Walsall Web Fans looks back at a League Two game between Walsall and Shrewsbury Town on Boxing Day 2006 under Richard Money at Bescot Stadium. The Saddlers were already on 49 points at this, the half way point of the season, leading the division by four points over nearest club MK Dons. Our old Shropshire rivals were in 14th position. There was a terrific atmosphere inside the ground with 8,345 in hoping to see a derby-day classic. As ever in these battles, there was only a single goal in the game in what was a lively encounter with a Walsall player given a first half red card. Continue reading
Category Archives: Match From The Day
Match From The Day – Portsmouth H 2000
Walsall Web Fans looks back on an important game between Walsall and Portsmouth which took place on Saturday April 29th, 2000 in what was known as the Nationwide League 1 (now The Championship) under Ray Graydon. It was imperative that The Saddlers should win this one. It was the last home game of the season with Walsall occupying 22nd place in the table on 43 points, two behind West Bromwich Albion and five behind Crewe, the only two clubs Walsall could change places with to avoid the drop. Continue reading
Match From The Day – Coventry (A) 1984
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a brilliant night in the history of Walsall Football Club on October 9th, 1984, in the second Leg of the Second Round of the Milk Cup against Coventry City at Highfield Road, in which The Saddlers were trailing 1-2 from the previous game at Fellows Park. Walsall had enjoyed terrific success the previous season reaching the Semi Finals with those memorable games with Liverpool and Arsenal. Coventry were also a top flight club and were in 20th position in the First Division whilst Walsall were in 11th spot in the Third Division. Despite The Sky Blues lowly position they were expected to progress, what with having home advantage plus the 2-1 first leg lead. City included in their line up midfield general Kenny Hibbitt who was destined to manage Walsall six years later. Continue reading
Match From The Day – Hartlepool (H) 2006
Walsall Web Fans looks back to an early season game between Walsall and Hartlepool United on Saturday August 12th, 2006 in which The Saddlers recorded a 2-0 win but were far from convincing but nevertheless won the game with two smartly taken goals in recording their third successive victory in new manager Richard Money’s regime in the first eight days of the season in which his team had beaten Rochdale away on the opening day and secured a midweek victory on home soil against Stockport so after this game Saddlers found themselves leading the table having scored five goals without a reply.
Match From The Day – Tranmere Rovers (A) 1989
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a Barclays Third Division game between Tranmere Rovers and Walsall at Prenton Park on November 10th, 1989. Tranmere were enjoying a decent season and occupied fifth place going into the game whilst Walsall were 20th and having a poor time following on from their relegation from the Second Division in May taking just one point from their previous five league games and finding goals so hard to come by.
Match From The Day – Lincoln City (H) 1993/4
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a great win for Walsall over Lincoln City at Bescot Stadium on 20th November 1993. Continue reading
Match From The Day – Portsmouth (A) 1999/00
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a Nationwide Football League Division One fixture between Portsmouth and Walsall on Tuesday October 19th, 1999 at Fratton Park. The Saddlers went into this game on something of a high following back-to-back wins over West Midlands rivals Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, both by 1-0 scorelines.
Match From The Day – Notts County (A) 1986
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a Third Division game between Notts County and Walsall on November 8th 1986 at Meadow Lane. Following a terrible start to the season Walsall went into this game unbeaten in four games. Tommy Coakley was happy to field an unchanged side. Walsall included former Notts favourite Trevor Christie in attack whilst County included two men who were later to have spells with The Saddlers, Ian Mc Parland and Mark Goodwin. Walsall started off quite brightly and made most of the early running. David Kelly opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Home defender Benjamin made a right hash of an intended back pass and ‘Ned’ darted in to notch his 12th goal of the season. Both sides finished the half in positive style and Gary Childs scoped one over the bar whilst Goodwin had a great chance to draw his side level but his shot was too weak to cause Fred Barber any trouble
Match From The Day – Southampton (A)
Walsall Web Fans looks back at the game between Southampton and Walsall that took place at St Mary’s on Saturday February 27th, 2010. This was of course Saddlers first ever visit to the stadium. Saints had already beaten Walsall 3-1 at Bescot in the December and many thought they were the best team Saddlers had faced that campaign. Walsall were in 9th place in League One going into this game with 43 points. Southampton were in 11th with 38 points but had faced a 10 point deduction for entering administration. Manager Chris Hutchings dropped veteran goalkeeper Clayton Ince for this game and gave the jersey to Rene Gilmartin and it proved quite a test for the youngster.
Match From The Day – Charlton Athletic (H) 2000
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a high scoring game between Walsall and Charlton Athletic on Tuesday March 7th, 2000 which was played out with the SKY TV cameras in attendance. On the field there were two goals from a Charlton midfielder destined to join The Saddlers a few years later whilst off the field Walsall fans popped a few thousand red balloons at kick off time for their support of the players and manager Ray Graydon whilst after the game a couple of hundred angry fans demonstrated in the car park against the running of the club and the lack of transfer funds to finance better quality players. Walsall were in 20th place in Nationwide League One( the second tier ) whilst Charlton had a 6 point lead at the top of the table. Saddlers had enjoyed a 1-0 home success against Grimsby the previous Saturday and were looking to get something out of this game.
