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Saddlers 3 -2  Clarets

Nationwide League Division 1

Bescot, Walsall

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Div 1 Latest

Goals

- Cook & Taylor (Burnley) O'Connor (Walsall)

- Walker (Walsall)

Match Report 

It was back to a 4-4-2, the system that has always looked like it suits us. Junior joined Leitao up front, while Robinson sat out with Samways partnering O’Connor in midfield.

The first 15 minutes of the game offered very little. Burnley looked dangerous with both of the Moores exposing spaces down the flanks and delivering good balls in to the box. We looked shaky, and on the whole we were second to most balls.

The first real chances of the game fell to Alan Moore and Gareth Taylor after 10 minutes. Moores shot from the right hand side of the penalty box was tipped around the post by Walker, while Taylor volleyed over from 20 yards out. At this stage of the game many fans would have been fearing the kind of goal glut that finished us off against Milwall, but the Saddlers suddenly woke up and the game changed drastically.

The only Saddlers chances during the opening 20 minutes were a weak Leitao header and a miss-hit O’Connor shot from  the edge of box.

The game changed on 22 minutes when an Aranalde cross was met by the head of Jorge Leitao who seemed to hang in the air for an age before burying the ball in the back of the Burnley net 

The Saddlers suddenly picked up the pace and they started stretching Burnley with some excellent passing moves.  They were showing all the qualities that had been absent in the Sheffield United, Stoke and Milwall games. Their was a real sense of urgency about our play, the ball was being played in to the feet of Junior who was brushing of his markers to play in Leitao or Corica as the Saddlers looked like increasing their lead.

At this stage the referee seemed to be having a splendid game. Anyone that watched him closely would have seen the numerous advantages he played for both sides as he only blew when it was absolutely necessary.

The second Saddlers goal deservedly came 10 minutes later. Martin O’Connor’s shot from 18 yards out forced Beresford to make a fine save and give away a corner which Samways swung in to find Matt Carbon who hammered the ball in to the roof of the net.

The Saddlers were firmly on top of the game as half time came, and the only other chance the Clarets had of any not was a Taylor header that flashed over the bar.

Half Time : Walsall 2-0 Burnley.

The lively Taylor had another shot blocked by Bazeley just after the restart as Burnley put the Saddlers under pressure with a number of corners and long throws which Carbon and Barras competently dealt with.

It was pleasing was that Corica, O’Connor, Samways and Matias were always available to relieve the pressure by moving the ball forward as quickly as possible. Bazeley and Aranalde were always available to over lap and the movement of Junior and Leitao threatened to produce more chances.

The combination play between Jorge, Junior, Corica and Pedro was a joy to watch. With just 10 minutes of the second half played this neat play on the edge of box nearly resulted in Corica sending the Saddlers 3 goals in front but Junior had put to much weight on the through ball. The forwards seemed to be working 10 times harder than they had worked in previous week and it was great to see Leitao hassling defenders down the flanks, and his persistence eventually created a chance for Junior who some how hit the ball over the bar from six yards out when Leitao had done all the hard work.

5 minutes later and Leitao found himself bounding down the right flank again. This time he chose not to head for the by line and sent a shot across the front of Beresford who palmed the ball out in to the feet of the advancing Pedro Matias who hammered the ball home in to an empty net.

How Walsall did not make it 4-0 moments later beggars belief. Again some snappy play out side the penalty area created a chance for Steve Corica who breezed through the Burnley defence, got around Beresford released a shot but had it cleared away by a Burnley defender. Many were frustrated with Corica for not taking his shot earlier, but his actions were the actions of a man lacking confidence, even though he had put in good performance on the day.

At 3-0 the Saddlers seemed to be cruising and were showing no signs of taking their foot of the pedal. This all changed on 70 minutes when Taylor chased a through ball which left the Walsall defence looking flat footed and went to go around Walker who brought him down just outside the six yard box. Jimmy was red carded, Junior was replaced by Sub keeper Gavin Ward and Blake scored for the Clarets to make it 3-1.

The next 20 minutes were going to tell us a lot about the character of the Saddlers. Colin Lee had promised the return of the attacking football we had seen before Christmas. But the other thing  we all remember about that pre Christmas period is the big throw away’s and late comebacks from the opposition, and we weren’t to be disappointed. The Clarets bombarded our penalty box as the Saddlers went 4-4-1 with Leitao the lone man up front. We had 8 men behind the ball with Carbon, Barras, Bazeley and Zigor knocking long balls for the tiring Leitao to chase at every available opportunity.

Walsall hardly created anything during the final 20 minutes, and the inevitable second goal came on 90 minutes courtesy of Little who fired the ball past substitute  keeper Ward.

Fortunately for the Saddlers that was it as far as Burnley were concerned. The 4 minutes of added time past without incident, and Walsall held on to secure a vital win on a day when their rivals also picked up points.

Full Time : Walsall 3-1 Burnley.

Player Form by 4two

Jimmy was careless with penalty. Bazeley and Aranalde were effective. Carbon was the pick of the defenders while Barras had a few dodgy moments. Samways and O'Connor were a cut above their opponents. Pedro continued his good form, while Corica produced one of his best performances for a long while. Leitao and Junior looked dangerous. All the subs played their part. A solid team performance.

After Match Reaction

London Clarets
The Burnley FC London Supporters Club