Nil-Nil Again.

Walsall 0-0 Norwich City

Nationwide League Division 1

Bescot, Walsall

Saddlers Latest

Goals

- None

- None

Match Report By 4two

Robinson slotted in to the midfield 3 instead of the injured Martin O'Connor as Colin Lee stuck with the same system that he played on Tuesday night.

Although the score-line was the same as Tuesdays, this game was certainly more entertaining. 

Jamie Lawrence shot over after just 3 minutes, but Norwich who went on to have the two of the games best 3 chances. Both came from dangerous balls in the penalty box that the Saddlers failed to clear, and when Steen Nedergaard slammed the ball towards the Walsall goal after just 10 minutes it seemed as if the afternoon was going to get off to a bad start for the Saddlers, but thankfully Jim Walker was alert and managed to parry the ball away.

The next best Norwich chance came courtesy of Ian Roper who directed a tricky cross in to the bottom left hand corner of the Walsall goal forcing Jim Walker to leap across the 6 yard box and again parry the ball away.

When Jorge Leitao raced clear of Mackay and Fleming, all he had to do was shoot early, square it to Junior or side step the keeper, and unfortunalty for the Saddlers Jorge did neither and allowed Green to snatch the ball away from his feet. That was Walsall's best chance of the game, and one of the games 3 best chances.

The Saddlers went in at half time having seen Carbon and Junior also have half chances, while the Canaries had seen David Healy waste a long range effort. 

HT - 0:0

The second half was not as interesting as the first, despite Junior sent an effort from outside of the box wide of Greens goal.  Neither side seemed able to get behind the others back line which resulted in plenty of long range efforts.  Nedergaard went on to shoot over, while Healy tested Walker from outside the box moments later.

Robinson went on to shoot over the bar as the Saddlers ran out of options inside the area, and with minutes to go Leitao again failed to take advantage of another through ball as Green raced out of his goal to clear the ball away.

The introduction of Pedro and Corica was a good move by Lee, and it gave the Saddlers more options in the final third as Pedro put some good balls in to the box.

The Saddlers saw off a late charge by the Canaries who had a series of corners, but a draw was probably the fairest result, as neither side had dominated the game

FT: 0-0

Form

• Walker - Made 3 important saves (2 1st half, 1 2nd).
• Wrack - Wasn't able to get forward enough.
• Aranalde - Like Wrack, not much chance to get forward
• Carbon - Didn't get injured ! Had a decent game
• Roper - Kept their forwards quiet.
• Barass - Good performance again.
• Robinson - One of his best performances since arriving.
• Lawrence - 1 or 2 good moments, poor crossing at times.
• Samways - His best performance so far, sat in front of the back 3 and moped up.
• Junior - Managed to win a header! To one footed at times.
• Leitao - Full of running, but failed to take advantage of 2 one-on-one chances.
• Corica & Matias, both created chances and gave the Saddlers different dimension in the final third.

Reaction : 4two - We should be safe now....cannot see Brighton winning all of their last 3 games to catch us !