Walsall’s freefall continued at home to lowly Watford today, as Lee Cook’s deflected strike took the Saddlers’ winless run to eight.
Colin Lee made one change to the team which dominated Nottingham Forest so well for 45 minutes last week, bringing in Scottish international Paul Ritchie for groin victim Ian Roper. Elsewhere, Neil Emblem played on the left wing and Jorge Leitao in midfield whilst Jamie Lawrence – fresh from opening his Walsall goal-scoring account – was omitted from the sixteen…not that anyone was complaining!
Watford began strongly and should have been ahead before their fifteenth minute opener. Neil Ardley’s right wing cross fell to Gavin Mahon whose left foot shot smacked off the crossbar and somehow Paul Devin failed to turn the ball into an empty net from a tight angle. The Hornets did find the target soon after however, although whether or not Cook can claim his fourth goal of the season is debatable; Vinny Samways – who was playing with a slight injury which forced him off at half time – tried to turn his way out of trouble inside his own area, only to lose the ball to Cook. The diminutive striker’s effort lacked precision but deflected wickedly off a Walsall player and trickled past captain Jimmy Walker.
Leitao had Walsall’s best chance of the half, but his close range volley was kept out by on loan Chelsea keeper Lenny Pidgeley and the Portuguese striker was unable to turn the ball in at the second attempt as the grounded keeper thwarted him again.
Kris Taylor replaced Samways at the break and was soon in the thick of the action, bringing down Devlin, who retaliated and both players were booked.
Pedro Matias – in place of Gary Birch – and then Mark Wright – in place of Simon Osborn – were sent on as Colin Lee’s men chased the game, but to no avail. Neil Emblen’s drive was tipped around the post and both he and Matias fired over in the closing stages. The Saddlers were also denied two penalties as Leitao was clearly pushed over in front of the Purple Stand when chasing a through ball whilst Gary Wales was aggrieved when a Watford shoulder deprived him of a shooting opportunity in the box.
Watford’s win makes them level on points with Walsall and it is difficult to see where our next point will come, with tough games against Wigan, Sunderland and West Ham upcoming. Too many players lacked heart today and it is also worrying when the manager tells the local radio station that his players ‘baffle him sometimes’. The three strikers required crosses into the box but this only happened when the two wingers were sent on in the second half. The midfield trio of Emblem. Osborn and Samways are also too old and slow to play together and were overrun throughout. Colin Lee must halt this alarming run of results very soon…