A superb hat trick from Junior and
a crucial penalty save from Jimmy Walker helped Walsall to victory over
a disappointing Derby side on a day of celebration at Bescot.
Walsall made two changes from last
Monday’s victory over Grimsby, injured duo Matt Carbon and Jamie
Lawrence being replaced by skipper Martin O’Connor and Darren Bazeley.
Derby manager George Burley included nephew Craig Burley and Fabrizio
Ravanelli in his side.
The Saddlers took the lead after
only two minutes; player of the season Ian Roper headed a Vinny Samways
cross towards goal and Brazilian striker Junior headed the ball past
keeper Lee Grant from close range.
It could have been two almost
immediately, Jorge Leitao held the ball up on half way before releasing
Darren Wrack who beat Grant to the ball only to poke just wide. Wrack
was injured in the collision with the onrushing keeper and required
treatment afterwards.
Adam Murray was booked after 20
minutes, cynically tripping Carl Robinson who was breaking forwards for
Walsall.
Derby’s best opportunity fell in
stoppage time at the end of the first half; Ravanelli was dubiously
felled by Roper on the edge of the area but the ‘White Feather’ then
sent his free kick over Jimmy Walker’s bar and into the terracing –
which will be replaced by seats after today.
Pedro Matias replaced the injured
Darren Wrack at half time while County sent on young keeper Lee Camp –
a former England U17, U18 and U19 international – in place of the
injured Grant.
On 48 minutes Walker pushed a
close range header from Tommy Mooney around the post and within two
minutes, Walsall were two up. Aranalde’s left wing cross was met by
the head of Junior and despite Camp getting a hand to the ball, it
trickled in for Junior’s 15th of the season.
Derby pulled a goal back after 58
minutes following a foul by Matias on Izale McLeod near the corner flag.
Burley pulled the ball back for Simo Valakari, whose low right foot
drive deflected off Tony Barras past a stranded Walker.
Three minutes later, Derby missed
a great chance to draw level. Ian Roper fouled McLeod in the box – and
after Walker had been booked for dissent – he brilliantly turned
Burley’s penalty onto the post, with Ravanelli firing the rebound over
under pressure from Roper.
With 20 minutes to go, Junior
completed his hat-trick – the first at Bescot since the days of Roger
Boli – pouncing on a loose ball and firing underneath Camp to take his
tally to 16.
The Brazilian could have had more
but was denied by a brilliant double save from young Camp. With seven
minutes to go, Ravanelli – reportedly on £42 000 per week but looking
nowhere near as good as Junior and working nowhere near as hard as Jorge
– curled a left footed free kick past Jimmy Walker from 20 yards to
make the final score 3-2.
- Roper (Walsall) Mcleod & Murray (Derby)
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