SWINDON TOWN 2 WALSALL 2: Fans grumble on as Saddlers steal share of spoils (From Swindon Advertiser)
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SWINDON TOWN 2 WALSALL 2: Fans grumble on as Saddlers steal share of spoils
6:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport By Sam Morshead
FALSE DAWN: Andy Williams celebrates his opening goal
TWO years ago today, Swindon Town were sitting bottom of League One after a 1-0 defeat at Plymouth.
The fans and the players had held their own, very public slanging match at Home Park, the dressing room was divided into cliques and relegation was almost inevitable.
Fast forward two years to March 11, 2013. But for Walsall midfielder Jamie Paterson’s 90th-minute equaliser, Town would be celebrating leapfrogging Sheffield United into the top two. Yet mumbles of discontent still emerged after 90 frustrating but hardly appalling minutes at the County Ground on Saturday.
The local radio phone-in was sprinkled with opinions even Eeyore would have branded melancholy. Perhaps after a game like that a little perspective is in order.
Walsall came to Wiltshire fresh off the back of a run of eight wins and just one defeat in 11 league outings. Dean Smith has rekindled the fires at the Banks’s Stadium and the Saddlers are now genuine play-off contenders.
Yet, for the most part, Swindon held the upper hand against the in-form team in the division. Though the new-fangled system, with Simon Ferry operating in a free role from the right, still needs work, there was plenty to suggest once again that a Kevin MacDonald team will play entertaining and free-flowing football.
Defensively, Swindon looked a little suspect on the counter attack. Having taken the lead through Andy Williams, and a large deflection off Andy Butler’s right elbow, they controlled possession for long periods but there was an air of fragility about the way they dealt with Febian Brandy and Paterson bombing forward down either flank.
Walsall dragged themselves back into the game with a penalty, conceded by Tommy Miller for a foul on Brandy. On first glance it seemed a stonewall spot-kick, as Miller came from behind to take ball and man, the replays suggested otherwise.
Will Grigg notched his sixth goal in three matches from 12 yards but Town took charge again in the second half and, with 11 minutes remaining, Simon Ferry bundled home after Aaron McCarey had spilled Adam Rooney’s shot.
But Swindon couldn’t hang on. A ring-rusty Joe Devera was caught out by Ashley Hemmings’ pace down the Town right with injury time approaching and the winger delivered an inch-perfect cross for Paterson to nod home.
Frustration all round, but hardly a sign of the impending apocalypse that some would have had you believe on your drive home.
Town’s first chance came in the fourth minute. Nathan Thompson’s cross from the right was headed gently at McCarey by James Collins.
Walsall came close to breaking the deadlock four minutes later when Brandy was found unmarked at the back post by Paterson’s cross. However, the diminutive midfielder couldn’t rise high enough to guide his header on target.
Swindon made the most of that slight let-off in the 11th minute. Williams twisted and turned his marker’s legs into a knot on the right wing, cut inside the penalty area onto his left foot and drove at goal.
The ball bounced off Butler’s flailing right arm and looped over McCarey. It was the piece of good fortune that Town were desperately seeking, but they couldn’t make the most of it.
Miller and Alan McCormack both tested the Walsall keeper from range but McCarey made two unconvincing saves, before the visitors get themselves back on level terms just after the half-hour mark.
When Miller went to ground to win the ball from underneath Brandy’s feet 15 yards from goal, referee Darren Drysdale had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Grigg, the hottest striking property in the division at present, made no mistake from the spot despite Wes Foderingham diving the right way.
Less than two minutes after being dragged level, Swindon should have gone back in front. Williams crossed neatly from the right and, at the back post, Roberts miscued his volley wide.
It was the last major chance for either side before the interval and after the break Town resumed control of proceedings.
Aden Flint headed wide from Roberts’ corner when he should have hit the target, having done well to outmuscle his marker and reach the ball in the first place, while McCormack sent a dipping volley inches over the crossbar.
