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Search forAway day victory is just so 'typical'
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 08:00
The reasons and situations for its usage are varied and many among supporters.
It can be used when the club sells one of it's better players or stumbles to a defeat against a side they should beat.
Lack of ambition is one of the favourite reasons as is the lack of spending and the list could go on and on.
But on just a few occasions it can be used as a positive – and Saturday was one of them.
Falling crowds, supporter unrest, credit crunch and the sacking of Ishmel Demontagnac – it seemed all was not well at the Banks's.
So 'Typical Walsall' to go and produce a steely and resilient performance on the road to come away with all three points from Colchester.
True, the U's are struggling this season, particularly at their new home stadium, but Essex has never been a happy hunting ground for the Saddlers.
And when United thrashed Carlisle 5-0 just a few days before this encounter, it does not inspire much confidence in Walsall's chances.
However, from the moment they took the lead in the 16th minute, the outcome was never really in doubt.
Troy Deeney was the architect, working hard to find a bit of space on the right hand side before firing in a cross that Dwayne Mattis turned home.
The 4-5-1 formation – perhaps forced on Walsall by Jabo Ibehre's suspension – was working well and they limited Colchester to few chances.
Former Saddler Clive Platt sent a couple of headers wide and he had the best opportunity of the half but fired into the side netting from a tight angle after a mix-up between Anthony Gerrard and Clayton Ince.
Other than that, the Walsall keeper was untroubled in the first half but that changed soon after the break as he pushed away a piledriver from John White.
However, the Saddlers virtually made the game safe just after the hour mark as Chris Palmer's corner found Michael Ricketts at the back post and his header looped into the net.
Colchester huffed and puffed but Walsall's defence – much maligned this season – held firm and despite a few long range efforts from the hosts, there was precious little to bother Ince.
With the visit of League One form side MK Dons this Saturday, it could just be 'Typical Walsall' to turn them over too but in this inconsistent season, who knows...
Colchester United 0
Walsall 2
(Coca Cola League One)
WALSALL: Ince, Weston (Boertien 90), Gerrard, Roberts, Palmer, Deeney (Zaaboub 69), Taundry, Hughes (Reich 79), Mattis, Nicholls, Ricketts. Subs (not used): Gilmartin, Bradley. ATTENDANCE: 4,071. ADVERTISER STAR MAN: Clayton Ince – inspired confidence in his backline.
Dwayne Mattis (also pictured in action, right) is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the goal that set Walsall on their way to victory at Colchester. PICTURES BY EMMA PERRINS
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