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Match Reports

Match Report: Walsall 1-1 Stevenage

2 December 2020

Match Reports

Match Report: Walsall 1-1 Stevenage

2 December 2020

Josh Gordon made a scoring return as his penalty saw Walsall come from behind to earn a point against Stevenage.

Former Saddlers striker Aramide Oteh gave the visitors the lead from the spot early in the second half after a dominant first half performance from the Saddlers but Gordon came off the bench to rescue a point from the spot.

Darrell Clarke made two changes to the team that drew with Newport County eight days ago.

Jack Rose came in for Liam Roberts in goal while Wes McDonald also came in for the suspended Rory Holden.

 Gordon also returned to the squad following his injury and was named amongst the substitutes.

The Saddlers made a strong start and enjoyed had the majority of the possession in the opening exchanges.

McDonald had Walsall’s first attempt when he darted into the area and got a shot away but it took a deflection and went behind.

Clarke’s men had a couple of half chance through McDonald and Jake Scrimshaw but didn’t trouble Jamie Cumming in the opening 30 minutes.

Cumming was called into action when he was forced to punch Norman’s cross away but it fell straight to McDonald who got a shot away but he snatched at his effort and it went wide as the Saddlers continued to probe.

The Saddlers had a warning on the stroke of half time when Stevenage hit them on the counter attack and released Charlie Carter who shot just wide inside the area and that was the last action of the first half.

Stevenage made a strong start to the second half and were presented with a glorious opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Rose brought down Tom Pett.

Oteh stepped up and smashed the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead on 50 minutes.

Clarke reacted and made a quadruple change as he replaced Elijah Adebayo, Bates, Emmanuel Osadebe and Jake Scrimshaw for Gordon, Caolan Lavery, Jack Nolan and Danny Guthrie.

Gordon almost made the dream return on 68 minutes when McDonald found him at the near post and his back-heel almost found the net but Cumming got down well to make the save.

Stevenage grew in confidence and the Saddlers had to block three shots from Charlie Carter before Scott Cuthbert headed just wide as the threatened to double their lead.

Walsall appealed for a penalty in the 85th minute when Norman went down in the area but the referee waved it away as the Saddlers pressed for an equaliser.

The Saddlers only had to wait five minutes to get a spot kick though as Gordon was fouled by Cuthbert in the area. The striker stepped up and smashed the ball in off the crossbar and into the net to draw Walsall level in the 90th minute.

 

Walsall team: Rose; Norman, Scarr, Clarke, Jules; Osadebe (Lavery), Kinsella, Bates (Guthrie), McDonald; Scrimshaw (Nolan), Adebayo (Gordon)
Subs: Roberts (GK), Sinclair,  White


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