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The Saddlers dominated the opening 20 minutes, and looked comfortable for the rest of the half. They knocked the ball around well, switching play, while trying to release the Bradbury and Fryatt. Bradbury in particular was looking very good. His control and first touch meant the ball was actually sticking up front rather than ricocheting off him in to the path of his marker, something which has happened far to much this season.
Our first chance of the game came courtesy of Neil Emblen who went close with a goal bound header. This lifted the spirits of the fans who were surprised at the good start the Saddlers had made to the game.
Millwall had to wait until the half hour for their first effort, which Tim Cahill failed to hit the target with. Millwall also hit the side netting after some good work from Dichio down the left right flank. Craig Burley had the final shot of the game, but missed the target.
It had been an entertaining half, and for the first time in a long while Paul Merson took control of a game. He was weaving in and out of Millwall players, spreading the play, looking busy and keen to create.
Both Managers changed it around at half time. McSporran replaced Fryatt for Walsall. While Iffill replaced Harris for Millwall.
We almost took the lead straight after the break, but an Andrews effort from the edge of the box flew straight in to the path of Marshall.
We continued to knock the ball around well in the second half and eventually broke the deadlock when Bradbury headed a long ball in to the path of the advancing Andrews who poked the ball passed the defender, advanced in to the penalty box, then slipped the ball past Marshall in the Millwall goal.
Our best chance to extend the lead came 15 minutes from time. Paul Merson broke down the right wing, clipped the ball in to McSporran who was lurking on the back post. McSporran took a step back from his marker and scissor kicked ball goal wards, only to see it spin over the bar.
Substitute Paul Iffil was terrorising the Walsall defence as the game came to an end, and eventually grabbed his teams equaliser. As the Saddlers struggled to clear the ball out of the box in stormed Iffil to slam the ball past Jim Walker. Colin Lee complained that defender Ian Roper had been polaxed in the process, but the ref didn't see the incident.
The drama continued as the final whistle got closer. A scramble broke out inside the Millwall box with Emblen and Bradbury amongst a host of other players failing to get a shot away
The Saddlers seemed to happy to site deep and hold out for the 1-0 win. Merson drifted out right while McSporran drifted out left, as Lee Bradbury was left centrally on his own.
Over all it was a good game. Millwall put a lot of pressure on the Saddlers in the last 20 minutes and deserved to find the net. |
