. Run his legs into the ground. Ox a couple of great saves again. Yes and Ferdinand had his best game of the season. John White also played well. Only down side is we cant put teams to bed. However I think it was Walsall's first home defeat so what's 0 not to like?

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

We're on our way!!

 

[Blues 'n twos]

We were rarely troubled by a team unbeaten at home, White was again superb and Ferdinand looked comfortable again, we had more purpose going forward with Kightly in the side.
All in all a great away day again, shame about the “reduced “away support, don’t know how many did go , but was expecting more.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Sorry no good at match reports. Great result though:smile:

Must just say that the atmosphere from the home fans today was probably one of the worst I have not heard for ages. I know they didn't have much to shout about but christ that was poor.

 

[fbm]

Just back, ground out a result today and inflicted their first home defeat of the season.

Firstly, the ground was like a morgue, their team announcements was greeted by silence and there was next to no noise from their fans at all, especially in the first half.

Poor defending from them for our goal which was well taken. Yet again though we seemed to want to play that one extra pass. This time however it paid off and Cox put it away nicely. We had controlled the game up to that point and it was the least we deserved.

Shortly afterwards however the ball was played into and across our box and a collection of sliding Walsall players failed to make contact, the last one being the short but effective Oztumer who, had he been of average height, would I'm sure have poked the ball in at the far post.

We had more possession than them but no real cutting edge. At 1-0 you always worry and I was waiting for a second half explosion from them but it didn't really materialise. Fortune was unlucky with a cross shot the keeper saved and Cox had a shot that deflected away and which should have been a corner but was given as a goal kick.

We defended quite deep as the game went on but we were solid and looked in very little trouble. There were a few "heart in mouth" moments when, near the end, Oxley pulled off a fantastic save from a hard angled shot and then managed to save a wickedly deflected shot that wrongfooted him but took enough pace off the ball for him to recover.

All in all a hard earned and welcome three points.

Ratings -

Oxley - 9 - Close to MOM. Didn't put a foot - or hand - wrong.

Demetriou - 6 - To be honest this was the poorest defensive performance I have seen from him. He made some good interceptions but never really linked up properly with Wright despite tons of opportunity to do so. Was sometimes beaten too early.
Timlin - 6 - We all know what we get with Tims and he made some sterling tackles today. However, n the first half he could barely find a blue shirt with a pass and in the second he couldn't find a blue shirt from a throw in. What's all that about?
Ferdinand - 8 - Controlled the game, back to how he was and we looked tons stronger as a result.
White - 9 - On another day would have got MOM. A superb performance.

Kightly - 7.5 - After a slow start, started to take on his man and get crosses in. Much better all round than he has been.
Leonard - 7 - For once overshadowed by his team mates. Not a bad performance but guilty of some poor decision making at times.
Wordsworth - 6 - Could have done better I think. Largely anonymous.
Wright - 6 - Have seen him play better and despite being in a position to link up with Demetriou and trying to do so, it never really happened as it should have done.

Fortune - 7 - Battled hard but not a lot of change out of the centre backs
Cox - 9.5 - MOM. An absolute belter of a performance; hard working, linked up well, tackled back, chased everything, scored a goal. The 3 points were more down to him than anyone else.

Subs -

Ranger - 7 - Decent enough when he came on and provides the aerial threat Fortune doesn't.
McLaughlin - 7 - Tried hard enough and gave them something else to think about.

Ref - 7 - Let a lot go, which I quite like. There were a few weird decisions, mainly in our favour. Have seen worse, and better.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

I went today and on the way up I bumped into the team who were getting the same train. They all looked really focussed. It sounds weird I know, but they genuinely did look that way, game face as it were.

Good away performance; the whole team really limited Walsall to very little. White was very good, as was Wright and Cox. The latter two working particularly hard. Ferdy was ok but I'm still left baffled when he looks like he's trying to jump with the striker and just doesn't get off the ground at all. I really do fear that when playing against a good striker, he'll be dominated. As it was, their strikers were lightweight and ineffective, so no real threat.

Brown will be be very happy with the 'clean sheet mentality'.

Onwards and upwards folks.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Wasn't a classic but we played some nice football at times and deserved to win. We were hanging on a bit at the end but we dug in and saw the game out, and had a few chances to make it 2-0. Walsall were pretty poor and rarely threatened. Solid team performance but I thought White, Leonard, Kightly and Cox played particularly well. Oxley made a good save near the end. Ferdinand was better but wasn't really tested.

Not sure how many away fans were there as they didn't give a figure but looked a decent number and we certainly made a lot more noise than the home fans. The only noise they made was to moan at their team. I know supporting and living in Walsall must be pretty depressing but as the previous poster said, they're one of the worst home supports I've come across.

