First match verdict

First of all, I say thank you to all the fans who travelled to watch the opening match. I heard you, and you created a great atmosphere throughout the game.

Walsall did what they should, the opening match is never easy, but I thought they went out and took control over the game from the start.
Compared to last season the defensive look so much more secure and confident. The players have a different mindset this season that makes them able to focus the whole match. Last few seasons this was matches, we would concede in stoppage time or even let two in and loose.

My MOTM was Liam Roberts. He did some crucial saves that kept us in the game. I know he got very much abuse last season, but I think he has developed from what I saw of him in the second part of last season. Maybe it is because the defensive line is more confident and limit the clear-cut chances so he can concentrate on playing his game and I’m sure there is much better communication between the defenders and keeper now. Roberts had problem with crosses last season, but I feel he handled them good today.
The tactic Clarke had chosen fitted perfectly. Everyone worked their socks off for the team, and the midfield trio took up space and limited the opponent’s attacks very good I thought.
Northampton has a few tall and powerful players, but I felt our defenders couped with them well.
Overall a good and promising display and if we can build on this, we have an enjoyable season ahead.

I had a few things written down before the match that I wanted to observe a little bit extra. First, I wanted to see if our defensive work had improved, which it has. Secondly, I wanted to see the players work hard all match which I did see. Areas we can improve on is attacking and get more players into the box and get crosses in. Long balls to Adebayo didn’t turn out well, mostly due to him needed to fight off Northampton’s tall and robust defenders to win the ball which usually ends up with a freekick to the defender. I rather wished we had tried to use pace and played balls to space for the strikes to work. That would have made their defenders turn around, and they didn’t look the fastest players on the pitch.
I’m not a fan of long balls because nine out of ten times it ends up at the opponents and gives them a chance to fork out goal-scoring opportunities.

All in all, a solid performance, and most importantly we got a winning start and 3 points in the bag.