Match From The Day – Oldham (A) 2008
Walsall Web Fans looks back at the game between Oldham Athletic and Walsall played at Boundary Park on Tuesday November 25th 2008 which ended in heartbreak for the Saddlers players and fans alike as the home side won the game in the 89th minute. Walsall had taken a 0-3 beating at home to MK Dons the previous Saturday and were looking to bounce back. They had been playing indifferent football for weeks and the pressure was on Jimmy Mullen who had already began to lose the support of some fans. The Saddlers went into this game minus three key players who were out through injury-Clayton Ince, Jabo Ibehre and Stephen Roberts however there was a surprise return for Stephen Hughes who had taken a hefty knock in that MK Dons game. With Ince’s unavailability there was a chance for young keeper Rene Gilmartin between the sticks. Mullen had opted for a 4-4-2 line up with Michael Ricketts and Troy Deeney up front.
Match From The Day – Brighton (H) 2009
Walsall Web Fans looks back at the game between Walsall and Brighton And Hove Albion on Tuesday March 17th, 2009. It was the game after the five-nil home defeat to Bristol Rovers the previous Saturday and The Saddlers were looking to get that thrashing out of their system. Walsall were mid table a couple of months into Chris Hutchings spell as manager whilst Brighton were battling against relegation. As it turned out Walsall didn’t disappoint as they raced into a 3-0 lead by the 39th minute.
Match From The Day – Brentford (H) 1986
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a seven-goal thriller in a Third Division game between Walsall and Brentford on Saturday October 25th 1986 in this Tommy Coakley’s first season in charge at Fellows Park. Walsall came into this game in 23rd position in the table following a terrible start to the season whereas the visitors were in 13th place. Also present at the ground that afternoon was new owner and charman Terry Ramsden who had flown in from America to check on his team and his manager and later met his players in the dressing room after the game.
Match From The Day – Plymouth (A) 1989
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a Division Two game at Home Park on Saturday January 21st, 1989. The Saddlers were having a torrid time, bottom of the second tier of the Football League (now The Championship) following 13 successive league defeats. This was the first game in charge for John Barnwell, who had moved into the Fellows Park hot seat the Tuesday leading up to the game, after seeing off Ray Graydon and caretaker manager Ray Train who were shortlisted. In total Walsall had not won in 20 league and cup games so were hoping for a change of fortunes under ‘Barney’.
Match From The Day – MK Dons (A) 2009
Walsall Web Fans looks back to the penultimate game of the 2008-9 season between MK Dons and Walsall which took place on Saturday April 25th. A win for the home side would have rubber-stamped their automatic promotion to the Championship whilst the Saddlers still had hopes of finishing their season in 10th position should they win their last two games. Walsall made two changes from the side who lost at home to Huddersfield. There was a welcome return in goal for Clayton Ince and with striker Michael Ricketts out with an achilles injury Dwayne Mattis was drafted in leaving Jabo Ibehre and Troy Deeney in attack.
Match From The Day – Yeovil (A) 2008
Walsall Web Fans looks back to the opening day fixture of the 2008-9 season between Yeovil Town and Walsall which was played on Saturday August 9th.New manager Jimmy Mullen had made several summer signings and Steve Roberts, Stephen Hughes, Sofiene Zaaboub and Jabo Ibhere all made their Walsall FC debuts. Michael Ricketts was making his first appearance of his third spell with the club whilst Netan Sansara who had come up from the ranks was making his debut too.
Walsall Vs Leyton Orient – Match From The Day (H) 2009
Walsall Web Fans looks back to the game between Walsall and Leyton Orient at the Bescot Stadium on December 19th 2009. This was to be Walsall’s last game for a month as the big freeze set in. The Saddlers had lost their previous two league games, away at Millwall (1-2) and at home to Southampton (1-3) but were still in a fairly good position in the table in 10th position on 30 points just 3 points behind 7th placed MK Dons and were looking to win this game to edge closer. Leyton Orient meanwhile were having a terrible season and were in 20th place.The ‘O’s had secured just 7 points on the road from a possible 30. Troy Deeney and Jamie Vincent returned for The Saddlers.
Match From The Day – Swindon Town (A) 2007 Both teams celebrate!
Walsall Web Fans looks back at a memorable afternoon from a League Two fixture between Swindon Town and Walsall on Saturday May 5th, 2007 on the last day of the season when The Robins grabbed the third automatic promotion spot and Walsall became League Two champions following the game’s 1-1 draw and Hartlepool losing 2-1 to Bristol Rovers. It was Walsall’s first major trophy since winning the old 4th Division championship back in 1960. For Swindon boss Paul Sturrock it was his 4th promotion in six years with two at Plymouth and one at Sheffield Wednesday over this period. For Walsall manager Richard Money it was a marvellous achievement in his first season in the hot seat.
Match From The Day – Rochdale (H) 2007
Walsall Web Fans looks back to a League Two fixture between Walsall and Rochdale on February 3rd 2007. An important game with Walsall three points clear at the top of the table having only being beaten once in their previous nine games. By contrast struggling Rochdale needed points for another reason-they were in eighteenth spot just two points above the drop zone. This game will always be remembered for a special goal by young centre back Scott Dann.
Match From The Day – Colchester United (A) 2008
Walsall Web Fans looks back at The Saddlers first ever visit to the Weston Homes Community Stadium for the League One fixture between Colchester United and Walsall on Saturday November 15th, 2008. United were having a torrid time at their new home, winning just one of their opening nine games in their new surroundings since their switch from Layer Road. With the U’s fresh from their relegation it was dismal times for the Essex club. For Walsall fans, the knives were already out for manager Jimmy Mullen, who had taken over from Richard Money, following early exits in the JPT and the FA Cup and disappointing form in the league which had seen Walsall winning just two of their previous nine games in all competitions leading up to this game. However there was a chance to keep up with the pace setters if the team could get a result from this fixture.