 

[Amwell Blue]

My first match of the season (not counting the friendly vs Bishops Stortford)

Ox - 7 made two good saves (the one late which he was diving the wrong way after a deflection was excellent reactions and squeaky bum for us watching)not much else to do

Dem - 8 Excellent going forward
Anton - 7 Didn't see him do much wrong and was his usual cool calm self
Whitey - see above
Tims - 7 A couple of defensive bloops, but countered by an excellent tackle and some good long passes
Kites - 71/2 Class act some excellent crosses and will only get better
Lenny - 7 Hold the front page - I saw him make 3 mistakes, along with loads of good stuff
Josh - 7 Covers loads of ground does the grunt work... Doesn't look as likely to score as Atkinson did :smile:
Wordy - 6 Quiet game a couple shots that weren't on target, but wasn't afraid to shoot
Cox - 8 Put a shift in and scored
MAF - 7 see above didn't score

Subs
MacL - 7 did OK
Nile - 6 Didn't see the ball much but had lots a Walsall friends for company


The team didn't play well, but they didn't need to against an awful Walsall team that didn't look interested and were at times embarrassing

 

[buffalowolf]

Perhaps the DEbacle during the week ,even though they didnt play may have just woken them up Nice to wake up on a Sunday morning and read some nice stuff,well done Blues now lets keep the momentum going.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

PHEW, not much moaning for a week on here. Brown in.

 

[rayleigh dan]

Good to hear that Anton had a good game. Oxley > Bentley? He's been at least as good this season IMO, after a shaky start last year he's really imposed himself. I can't remember the last mistake he's made to be honest .

 

[leeblue]

Good to hear that Anton had a good game. Oxley > Bentley? He's been at least as good this season IMO, after a shaky start last year he's really imposed himself. I can't remember the last mistake he's made to be honest .

I have to second this on oxley. I genuinely think it turned around for him at mk dons last season...a quickfire double worldy just seemed to be the catalyst.

 

[rayleigh dan]

Perhaps the Debacle during the week ,even though they didnt play may have just woken them up Nice to wake up on a Sunday morning and read some nice stuff,well done Blues now lets keep the momentum going.

Let's be honest, though admittedly it was embarrassing, Billericay are still four divisions below us. For all Tamplin's bravado they've got a long way to go. And to be fair if they think they're realistically the 'one team in Essex'! :hilarious: Even Col U are better than them right now! Daggers too come to think of it.

When it really mattered today we got the right result. Well done boys :happy:Let's hope we keep it up next week and finally get into the second round of the cup.

Up the Shrimpers :loyalsupporter:

 

[mattitouk]

Great result for the team today, and well deserved. I just wished we were in action again tomorrow.

Sadly, I think it's gonna be a long fortnight before we see some league one action at home to Oldham. Which should bring us a point or three.

I'm trying, but I can't really get excited about Yeovil away in the FA Cup, more so facing Col Ewe at home in the tin pot trophy.

A quick look at Yeovil's match today, looks like a card fest, 3 reds & 4 Yellows!, I wonder who Phil will rest or gamble on in the light of that. Did we pick up any injuries today?

 

[* ORM *]

Hang on a minute. Sunday morning should be about 2 things. Working out how sore my head is and then coming onto ShrimperMoan. Woke up this morning and had a mildly sore head. Came on here and I think Zone must be down :omg:

 

[Jay_SUFC]

Good to hear that Anton had a good game. Oxley > Bentley? He's been at least as good this season IMO, after a shaky start last year he's really imposed himself. I can't remember the last mistake he's made to be honest .

Hard to know whether Oxley is a better keeper, but what I've always liked about him, is he comes for crosses etc, doesn't stay routed on his line like Bentley did (and watching the Championship, looks like he still does!).

Glad Ferdinand is starting to look himself again; comments about his legs have gone, I always felt were harsh, as that's not his game and his pace has been no different to last season - the difference is his anticipation and reading of the game; he's never going to outrun anyone!!

 

[Keith Keithson]

Much, much better performance than Bury (not hard). Defence seemed a lot more solid, I thought Timlin did OK after a poor start with the standard misplaced passes. Stand outs Wright, White, Lenny (as usual) - who once again tracked back to stop a breakaway, and Cox working really hard. Fortune did well to hold up play and bring others in.

It has to be said Walsall were appallling, but we nullified them well, particularly Lenny marshalling Otzumer, who hardly got a look in until the frantic final 10. Oxley commanding and looking confident.

All in all the perfect away performance. More of the same please, and well done to the players and the fans who made the trip to Eastern Europe.

 

[shrimperjon]

Great result for the team today, and well deserved. I just wished we were in action again tomorrow.

Sadly, I think it's gonna be a long fortnight before we see some league one action at home to Oldham. Which should bring us a point or three.

I'm trying, but I can't really get excited about Yeovil away in the FA Cup, more so facing Col Ewe at home in the tin pot trophy.

A quick look at Yeovil's match today, looks like a card fest, 3 reds & 4 Yellows!, I wonder who Phil will rest or gamble on in the light of that. Did we pick up any injuries today?

Why rest anyone? No need to do this. Current side is 3 unbeaten, conceded 1 goal. Let's get some momentum and do well in the cup for a change. Not had a decent FA cup run for years, let's gave a go and get a big 3rd round tie

 

[RobM]

Sorry no good at match reports. Great result though:smile:

Must just say that the atmosphere from the home fans today was probably one of the worst I have not heard for ages. I know they didn't have much to shout about but christ that was poor.

Didn't hear a song, chant, an "ooh!" or anything.

It must be one of the easiest stadia to get to by train, the platform is almost one of the stands! I thought the stadium was alright, nothing special but nothing ghastly.

One very good save from Ox', a couple of heart-stopping moments in defence but that happens anyway. Fortune nearly topped the day very early in the second half. Kightly nicked the ball from their midfielder to setup the goal (not shown on the CH5 highlights) so hats off there.

For me Leonard 8, all the others 7. Nobody excelled really but more importantly nobody looked bad.