But the Robins continued to look susceptible on the counter. Grigg twice found space inside the Town penalty area without producing the killer finish as Walsall continued to threaten.
However, just as the Saddlers were settling into the best period of the game, they fell behind for a second time.
Rooney cut in from the right and fired a shot at McCarey, who somehow managed to spill the ball back into the six-yard box and there was Ferry to scoop home with his left foot. With 11 minutes left, surely a defence which hadn’t conceded twice in the league since the trip to Crewe in October wouldn’t let one in now?
Unfortunately it didn’t play out that way. Hemmings was thrown on to add a little extra zest to the Walsall attack in the dying stages and, with Thompson having to be withdrawn with what appears to be a knee injury, the winger found space behind Devera to get to the byline and find Paterson’s forehead with tremendous accuracy.
Paterson obliged from eight yards, as neither Foderingham nor the backtracking Flint could clear off the line. Cue frustration at the County Ground.
Frustration, not Armageddon.
Comments(16)
Stickshaker
says...
8:03am Mon 11 Mar 13
Since 1950 wrote:You should sit in the middle of the DRS mate.....Swindon fans whingeing for 90 mins......get behind the flammin team!
I didn't hear much moaning from Fans on Saturday. We met Walsall when they were on the form of their season, much like 'pools at the CG. We could have got nothing from the game tbh. The only thing I found frustrating was our inability to hang on to the ball. We gave it away at every opportunity. Their equaliser was almost inevitable. We have a hell of a run in and need some good loan players in quickly if we are going to challenge for a top two finish. COYR!
P*ssed Off
says...
8:20am Mon 11 Mar 13
Stickshaker wrote:There was plenty of moaning going on where we sit in the DR stand too. Most if the moaning goes on in these pages anyway - especially from those who never/can't go to the matches!
Since 1950 wrote:You should sit in the middle of the DRS mate.....Swindon fans whingeing for 90 mins......get behind the flammin team!
I didn't hear much moaning from Fans on Saturday. We met Walsall when they were on the form of their season, much like 'pools at the CG. We could have got nothing from the game tbh. The only thing I found frustrating was our inability to hang on to the ball. We gave it away at every opportunity. Their equaliser was almost inevitable. We have a hell of a run in and need some good loan players in quickly if we are going to challenge for a top two finish. COYR!
Pewsham Red
says...
8:59am Mon 11 Mar 13
Davidsyrett
says...
9:03am Mon 11 Mar 13
Since 1950
says...
9:13am Mon 11 Mar 13
Stickshaker wrote:Go sit somewhere else then. I sit in the DR towards the Town End. Some of ue were trying to get behind the team but it was very frustrating.
Since 1950 wrote: I didn't hear much moaning from Fans on Saturday. We met Walsall when they were on the form of their season, much like 'pools at the CG. We could have got nothing from the game tbh. The only thing I found frustrating was our inability to hang on to the ball. We gave it away at every opportunity. Their equaliser was almost inevitable. We have a hell of a run in and need some good loan players in quickly if we are going to challenge for a top two finish. COYR!You should sit in the middle of the DRS mate.....Swindon fans whingeing for 90 mins......get behind the flammin team!
Rebel_phish
says...
9:42am Mon 11 Mar 13
Yet its not quite that simple. People say our away form is better than our home, and recent matches would sugest that. Fact is we have gained 31 pts from 19 at home and and 32 pts from 17 away. So yes slightly better, but marginal.
At the moment we are not averaging 2 pts a game; 63 pts from 36 games, BUT NOR IS ANYONE ELSE.
We have to play 4 of the current top 6, away from home. Win those and promotion could be secured (oh, and win a few of others as well).
We can afford to drop points, but maybe not against promotion rivals. We are stll in with a very good shout at the autos and even the Title. Play-offs, while not a gimme should be the bare minimum - then its a lottery.
My take come the end of May is;
Doncaster
Swindon
Yeovil
Sheffield U
Perm any 2 from that 4 for the auto spots. With,
Tranmere
Coventry
Walsall
Bradford
For the scrap over the remaining play-off places. MK Dons could make a late surge and maybe just miss out.
