WALSALL POST-MATCH REACTION

Put it here............

Apart from the dodgy opening three minutes where we conceded early, it was a complete performance. Excellent and makes up for the midweek dross at Wycombe. 5-1 is not bad, not bad at all.

will give a fuller report later but 5 - 1 was no fluke could have been 7 or 8 easily, walsall who are amazingly are above us were probably worse team I have seen this season. Solent were saying on drive back that AP not happy about something and supposedly left the ground early in a huff.

Come on guys dont blow it now things are on the up, lets just have some patience

I listened to the AP interview on Solent, first time I didn't get the gist of it as the radio was on in another room and I couldn't hear it clearly, but listening the second time AP sounded fine and gave reasonably answers to Adam Blackmore's questions, but then over the next minute or so he became increasingly monosyllabic and, to me, it seemed a reaction to Blackmore's rather stupid questions rather than any more malign influences. At least I hope that's all it is.
If Nicola Cortese starts piling on pressure and making AP feel uncomfortable and stressed then he is an idiot, in my opinion. Yes, I'd love us to go up this year but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. It will be stupid of Cortese to get impatient and ruin the excellent work that AP and the team have done so far. Yes, we have had some disappointing results, such as crap draws, but overall this season has gone better than I expected.

This is another slant on AP's mood today. I really think the Solent interview was conducted in an amateurish way, complete with stupid, 'same old same old' line of questioning and AP got pissed off, nothing more sinister than that:

"Gaffer Ecstatic"

Was difficult for us as AP interview was before we got back to car then all Solent interviewers did was kept going on about it and saying would play later.

Regards match despite losing a goal in first few minutes, stupid free kick to concede by Jaidi and although good free kick Kelvins position invited him to put exactly where he did. That said after that was pretty much one way traffic, couple of good saves by their goalie had you thinking will it be one of those days but kept creating the chances and really had Walsall on the rack for rest of game. Puncheon looked a threat going forward, though didnt seem to be to keen on 50/50 balls. Took his goal well then Barnard scored a couple of goals from loose balls in the penalty area and had another one ruled out for outside despite last touch from their goalie who tipped on bar and Barnard put away rebound.

Second half didnt have same intensity but was pretty easy to be honest. Good goal by Lambert from a narrow angle blasting in then a few more chances before lallana finished off at the end with good finish having missed easier ones. Took Barnard off after 4th goal but thought he might have taken of Lambert to give him rest he says he needs, he went off with just 10 min left.

Davies 7 would like to see him release the ball earlier and did make one great save with score at 1 - 1.
Otsemobor 7 Got better as game went on but still undecided, didnt really have that much to do to be honest.
Fonte 7 another solid performance
Jaidi 7 just looks awkward when he jumps close to players but taken of to rest for Tuesday, free kick was dumb
Harding 7 another good game
Lallana 7 Didnt look quite as effective on left hand side and wish he would shoot when he gets first chance not try to take 2 or 3 touches
Hammond 8 Never stopped running
Schneiderlin 7 Lots of link play if not spectacular
Puncheon 8 definitely adds some threat to midfield
Barnard 8 took his goals well, missed a couple of other chances but seems to be in right place to get the chances, think he will only improve
Lambert 8 Won lots of flicks on to set up chances plus got his usual goal.

subs

Waigo 6 certainly did plenty of running
Thomas 6 didnt have a lot to do
Antonio 6 only had 10 minutes but like waigo put in plenty of running in shirt time on pitch

Overall this formation and starting 11 does look the strongest we have and would like to see a strong run to finish and see where it takes us. Some big games coming up at home but with this team all winable.

Semi, Fonte, Puncheon and Barnard all class today. They were all good though