[ 14 Oct 23 ] Walsall v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Just 25 of the 115 meetings between the Gills and Walsall have ended level and 2 of the last games 5 have both ended 0-0. The number of wins for each side is very close with the Gills winning 47 to Walsall's 46.
- The last Gills' win over Walsall came back in November 2017 and, since then, Walsall have won 3 of the 5 games played. The Gills have managed just 2 wins from the last 17 meetings with Walsall - both back-to-back wins at the Bescot in 2016 and 2017.
- The Gills have lost their last 2 visits to Walsall after winning the 2 before that. They have won 2 and lost 3 of their last 8 trips there.
- Walsall have won 4 of their 15 league and cup games this season and all have come in League 2. However, they have 1 league win in 5 games and, at home, have won 1 of their last 4.
- Walsall have conceded 21 league goals to the Gills' 12 but have only scored 4 more goals themselves. They have conceded 11 first half goals, 2 behind the league-high of 13, but 4 of those came in just 1 first half of their previous league match.
- Walsall have won the fewest number of corners in League 2 (47) and are only 2 short of the most corners conceded after giving away 82. This gives them the worst corner difference in the division with -35.

(15:01) EFL Sky Bet League 2: Walsall vs Gillingham FC - Kick Off [ 4 - 1 - 3 - 2 ]

(15.14) Walsall have a shot fired at goal which goes just wide with Turner at full stretch.

(15.17) A Mahoney free kick is punched away and McKenzie fires it back in which deflects just over by a teammate.

(15.24) A Walsall chip sets up a simple tap in but McKenzie is on hand to clear the danger.

(15.30) Red Card! Keith Millen has been sent off for tripping a Walsall player!

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

(15.36) Jefferies has a shot from 20+ yards but goes just over!

(15.41) GOAL! Walsall 2-0 Gillingham: Draper

(15.44) Walsall survive after the keeper makes 3 outstanding saves including 1 from Bonne.

(15.49) Half time 2-0

(16.04) The second half kicks off.

(16.17) GOAL! Walsall 3-0 Gillingham: Hutchinson

(16.20) GOAL! Walsall 3-1 Gillingham: Bonne

(16.23) Jayden Clarke causes a lot of difficulty and the shot by Coleman is well blocked to prevent the Gills getting a second.

(16.28) Walsall chip Turner but strike the top of the crossbar.

(16.41) A ferocious drive from Ogie wins a corner after a reaction save.

(16.45) GOAL! Walsall 4-1 Gillingham: Hutchinson (hat-trick)

(16.55) FULL TIME 4-1

Attendance: 5,633 (600)
Position: 7th
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIhLAoa01HM
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67037408

[CadburyMan]

More possession; more shots and fewer points at the end of the day. Despite having this plethora of "strikers" we didn't seem to want to gamble near goal - a 5% conversion rate is not that good - everything seemed to be too slow and predictable. Too many mistakes in the middle of the park led to all their goals - 4 goals from 5 on target efforts says it all