Agree good draw but why do we always get a really high level team. Glad it’s a home fixture though for once! We could do with a fortress Broadfield at full capacity.
Blimey, that wasn't for the faint hearted. Walsall are a decent side...but you know what - so are we!
Seven changes from Saturday, only Dallison, Tunicliffe, Panuche and Josh (Docherty) staying in the team.
Not much in it in the first half but we played with a composure that is great to see, we played the better football and had some great interplay and passing. Walsall on the other hand were tentative and hesitant.
Great goal from Phil. Played down the left, nice ball from Ollie to Nadesan, slid across for Phil to knock in. Just about deserved. They forced a lot of corners but didn't threaten from any of them.
The keeper was a huge concern. He refused to come off his line. One clearing header from Tom was from about one yard out, the keeper was right there and didn't move.
Having said that, he had one absolutely tremendous save when we all thought it was a goal, so credit for that (not much else though).
Dallison and Tunicliffe were completely dominant at the back throughout (Dallison my MoM by some distance).
Everyone played well in the first half and although Walsal huffed and puffed a bit we were all aware that any shots on target could be a problem.
Second half, we came out flying and Tom got his first goal a couple of minutes after the restart from a front post header from a corner.
Walsall made a triple substitution and brought on what looked like their top players and they made a big difference.
The penalty was dreadful. The keeper did a superman impression and wiped out their player when we all thought the ball was going out anyway. Bizarre decision to even go for it.
Walsall were still cheering when we scored again straight from kick off - a cross from the left beat everyone and Nadeson was there at the back post to slide it in for his first goal.
Scenes.
We then took Phil off and I felt we lost a lot of our composure when he went off. At about 70 mins we sat back and tried to see it out. Desperate stuff.
We were playing so well and looking like scoring every time we attacked, so I don't know we stopped doing what was working.
They got a second from a quickly taken free kick that caught us out and their striker had a one on one with the keeper.
Special mention for the referee - my goodness he was awful. He favoured Walsall throughout and gave them every 50-50.
We decided to stop holding onto the ball or passing to our own players after that and we withstood attack after attack and yet they only had one more shot on target, another superb save from our keeper.
The support was tremendous and we sang and chanted non stop throughout the second half.
Overall, a nice stadium with decent facilities for the away fans.
We played very well indeed, with mainly a second team. Special mentions to the back four, Panuche and big Ollie, who all had great games, followed by Phil and Rees when he came on. Nobody played badly but they were the stand outs.
There is definitely something about the team this year that we didn't have last year. More confidence perhaps, cooler heads in tight situations, cleverer in front of goal, whatever it is it is making us very attractive to watch.
Great night - sorry for those who missed it - you would have loved it.
Blimey, that wasn't for the faint hearted. Walsall are a decent side...but you know what - so are we!
Nine changes from Saturday, only Panuche and Josh (Docherty) staying in the team.
Not much in it in the first half but we played with a composure that is great to see, we played the better football and had some great interplay and passing. Walsall on the other hand were tentative and hesitant.
Great goal from Phil. Played down the left, nice ball from Ollie to Nadesan, slid across for Phil to knock in. Just about deserved. They forced a lot of corners but didn't threaten from any of them.
The keeper was a huge concern. He refused to come off his line. One clearing header from Tom was from about one yard out, the keeper was right there and didn't move.
Having said that, he had one absolutely tremendous save when we all thought it was a goal, so credit for that (not much else though).
Dallison and Tunicliffe were completely dominant at the back throughout (Dallison my MoM by some distance).
Everyone played well in the first half and although Walsal huffed and puffed a bit we were all aware that any shots on target could be a problem.
Second half, we came out flying and Tom got his first goal a couple of minutes after the restart from a front post header from a corner.
Walsall made a triple substitution and brought on what looked like their top players and they made a big difference.
The penalty was dreadful. The keeper did a superman impression and wiped out their player when we all thought the ball was going out anyway. Bizarre decision to even go for it.
Walsall were still cheering when we scored again straight from kick off - a cross from the left beat everyone and Nadeson was there at the back post to slide it in for his first goal.
Scenes.
We then took Phil off and I felt we lost a lot of our composure when he went off. At about 70 mins we sat back and tried to see it out. Desperate stuff.
We were playing so well and looking like scoring every time we attacked, so I don't know we stopped doing what was working.
They got a second from a quickly taken free kick that caught us out and their striker had a one on one with the keeper.
Special mention for the referee - my goodness he was awful. He favoured Walsall throughout and gave them every 50-50.
We decided to stop holding onto the ball or passing to our own players after that and we withstood attack after attack and yet they only had one more shot on target, another superb save from our keeper.
The support was tremendous and we sang and chanted non stop throughout the second half.
Overall, a nice stadium with decent facilities for the away fans.
We played very well indeed, with mainly a second team. Special mentions to the back four, Panuche and big Ollie, who all had great games, followed by Phil and Rees when he came on. Nobody played badly but they were the stand outs.
There is definitely something about the team this year that we didn't have last year. More confidence perhaps, cooler heads in tight situations, cleverer in front of goal, whatever it is it is making us very attractive to watch.