My gut says it will finish as this
1 - Doncaster
2 - Yeovil
3 - Swindon
4 - Sheffield U
5 - Tranmere
6 - Walsall
With about 3 points separating the lot. I do hope I'm wrong though. Couldn't stand another disapointing day out at Wembley, stuck in the carpart for an hour: miserable, dejected, frustrated and thoroughly dispondant.
class
says...
9:43am Mon 11 Mar 13
The play against Walsall was harder to accept. The problems seemed to stem from the formation and tactics employed. This after the first full week of training under the new management team.
Whilst I would love STFC to play attractive flowing football based upon possession passing and movement surely it must be done within the limits of the players ability? We are “only” a League 1 team aspiring to be in the Championship. The manner of play across the back four, very occasionally linking to the midfield, was verging on SUICIDAL. A team pressing a fraction more that Walsall would likely have stolen the ball from us frequently and created even more chances. The number of times the ball was played back to Wes who was under instant pressure was staggering. I have not been so conscious of play like that for over two years now.
We have not got to the position we currently have in the league with the exceptional goal difference and lack of goals against playing like this.
Nathan seemed to be constantly exposed by a lack of cover from a right sided midfielder in front of him. I like Ferry very much and think we play better when he is in the team but wide on the right does not appear to be the best use of his talents.
The lack of width on the right was disappointment given that we had four players at least in the match day squad used to playing out wide. Even more frustrating was the ponderous central midfield. I cannot believe Miller lasted the 90 minutes. He biggest contribution being the tackle that gave away a penalty. Late to the ball again? The game was begging for Ferry to be moved into the centre and a wide man out to the right.
If the set up isn’t tweaked tomorrow and the tactics revised I can imagine is being quite easily overrun or bullied into submission. #seventhplace
Davidsyrett
says...
10:47am Mon 11 Mar 13
class wrote:strange how peoples view differ.
To some degree I felt that the performance on Saturday was more of a concern than the dismal display against Bury. Against Bury we were bereft of ideas and passion and struggled to play as a team. Thoroughly out of character in recent times so I could believe it may have been just a blip. Not surprising given the run of events leading up to that game?
The play against Walsall was harder to accept. The problems seemed to stem from the formation and tactics employed. This after the first full week of training under the new management team.
Whilst I would love STFC to play attractive flowing football based upon possession passing and movement surely it must be done within the limits of the players ability? We are “only” a League 1 team aspiring to be in the Championship. The manner of play across the back four, very occasionally linking to the midfield, was verging on SUICIDAL. A team pressing a fraction more that Walsall would likely have stolen the ball from us frequently and created even more chances. The number of times the ball was played back to Wes who was under instant pressure was staggering. I have not been so conscious of play like that for over two years now.
We have not got to the position we currently have in the league with the exceptional goal difference and lack of goals against playing like this.
Nathan seemed to be constantly exposed by a lack of cover from a right sided midfielder in front of him. I like Ferry very much and think we play better when he is in the team but wide on the right does not appear to be the best use of his talents.
The lack of width on the right was disappointment given that we had four players at least in the match day squad used to playing out wide. Even more frustrating was the ponderous central midfield. I cannot believe Miller lasted the 90 minutes. He biggest contribution being the tackle that gave away a penalty. Late to the ball again? The game was begging for Ferry to be moved into the centre and a wide man out to the right.
If the set up isn’t tweaked tomorrow and the tactics revised I can imagine is being quite easily overrun or bullied into submission. #seventhplace
I thought the way we played sat. was far better than the last few months of hoofball that PdC seemed to be developing.
Our strength's are when we get the ball down and play on the deck, I was relieved that our defenders where making themselves available for the ball when Wes got hold of it.
I think our problem on sat was in midfield where we failed to create many meaningful passes through to the forwards, in particular the crossing was awful.
