My Walsall view: One third of the job done

Fantastic as we all must have felt at full time yesterday, and still this morning, we have two more big jobs to do. Finish Walsall off next Thursday and then roll over Bradford or Millwall in the final. Shouldn't be too difficult, any of that

I'm writing this with the stellar experience of being there still fresh in my mind plus seeing the Sky four-minute highlight package and, as usual, I will try to add a few original comments to those that have already been eloquently made by others. As far as the performance goes I would have to say 10 out of 10 for all of the starting eleven. How could anyone criticise any one of them. Surely no one did, did they. Oh hang on.......

It was one of the most enjoyable times I have ever spent at Oakwell but I will get one little gripe out of the way first. Obviously there were lots of newbies at Oakwell yesterday - well, not regulars anyway - and I was unlucky enough to have one big bloke in my eyeline every time we went forward in the second half. Not seen him there before but he was on Row L, ESL, probably seat number 105 or 106. Are you reading this? I missed the ball rocketing into the net from SSW's first because he was up. I had to follow his lead after that, for fear of missing more great action. Jumping up WHEN we score is one thing. Getting up every time we cross the half way line is unacceptable.

But back to the good stuff and I would urge everyone to look at the beginning of that Sky highlights package again. The look on "Little Alfie's" face as he was led out by "Big Alfie" was absolutely priceless. I'm filling up now just thinking about it. What a thrill for the lad, in front of such a big crowd and knowing he was on the telly. Here's the link again:
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/10282340/barnsley-3-0-walsall

We didn't get into them as quickly as I had hoped but the momentum soon built up, from both sides to be honest. Walsall are no mugs, as they showed us earlier in the season. I was keeping a particular eye on Sawyers, Bradshaw and Lalkovic, expecting them to do the damage (if any). Sawyers didn't put a put wrong throughout but, on the other hand, he didn't really hurt us either. Lalkovic had a couple of decent runs at us but that was it. Bradshaw - pfffftt, and taken off in the second half.

Our lads, from back to front, on the other had were all on the top of their game. I'll mention Lloyd Isgrove first because he had a storming game and their highly rated left back couldn't handle him. That fizzing shot that the keeper somehow deflected over deserved a goal and then came the "offside" one. Shocking decision by a linesmen clearly not up to his job. He and the man in the middle could have cost us that game but we were better than that. We could have gone one down, undeservedly, from that free kick that Davies beat out. I bet that was a wrong decision as well, as most of them were, but the save was brilliant. I'm sure that we have all noticed that he is getting into the habit of making at least one match winning save every game, and that top corner double-punch out was a cracker.

It helps him, of course, having such a rock-like defence in front of him. I won't repeat other comments other than to say stunning performances from all of them. Alfie Mawson is growing game by game into a multi-million pound defender and we could end up making more from him than the John Stones deal. Not yet though, please! The only fault with Marc Roberts, that I can see, is his habit of launching aimless long balls, usually out for a goal kick. Cut those out and he is destined for the top as well.

Super Sam and Fletch have formed a dynamic partnership up front and, like the Colchester game, I was a bit sad to realise that we may never see Fletcher at Oakwell again. So much depends on the next few weeks of course - who stays, who goes? I want them all to stay but we will have to wait and see where we end up. Sam seemed to step up several gears yesterday, both in performance and actual speed on the ground. He's been a bit slower in recent weeks but yesterday he was motoring. It wasn't his dribbling skills that got him clear for goal number three, it was his speed. Astonishing goal and a brilliant finish. First with his right, second with his left. Shame he couldn't plant a header in as well for another perfect hat trick.

Can't leave the Sky package without one more comment, concerning Sam's first goal. Listen to the commentary. Apparently it was Bradshaw "being given so much time and space" near the Walsall goal. No wonder we beat them with one own goal and then their centre forward trying to score at the wrong end. Speaking of OGs, what a shame that Adam's effort was taken away from him. It was a brilliantly worked chance from Winnall and a great finish. Sure, it took a deflection, but it was Hammill's goal for me. What he was doing celebrating by that corner flag though I don't know. He should have gone to the East Stand side!

To sum up, a great occasion and a great result in front of the loudest Oakwell crowd I've heard for years. Shame that various elements kept the numbers down to just over sixteen thousand. I was hoping for closer to 20,000. That will just have to wait for next season's fixtures against Wednesday and Newcastle

 

Great report as usual, agree with everything there, Roberts is an immense player who will only improve, I cant understand how a player of his stature has wallowed in the non league for so long...and alongside Alfie...what a partnership.....yesterday was one of those magical days, Oakwell was rocking, it must push the players that extra few %.......

 

Si'darn!
I was on my feet for a fair bit of the second half. ESL Row L but further along. Wouldn't call it unacceptable given the excitement.

I don't think Hammill can claim that goal, he horribly scuffed it and it was going well wide. We were due a bit of luck after the offside decision.

Winnall's second reminded me of the goal he scored away at Colchester (?) where he picked it up near the halfway line and just ran with it before slotting a great finish past the keeper.

 

Thanks for that Arnside. I can only think Roberts was a bad lad in his late teens and it held him back. He is certainly a late starter. A certain Micky Butler springs to mind there - he was in his twenties when we plucked him away from the pit and Worsborough Bridge FC.

 

Yes, except that at Colchester he had a guard of honour escort from the half way line, then a written invitation to slot it in.

Yesterday he burst through the lot of them and they couldn't keep up with him.

 

Had the opposite experience you did. I took my young lad with me in the west upper for the first time in years and although it was very cramped and hard to move around, the folk in there were older or families and it was nice for my lad that people only stood up just before the goals.

Disagree about the 3rd goal though, it wasn't just speed; watch Sam's timing and weighting on his touch of the ball to beat the last man and give himself time to beat the oncoming keeper.

 

Good grief, if people stand up in there can you see any of the pitch at all, with the roof being so low? I had one season up there way, way back in 1966 when I was escorted by the club secretary to pick out the seat that I wanted (I was 14 at the time). I chose one at the front, right next to the Director's box so it was a pretty good view. Not that the product on the pitch was really worth watching most of the time. That was the season when we almost went to the wall. By the way, my season ticket then cost £3!

As for Sam's third goal, you're right. It wasn't all speed - he beat the defenders with pure skill. I just wanted to mention speed because in some games he has seemed a big leggy whereas yesterday he was pretty quick off the mark.

 

I think the adrenaline was still pumping from scoring his first. He wouldn't normally have been able to burst through the lot of them like that.

 

Sorry if I've caused you to miss any goals. I just can't seem to stay in my seat when it looks like we're going to score - I'm automatically half up every time!

 

I doubt if you ever have. The one on Saturday was big enough to block out the sun. I'm assuming you're not that kind of size so, if you did, I would be able to see round you!

 

I did a big job last night, I'm pretty confident that between the whole of the Barnsley squad they can do two big jobs before Thursday.

 

I might be after all the food I've eaten these past 2 weeks! You know I'm the lass who sits next but one to you, right?

 

You're kidding. Blue coat, always by yourself?

 

Billy no mates, that's me! I have posted on here that I go by myself, there can't be that many lasses who do, surely?

 

Just never made the connection!

 

And here's me thinking it was you who jumped on me!