THE GAME
Given that his three transfer deadline day signings were not eligible for this game, Steve Evans selected an unchanged starting lineup for this game.
He was rewarded with an outstanding team performance in a very competitive game and thanks to second half goals by Yusuf Akhamrich and Kofi Balmer saw his side to a second successive home win in a matter of days.
Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between in a hard fought first half, though Rovers did create a couple of chances to take the lead with Shaq Forde twice testing goalkeeper Myles Roberts, who was on loan at The Mem last season, and Ellis Harrison who fired wide when well placed.
As for the visitors they managed just one shot on target, an Alex Pattison header, which was comfortably dealt with by Brad Young who appears to grow in confidence with every game he plays.
Goalless at the break, it was Rovers who again went close at the beginning of the second half when Jack Sparkes got on the end of a Ryan de Havilland cross only to see his header pushed behind by Roberts for a corner.
Just after the hour mark, though, they did take the lead and it was Akhamrich, who scored twice last Saturday on target once more. Played in by Forde, the on loan Spurs player struck a low, left foot shot past Roberts.
Three minutes later the lead was doubled after the visitors cleared de Havilland’s free kick as far as Balmer and the right footed defender hit a stunning volley past Roberts with his left!
Walsall attempted to hit back to at least reduce the deficit, but although Daniel Kanu and Mason Hancock went close, their attacking efforts were thwarted by a well organised Rovers defence in which skipper Alfie Kilgour was outstanding.
This was, in all probability, the best team performance seen by Rovers this season. Crucial blocks were made when Walsall were able to get a shot away and the pride, passion and commitment, ingredients that have been missing for much of the season, was very much in evidence.
It’s still early days, but the gloom that was hanging over The Mem only last week appears to be slowly lifting after two wins and two clean sheets thus putting a little bit of daylight between ourselves and the relegation places.
WHAT WAS SAID
‘It’s a really, really good win against an opponent that’s a really good side. They have drawn three games coming into this, and I watched every one of them, and they could have won each of them. In the first half, I think the conditions made it difficult for both teams. I don’t think there’s anything in the game. Both teams had half chances and little spells, but my words to the players at half time were that I needed more; we were at 75 per cent of what we were on Saturday against Newport.
‘To be fair, we started the second half really well, and we got a grip of the game. Ryan de Havilland and Clinton Mola started to run the game. Shaq Forde was magnificent all evening, and he had a big input. Obviously, we get the goal; it’s a brilliant ball. Shaq wins it with a brilliant pass, and when Yusuf goes through, you expect him to put the ball in the net, and he did. Then, we had a really bright spell, we’re on top of the game, we’re winning 50/50s, we’re turning them, we’re putting balls into the box, and then it is a really fantastic finish from Kofi Balmer. I’ve seen him do it once before, not ten, once before, and it’s a brilliant finish.
‘We all know that this Football Club should not be in League Two, it’s absolutely scandalous, but you are where you are for a reason, and that’s on the pitch. So, we have to go forward, we have to take a point or three points on Saturday and make it a really good week. So far, we’ve got to Tuesday night, and it’s been a good week, but we don’t want it to be a not so good week on Saturday night. The fans have been incredible. You felt it when Yusuf goes through, there was an eerie silence if you listen to it and watch the footage, because they are waiting for it. I never had a minute’s doubt about what Yusuf would do. Yusuf stuck it in the net, and the noise levels went through the roof. Then, when Kofi’s went in, it was even more so.’ Rovers’ Head Coach Steve Evans
‘I was a bit surprised myself that I have actually caught the ball that sweetly, especially with my left foot, but the emotions after that, I didn’t know what to do because I have never hit a ball that well in my life. I’ve seen the ball go over my head and then Alfie’s put a good challenge in, and the ball was just sat in the air nicely for me, I just got a swing at it.
‘Wherever you go, you have to be patient, and as they say, when you get the shirt, you have to work hard to keep it, and that is what I am trying to do. I am just trying to put in good performances every week, and I think I am getting fully match fit and trying to put in the best performances I can.
‘If you keep clean sheets, you can’t lose a game. With Alfie Kilgour and Riley Harbottle and beside me – they have got experience, they are constantly communicating with me and helping me out, and hopefully, I am doing the same, helping them out. I think the past few games have shown that we are sticking together, and that we are working as a unit, and we are keeping those clean sheets.’ Rovers Goalscorer Kofi Balmer
‘It was a tough one to take. I thought, for large parts, we played well. I thought we controlled the game and quietened the crowd down. We looked really sharp in our shape. The first 10 minutes the game was a little bit to and fro, but after that first 10 minutes we looked really comfortable in our shape and moved it around well. At half time I was very pleased but I said at the break that it was going to be that moment that if someone blinks first and we wanted to be the ones that come up the other side of that. We came up the other side of that moment unfortunately and that’s the frustration – we blink for a second and the first goal happens which is frustrating.
‘Football’s a game of goals and a game of those moments. I thought performance wise for the large, large parts of the game it was a very good performance, but we fell the other side of those moments. That’s the unfortunate thing. They’ve got a little bit of an impetus around the place, the crowd really got up, really vocal in the way they were on the night and two moments that were frustrating from us.
‘Disappointing to lose the game off the back of what was a good performance. It’s disappointing sometimes to hear that when you lose a game, but we have to reflect on what I thought and what I saw. Just frustrating that we didn’t find our moment within the game to find our way back into it. Credit to them, I thought they threw bodies on the line, blocked things when it came our way and when the opportunities presented themselves, so the only thing to do is dig in, work hard off the back of four unbeaten. That result has halted that and now we have to get back on the saddle.’ Walsall Head Coach Matt Sadler