The keeper really though is just not good enough.
Great night - sorry for those who missed it - you would have loved it.
GABRIELE CIOFFI'S RED ARMY!
7 changes surely, Dallison and Tunnicliffe started on Saturday.
Another great away match report Sons, you have the gift... (I will reluctantly point out that the Centre-Backs started on Saturday too, but please don't let it put you off).
Edit: sorry, too late, I could have let JB be the nit-picker.
I'm thinking it might be a good time to meet Norwich, with survival in the top flight dominating their thoughts...(?)
Yes, a good summary of the game. I think my nerves have settled after those last 20 minutes! A lot of those were down to all the crosses going in with our keeper never really looking like getting near them. However, he made several superb stops, not least of which was the one in the very last seconds from the header which really would have been a sucker punch. I'm really not sure what he was trying to do with the penalty incident although it's worth noting that their keeper clattered Dallison in a similar way a bit later without my hint of any sanction from the ref. Good to see Ollie really put a shift in too. Just needs a goal now.
I got slated by nearly everyone on here for suggesting such crazy ideas such as Cioffi needed time to sign his own players, to have a pre season and then we can judge him. Even got accused of being an insider for saying Meite and German were probably not Cioffis signings! What happened to RR&R haven’t seen his posts lately?
Very impressed last night. Didn’t want to see many changes, a few maybe, as this is a cup I really look forward to and best chance of a big tie which is something all lower league fans look forward to. Sussex cup and EFL Trophy are the games to experiment with and we only normally last one round here. Anyway Cioffi got it right, and we showed the squad depth we now have. 3 strikers all with goals in them fantastic. We seriously have the squad for a top half finish and more so fair play to the owners and manager for the summer work.
Yes keeper a concern but don’t be too harsh he made couple of saves and maybe Morris needed to rest. Like the look of Tunnicliffe. I remember couple of years ago and thinking we have about 7/8 players up to L2 standard and the rest making up the numbers. Looking at squad now I think around any 20 could play and not make us much weaker. BUT, very early days so no need to carried away or GLOAT.
Blimey, that wasn't for the faint hearted. Walsall are a decent side...but you know what - so are we!
Seven changes from Saturday, only Dallison, Tunicliffe, Panuche and Josh (Docherty) staying in the team.
Not much in it in the first half but we played with a composure that is great to see, we played the better football and had some great interplay and passing. Walsall on the other hand were tentative and hesitant.
Great goal from Phil. Played down the left, nice ball from Ollie to Nadesan, slid across for Phil to knock in. Just about deserved. They forced a lot of corners but didn't threaten from any of them.
The keeper was a huge concern. He refused to come off his line. One clearing header from Tom was from about one yard out, the keeper was right there and didn't move.
Having said that, he had one absolutely tremendous save when we all thought it was a goal, so credit for that (not much else though).
Dallison and Tunicliffe were completely dominant at the back throughout (Dallison my MoM by some distance).
Everyone played well in the first half and although Walsal huffed and puffed a bit we were all aware that any shots on target could be a problem.
Second half, we came out flying and Tom got his first goal a couple of minutes after the restart from a front post header from a corner.
Walsall made a triple substitution and brought on what looked like their top players and they made a big difference.
The penalty was dreadful. The keeper did a superman impression and wiped out their player when we all thought the ball was going out anyway. Bizarre decision to even go for it.
Walsall were still cheering when we scored again straight from kick off - a cross from the left beat everyone and Nadeson was there at the back post to slide it in for his first goal.
Scenes.
We then took Phil off and I felt we lost a lot of our composure when he went off. At about 70 mins we sat back and tried to see it out. Desperate stuff.
We were playing so well and looking like scoring every time we attacked, so I don't know we stopped doing what was working.
They got a second from a quickly taken free kick that caught us out and their striker had a one on one with the keeper.
Special mention for the referee - my goodness he was awful. He favoured Walsall throughout and gave them every 50-50.
We decided to stop holding onto the ball or passing to our own players after that and we withstood attack after attack and yet they only had one more shot on target, another superb save from our keeper.
The support was tremendous and we sang and chanted non stop throughout the second half.
Overall, a nice stadium with decent facilities for the away fans.
We played very well indeed, with mainly a second team. Special mentions to the back four, Panuche and big Ollie, who all had great games, followed by Phil and Rees when he came on. Nobody played badly but they were the stand outs.
There is definitely something about the team this year that we didn't have last year. More confidence perhaps, cooler heads in tight situations, cleverer in front of goal, whatever it is it is making us very attractive to watch
The keeper really though is just not good enough.
Great night - sorry for those who missed it - you would have loved it.
GABRIELE CIOFFI'S RED ARMY!
I think you are a bit harsh on keeper Michael Luyambula - he made two absolutely brilliant saves one in the first half and a second at the death - when he went flying across and managed to get a hand to the ball to push it wide to maintain our lead - he is still young and is learning - Yes, he had his Mersin moment for the penalty but he will learn from it - he is much better than we have had before - so give him time. Birmingham wouldn't have extended his contract if he wasn't up to it.
Any way good report and lets hope we see another great performance against Scunthorpe on Saturday