[ 18 Mar 23 ] Walsall v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills just edge the wins over Walsall by 47 wins to 45 and a further 25 were drawn. The Gills are winless in 4 meetings with Walsall since their last win against them - a 1-0 away win back in November 2017, one of only 2 wins in 16 against them.
- Walsall have lost 3 of their last 12 league games (4 in 13 league & cup) and the Gills have only lost 2 of their last 12. Walsall haven't won any of those games after winning 8 of the 12 before (11 in 16 league & cup). The Gills have won 7 of their last 12 after no wins in the 12 before.
- After they had won 6 out of 7 league games at home, Walsall have followed this run up with no wins in the 6 home league games since. They have drawn 5 of them with 3 being goalless draws.
- The Gills have kept 3 consecutive away clean sheets. Walsall have failed to score in their last 4 league games at home.
- Both the Gills and Walsall have seen the fewest number of shots on target (229) in their league games for themselves and their opponents combined. Walsall have also seen the fewest total of corners in their games (305), only 1 fewer than in the Gills games.
- Walsall have drawn the most games in League 2 with 15. When they take a lead at home, they stay ahead for the longest period of time in the division with each lead lasting 49.5 minutes on average.

(15.00) Kick Off [ 4 - 1 - 3 - 2 ]

(15.00) Walsall start strongly from kick off. Tutonda is robbed and Morris tips the effort just over the bar.

(15.06) Morris has to make a strong but comfortable save from a shot from 25 yards.

(15.14) Lapslie goes down easily in the box but nothing is given. Nichols wins the the ball back and provides a chance for Williams which is dealt with.

(15.21) A Nichols header goes just over the bar.

(15.31) Nichols goes through on goal and is pulled down in the box. Few appeals are made and the fouls goes Walsall's way instead.

(15.34) Gills try to make space for a shot and three half chances end with a Dieng low shot/cross to the far post which goes wide after Nichols can't quite slide in.

(15.39) A good shot is saved by Morris.

(15.47) Half time 0-0

(16.03) The second half kicks off.

(16.07) GOAL! Walsall 1-0 Gillingham: Hutchinson

(16.19) A brave gather to feet by Morris denies a Walsall second goal.

(16.21) O'Brien has a shot charged down and gets a second effort which loops just over the bar after a deflection.

(16.29) Scorer Hutchinson has a couple of efforts to make it 2 after the Gills struggle to clear the attack.

(16.42) Nichols has the ball. The keeper comes but doesn't get a touch on the ball and makes contact with Nichols who goes down. No penalty is given.

(16.44) A Gills free kick in a dangerous position finds Williams. A powerful header or header across for a tap in would have likely been an equaliser but he goes for something in the middle and finds the arms of the 'keeper.

(16.45) Masterson comes forward, offloads possession to Jefferies who drives into space. He receives a perfect short pass and his right footed effort from 20 yards is just wide.

(16.48) A Walsall shot takes a deflection and almost bounces in but it goes just wide of the post.

(16.51) Jefferies turn to fire in a fierce shot just over the bar.

(16.53) GOAL! Walsall 2-0 Gillingham: Wilkinson

(16.55) FULL TIME 2-0

Attendance: 6,709
Position: 20th
Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMyplrr8JpM
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64923657

[gillsfan1066]

Pretty damn hard to win a game when you don't have one single shot on goal.

[CadburyMan]

Can't disagree with that