From Pedagogue:

Saddlers 0 0 Tesco Bagladies
at the Bonks’ssss

Attendance:- not announced, but there was a decent-sized crowd in the Text999OAP stand.

Walsall (4-4-2)
Clayton Ince

Jonathan Borrajo
Rhys Weston
Mark Hughes (Capt.)(Alex Hickman, 74 min.)
Netan Sansara

Sean Geddes
Mark Bradley
Richard Davies
Sam Adkins (Jordan McCourt, 79 min.)

Steve Jones (Dan Partridge, 65 min.)
Jamie Paterson

Unused substitutes:-
Rory Wood
James Wren (gk.)

Manager:- Martin O’Connor

I can only guess that both teams had decided to give up goalscoring for Lent! Rarely have I seen such ineptitude in front of goal. Comparing the respective wage bills of the two teams, though, I would say that the Baggies have the bigger problem. Both teams spurned penalty opportunities, Walsall in the 58th minute when Jones blazed way over the bar and Albion, right at the death, in stoppage time of the second half as Joss Labadie shot tamely straight at Ince. The visitors had started strongly, totally dominating their Walsall counterparts in midfield with their pace and physical presence. Only some desperate last ditch tackles by the Saddlers defence kept the visitors at bay. However, as the game wore on, the Saddlers came more into the game. A draw maybe flattered Walsall a little but not by much.

Ince was generally sound and made some vital blocks but we did have the inevitable “Incy Moment”, shortly before half-time, when he made a complete “pigs-ear” of a relatively simple kicked clearance. Incidentally, the two ‘keepers, Ince and Dean Kiely, have made 90 full international appearances between them. I wonder if that is a record for this level of football?

In defence, triallist, Borrajo, made a nervous start but settled down o.k.; the experience of Weston and Hughes was needed in the first half-hour and they got some valuable match practice; Sansara was o.k., nothing special but nothing dreadful, either.

In midfield, Geddes showed promise in flashes but on the other flank, Adkins contributed little and was frequently out-muscled by his Albion opposite number, Giles Barnes. In the centre of midfield, Bradley continues to frustrate – just the occasional classy touch but, all too often, he failed to impose himself against admittedly very powerful opponents. Davies, on his return from loan, was the pick of the midfield and he at least looked like a player striving for a first-team place and a new contract.

Up front, Jones got in 65 useful minutes match practice. He looked sharp – just a shame about the crud penalty! Paterson is a very skilful young player and he showed some classy touches. However, he struggles with the physical side of the games. When he learns to deal with this, he will be a very good player.