Walsall 3-1 Hartlepool United RECAP: George Miller double ends Pools' unbeaten run
A lacklustre first half saw Graeme Lee’s side 2-0 down at the break thanks to goals from George Miller and Conor Wilkinson.
But there were hopes of another reaction from Pools after the break as Omar Bogle gave them a lifeline when converting from close range.
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Hide AdBut any signs of a comeback were short lived as Walsall re-established their two goal lead just four minutes later as Miller capitalised on a mistake from Gary Liddle to grab his second of the game.
The goal came as a blow to Pools who were enjoying their best spell in the game at that moment with Lee’s side unable to respond from that point.
Jamie Sterry returned to the starting XI in place of the inured Zaine Francis-Angol while Isaac Fletcher earned his first start for the club after a winning cameo against Colchester United in midweek.
Liddle returned to the Banks’s Stadium in place of the suspended Neill Byrne.
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Hide AdBut the first half saw Pools struggle in what might have been a game too far for Lee’s side as they were second to most things with the Walsall enjoying themselves in Michael Flynn’s first home game in charge.
And the Saddlers took the lead when Emmanuel Osadebe was allowed to run unchallenged from midfield before finding Miller who skipped inside of Timi Odusina before firing low into the bottom corner back across Ben Killip.
It was a lead they would double midway through the half when Wilkinson was able to collect the ball on halfway and again advance to the edge of the area unchallenged before firing into the bottom corner.
Lee brought on Joe Grey at the break as he looked for a spark from his side which came through Bogle as he capitalised on a fumble from Carl Rushworth to give Pools hope.
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Hide AdAnd it looked like they might turn the screw as Fletcher tested Rushworth before the Saddlers sealed the game through Miller.
A long ball was sent forward and should have been dealt with by Liddle but he left his backpass short for Killip as Miller skipped in to convert into an empty net and end Pools’ unbeaten run.
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Walsall 3-1 Hartlepool United RECAP: Pools’ unbeaten run comes to an end
Key Events
- George Miller adds gets his second of the game
- Omar Bogle scored to reduce the deficit
- George Miller puts Walsall in front
- Conor Wilkinson doubles Walsall’s lead
- Walsall XI: Rushworth, White, Labadie ©, Daniels, Monthe, Kinsella, Wilkinson, Osadebe, Miller, Earing, Shade
- Subs: Rose, Ward, Kiernan, Tomlin, Perry, Rodney, Menayese
- Hartlepool United XI: Killip, Sterry, Liddle, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone ©, Crawford, Fletcher, White, Molyneux, Bogle
- Subs: Bilokapic, Hull, Ogle, Shelton, Holohan, Grey, Carver
45 - CHANCE FOR MILLER
Another ball over the top lands at Kinsella’s feet who tries his luck but it deflects into Miller’s path in the area where he curls wide as the referee brings the half to a close
44 - HEADER FROM WILKINSON
Shade plays it back to Earing who curls into an unmarked WIlkinson but his header is comfortable for Killip
43 - WHITE GOES CLOSE
Pools move it a bit quicker out to the right with Sterry who gives it to White, after he has swapped with Molyneux, and the Newcastle United loanee curls and effort in which has Rushworth scrambling to parry out
Shade does excellent to chase a lost cause down on the right ahead of Ferguson to win a corner. A summary of the first half really as Walsall are first to a ball
White muscled out of it which sees Labadie come away with it and Ferguson is forced to bring him down
Liddle with a loose header back to Killip who again has to come off his line to clear before giving his defender a glare.
The freekick is swung in by Ferguson for Bogle but he’s off target with his header as he gets too much on it when trying to glance it goalwards
Home supporters not happy after Wilkinson is on the end of some robust tussles with Odusina with nothing given before Sterry gets away down the right and is pulled down by Shade for a freekick