Sutton United v Walsall

[brisfitboy]

I thought they came for a draw and we gave them a win.

[steveo77]

Most of the Walsall team are quite limited, but their young goalkeeper that they have got looks outstanding.
Clearly destined for a higher league than league 2!

[Amber Aleman]

Maybe there was an element of tiredness (mental and physical) in today's performance. The team has just played four league games (three of them away) in a fortnight.

We came close to scoring a few times but shots were just too wide or high. What was more disappointing was the number of high balls lofted into their goalmouth which were comfortably claimed by their keeper.

No Jon Barden today which meant Rob Milsom playing in midfield, Ben Wyatt coming in at left back. Rob had a great game at Colchester but not such a great one today. I thought Ben W was one of our better performers.

We slip to 9th but are only out of a play-off place on goal difference. We may have lost three of our last four, but overall can still be very pleased with where we are.

[garethl]

I guess I’m not shocked that a result influences the views but think they’ve been a touch negative on the performance. We’ve hit the woodwork twice, header cleared off line, Smith had a good chance he knocked wide, Randall had a presentable chance from edge of the box, Sho Silva has missed a late sitter and certainly a couple of other occasions where the ball didn’t fall for us in the box. Milsom in my opinion was excellent in the midfield. On another day it’s a win. I don’t see that we’ve done a lot wrong and nor do I think the performance has fallen off at all today, in many ways it was one of our better performances of the season. Didn’t take our chances and letting in a soft free kick so yes the goals aspect didn’t go to plan but you always get days like that.

Guess the players a victim of their own success to an extent but we’ve, to my mind, been very comfortable against another biggish league club, all without our captain and next 2 in line to take the armband.

Particularly in view of a mid week fixture whilst the opposition had their feet up.

[nonsuch]

That was definitely a game from which we deserved more. And Walsall did nothing (but defended reasonably good and did not had a sloppy goalkeeper as Rochdale and Colchester did - four of our last five goals were more or less goalkeeper gifts) and leave with three very undeserved points.
We desperately need our absent players back, also fatigue plays a big role. Playoff would be a miracle so let’s enjoy our run, there will still be ups and downs but hopefully no relegation fears.

[sufc1898]

Disappointing result as we did enough in the first half to put the game to bed.

I think some work is needed re direct free kicks.
2 conceded in the last 2 home games.

Are the free kicks just too good, or is the wall not doing its job?? Is it being lined up correctly??

Good to have a complete week off for the squad to recover, after a busy 3 weeks

[Del]

Unlucky to lose but didn't quite do enough to win. I have to say that i thought Milsom was excellent in midfield and led the team well.
We just didn't take our chances and a lot of our crosses were too near their keeper who had a good game along with the rest of the Walsall defence.

[halftimet]

What we are missing at the moment is a box to box midfielder. Ali Smith is having to do too much to compensate.

[paz]

Walsall came for a point and robbed the 3 points IMO. You have to give them credit for being solid at the back though.

I would have taken a draw but am scratchung my head a little in how we managed to lose that game.

From the world go the game was very flat and not our best performance but I think we are lacking that steel in the midfield a little.

[fran1]

I always like to listen to the post- match interview with Matt Gray or Jason ( which I have done today).
We will all rightly have our opinions after yesterdays' performance but that interview always gives a balanced overall view I feel and no one player is singled out for blame.
Walsall did not play Tuesday unlike our guys. We have a fourth player wearing the "dreaded' captains' armband.
Yes I was disappointed at the final whistle but we go again when we play the next league fixture; and meanwhile we have the FA Cup tie, and for some of us, the Papa Johns' tie to go along to and watch meanwhile.

[markf]

Even later for my weekend broadcast.

As has been said a disappointing reverse against one of the least impressive sides we have played this season. They were, to be fair, well organised and the form of both defences can be born out by just four shots on target the whole match. However, U's opened them up more than Walsall did U's but failing to hit the target came back to bite us midway through the second half. One of those days.

The extra match in midweek and playing with ten men for 50 minutes the previous Saturday may not have helped as available personnel continues to hamper the squad. Even so, U's should have got something out of the game but I suspect, there will be fans of future opponents who may be faced with a s imilar scenario.

The free-kick they scored from was avoidable and the only blot on Rob M's afternoon, he showed his verstility with another decent performance as skipper. As i have said previously, it is noticeable that the level of finishing at this level is much higher than that of the NL and the guy who scored the free-kick is on loan from Leicester's academy and whether the wall was covering enough of the goal or not, it was still a fine strike.

The ref gave that f-k assumably because it was a challenge from behind. In that, he lacked consistency and let a hell of a lot go. Problem is with this new more lenient approach, players don't always know where they stand and I think it is tricky for a ref, even one as experienced as this fella is, to let as much go as he did. The FL Paper gave him 8 out of 10; very generous.

They did give their 'keeper MotM and while he wasn't overworked he did command his box and exhibited good handling. Not going to argue about that award.

U's lost this match not because of one avoidable foul but because of what happened in our attacking third. But to be disappointed to lose to a well-established EFL stalwart perhaps shows how far the team has come this season already. Success breeds expectation and another 3,000 plus gate suggests that it is growing. And that is a fine acknowledgment of the superb efforts of the management and players.

If offered a trade of losing yesterday to progressing in the FA Cup next week, I know how I would respond. I will go there hoping the 2021 Sutton can erase the memory of the 1986 version and the most humiliating afternoon (or evening) I can recall watching U's; yes, worse than Alton. But it won't be easy. Fortunately Matt and Jason will know that and therefore so will the squad.

By the way their ground isn't easily accessible by public transport and it is a long walk from Hayes & Harlington as I found out on our second visit there, we lost that one 4-0 on my birthday. But then, I am used to finding myself in the arse end of nowhere these days.

[davethegrave]

I thought the referee was awful. He hardly gave us anything.

[sallycat]

Well it's not necessarily his job to, unless we deserve it. Sometimes one team gets more decisions than the other because they're playing to the rules more!

I know what you mean, to be fair. But that phrasing always annoys me a bit.

[markf]

That's the problem though. His leniency led to some considerable inconsistency.

Still, having watched the Villa West Ham match and the VAR incident today, there ain't much hope for us in L2.

Showed the red card for the wrong incident both occurring just seconds apart. The interpretation of what is a DOGSO and what isn't was an embarrassment to the PL. Equally embarrassing, was not picking up on what was serious foul play possibly even violent conduct.

[jr]

Nice post on the Walsall forum:

"Thought they were the better team overall so a bit of a theft of 3 point by us really. Bumped into Pomlett on the services on the way back. He said he thought the defence played well but we’ve played better this season and not come away with the points which I think is a fair assessment.

I’m not a big fan of London, but have to say what a smashing club Sutton is. Proper community club with a great set of fans that were genuinely happy to have us there. A number saw my top and instantly wanted to come over and chat and all really friendly and welcoming. Stewards were in the main, young lads from the community with no attitude, ego or power trip going on and willing to have a laugh with you, a real credit to their club.

Return fixture excepting, really hope they continue to do well, a credit to the football league both on and off the pitch."

They do, in the main, seem to be a lovely set of fans. In the same mould as Exeter and Rochdale that I've encountered so far.