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
Crawford sees his pocket pinched in midfield by Kinsella who finds Shade but Sterry, back in the side today, ushers him out well to win the goalkick. Nice settler for Sterry back in the fold
Reaction
Our Hartlepool United reporter shares his views on the team news from the Banks’s Stadium
“It’s three changes for Pools this afternoon and Graeme Lee will be pleased with the news he received from the training ground yesterday as both Jamie Sterry and Reagan Ogle are declared fit to play, with Sterry making an immediate return to the starting line-up.
“Sterry’s return is a boost for Pools who faced something of a fullback crisis after Zaine Francis-Angol’s hamstring injury on Tuesday.
“Sterry is one of two changes in the defence as Gary Liddle returns to face his former club with Neill Byrne suspended while Isaac Fletcher earns his first start for the club after an impressive cameo in midweek.
“I had wondered whether Lee would switch to a back five this afternoon with Byrne missing out and perhaps bringing in both Liddle and Jake Hull but Luke Molyneux’s fitness has allowed him to stick with the 4-3-3 which has worked well in recent weeks.
“Fletcher starts in midfield with Joe White on the wide of a front three led by the in-form Omar Bogle.
“It’s a solid line-up given the recent injury concerns for Pools with plenty of flair and attacking intent as they look to go nine unbeaten.”
THE OPPOSITION
And here is how the host line-up as Michael Flynn names his Saddlers side this afteroon
𝙑𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
Walsall Head Coach Michael Flynn is eyeing improvement from his team as they prepare to face Hartlepool United in his first match at the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Saddlers will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s heavy defeat to Swindon Town.
Flynn believes his side will need to be at their best against a Hartlepool side who are unbeaten in eight league games.
“Hartlepool are on a good run of form and they’re a good team,” he said.
“For anybody expecting us just to roll over Hartlepool, they’re going to be mistaken.
“It’s going to be a hard-worked, hard-fought victory if we do get it and we’ve got to be at our best because we’ve got a lot to improve on from the second half on Tuesday night against a team that are full of confidence.
“They’re in good form. The new manager, Graeme has come in and changed the formation slightly and he’s got them going so it’s going to be a difficult afternoon but I’m sure that if we do what we’re asking them to do and play to the best of our abilities, we’re more than capable of getting the three points.”