Whilst the 2 forwards arn't the greatest they do need alot better service than they are getting at the moment, I think that is why KMac is looking to bring in midfielders/ wingers rather than forwards.
Lets also give Wallsall credit, they looked a very useful team especially their No. 10 who ran the show.
Oi Den!
says...
10:53am Mon 11 Mar 13
Oxon-Red
says...
1:06pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Rebel_phish wrote:Rebel,
There is no need for any doom and gloom. Win your home games, draw away games and finish with 92 points and the title. EASY. Yet its not quite that simple. People say our away form is better than our home, and recent matches would sugest that. Fact is we have gained 31 pts from 19 at home and and 32 pts from 17 away. So yes slightly better, but marginal. At the moment we are not averaging 2 pts a game; 63 pts from 36 games, BUT NOR IS ANYONE ELSE. We have to play 4 of the current top 6, away from home. Win those and promotion could be secured (oh, and win a few of others as well). We can afford to drop points, but maybe not against promotion rivals. We are stll in with a very good shout at the autos and even the Title. Play-offs, while not a gimme should be the bare minimum - then its a lottery. My take come the end of May is; Doncaster Swindon Yeovil Sheffield U Perm any 2 from that 4 for the auto spots. With, Tranmere Coventry Walsall Bradford For the scrap over the remaining play-off places. MK Dons could make a late surge and maybe just miss out. My gut says it will finish as this 1 - Doncaster 2 - Yeovil 3 - Swindon 4 - Sheffield U 5 - Tranmere 6 - Walsall With about 3 points separating the lot. I do hope I'm wrong though. Couldn't stand another disapointing day out at Wembley, stuck in the carpart for an hour: miserable, dejected, frustrated and thoroughly dispondant.
Tend to agree but anyone in the top 8 could get an auto spot with a Yeovil, Walsall, Bournemouth type run-in.
Don't see Bradford making it as they are mid-table in League 2 :-)
COYMR
Swindon1984
says...
1:31pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Oi Den! wrote:Definite weaknesses in midfield, Macca was fantastic at closing down the play and surged forwards at times, and you could see the Walsall players had a bit of fear of him. His final ball was poor though a lot of the time, and hence why Ferry needs to play in the centre. We miss Ritchie on that ring win, no question - maybe Luke Rooney out there or Roberts on the right/DeVita left? Miller I'm still not entirely sure of, not consistent enough.
class, I think you make a lot of very good points. In MacDonald's defence, though, I would say that it's very difficult to come in and pick up a threadbare squad and get the best out of it immediately. The fact that he is looking to strengthen the midfield is a sign that he recognises where the weakness is. Like you, I think some tweaking is required for tomorrow. However, if any new signings do arrive in time, I believe tomorrow may be too soon to play them - from the start anyway. Let's get Ferry into the middle with McCormack and the energy of Williams and Luke Rooney on the flanks. If that doesn't work, then maybe we need to accept that we don't have a squad that's strong enough to stay in the race. Those new faces would be needed then.
Biggest disappointment for me Saturday was the way we reacted after the goal, I can see the logic in keeping the ball but you can't run the clock down for 80 minutes (or even less than ten by the end!) and by knocking it around aimlessly in our own half we invited pressure. Would have been nice to see real confidence and go for a second straight away. Not a disastrous result though, the sort of game you'd come away from as a coach recognising that there's a lot of work to do and some issues that need to be addressed, but also that there's a lot of promise there once the creases are ironed out. Have to remember Kevin Mac's still familiarising himself with the team and trying to find a system that works, four points from his first two games in charge is a pretty decent return.
Rebel_phish
says...
2:06pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Oxon-Red wrote:Ooops !
