Analysis: One-nil to Walsall – and what a goal to win it!
It was Sir Alex Ferguson who used to wax lyrical about his team being able to win games by a solitary goal to nil.
“I don’t mind the 1-0s, I really don’t,” he once said after his Manchester United team were grinding out a few wins by that particular scoreline. “I don’t mind them because it tells you we are determined, we’re going to defend, do the right things and play as a team.”
Under George Graham, Arsenal turned it into an art form. Their fans still sing about it, even now.
All things are relative. Walsall head coach Mat Sadler is just setting out on what he hopes will be a successful managerial career, and certainly wouldn’t be expecting to elicit any comparisons with the Scottish greats of Ferguson and Graham.
But when he talked of Saturday’s 1-0 win against Colchester as not only a ‘fantastic result’ but also a ‘special result’, it was easy to see why.
Walsall have scored in every game so far this season. But, prior to Saturday, they had conceded in every one as well.
They had also seen three points go missing thanks to leaking last-gasp goals, albeit both of those were on the road, losing out on a potential draw at Morecambe and seeing three points become one at Crewe.
So, it was little wonder that, with full time approaching at the Bescot, and Walsall a goal to the good, a few nerves were jangling.