Rebel_phish wrote:Rebel,
There is no need for any doom and gloom. Win your home games, draw away games and finish with 92 points and the title. EASY. Yet its not quite that simple. People say our away form is better than our home, and recent matches would sugest that. Fact is we have gained 31 pts from 19 at home and and 32 pts from 17 away. So yes slightly better, but marginal. At the moment we are not averaging 2 pts a game; 63 pts from 36 games, BUT NOR IS ANYONE ELSE. We have to play 4 of the current top 6, away from home. Win those and promotion could be secured (oh, and win a few of others as well). We can afford to drop points, but maybe not against promotion rivals. We are stll in with a very good shout at the autos and even the Title. Play-offs, while not a gimme should be the bare minimum - then its a lottery. My take come the end of May is; Doncaster Swindon Yeovil Sheffield U Perm any 2 from that 4 for the auto spots. With, Tranmere Coventry Walsall Bradford For the scrap over the remaining play-off places. MK Dons could make a late surge and maybe just miss out. My gut says it will finish as this 1 - Doncaster 2 - Yeovil 3 - Swindon 4 - Sheffield U 5 - Tranmere 6 - Walsall With about 3 points separating the lot. I do hope I'm wrong though. Couldn't stand another disapointing day out at Wembley, stuck in the carpart for an hour: miserable, dejected, frustrated and thoroughly dispondant.
Tend to agree but anyone in the top 8 could get an auto spot with a Yeovil, Walsall, Bournemouth type run-in.
Don't see Bradford making it as they are mid-table in League 2 :-)
COYMR
One less to worry about then :0)
Oxon-Red
says...
2:40pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Oi Den! wrote:Den,
class, I think you make a lot of very good points. In MacDonald's defence, though, I would say that it's very difficult to come in and pick up a threadbare squad and get the best out of it immediately. The fact that he is looking to strengthen the midfield is a sign that he recognises where the weakness is. Like you, I think some tweaking is required for tomorrow. However, if any new signings do arrive in time, I believe tomorrow may be too soon to play them - from the start anyway. Let's get Ferry into the middle with McCormack and the energy of Williams and Luke Rooney on the flanks. If that doesn't work, then maybe we need to accept that we don't have a squad that's strong enough to stay in the race. Those new faces would be needed then.
Tend to agree on your points and many have said we need to strengthen the midfield.
First half on Saturday, Nathan was exposed and it was noticeable how we started to get more possession in the second when Roberts switched wings.
The injury to Nathan was unfortunate as I believe he had the winger's measure and had he stayed on the chance for the equaliser may not have happened.
I think it is time to give Luke Rooney a run. He is unpredictable but when on form could deliver the balls that the strikers are looking for.
Sadly, Raffa has been poor recently and on Saturday he was particularly bad. He seems so off the pace at the moment :-(
The Spurs lads sound decent and could be what we need. It will be interesting to see who the third player is, Tom Huddlestone :-0
COYMR
swwindon61uk
says...
6:05pm Mon 11 Mar 13
As for the moaning,i also used to sit in the Don Rogers towards the Town End,S 210,although not to bad there you could hear plenty just to our right.
I have now switched to the Arkells,level with the 18 yard box and it is a lot better there,but you still get some.
I genuinely think some people moan because it makes them feel good about themselves.
As for me,overall never boo or really slag off a player in the ground, i save it all for after match discussions in The Merlin!
Okus Road
says...
8:25pm Mon 11 Mar 13
I cant think of any other reason as STFC are 3rd in the league. playing some of the best football for years, finances looking ok, have new board that have already come up with scheme to fill Stratton Bank.
So get real and start supporting the players at least for the duration of the game.
With some of the supporters we have I wonder if renewing my season ticket was a good idea as it would be a better experience to just go to away games with supporters that do give 100% vocal support.
Anyway to finish on a positive note I still believe we will win the league and I can collect from the bookies again.
Since 1950 says...
7:40am Mon 11 Mar 13
We met Walsall when they were on the form of their season, much like 'pools at the CG. We could have got nothing from the game tbh.
The only thing I found frustrating was our inability to hang on to the ball. We gave it away at every opportunity. Their equaliser was almost inevitable.
We have a hell of a run in and need some good loan players in quickly if we are going to challenge for a top two finish.
COYR!