Away Match Day Thread +++ 30/11/2019 FA Cup 2nd round Walsall V OUFC +++

[NottsYellow]

The crowd has been declared as 3,200. Which means approx 1,900 Walsall fans, looked a lot less than that.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Hmm. An odd game.

We dominated possession and did actually make a few chances, but never really looked convincing somehow. We started VERY sloppily, Dickie being especially wayward with his passing, but still being a force defensively (his passing did get better and there were a couple of glorious Lunny-like examples later on). He wasn't the only culprit. Walsall had the first real chance and a header in the second half that their bloke should have done better with. A mixture of last ditch defending and luck kept the ball out of their goal at times.

I thought there was a lack of pace in a lot of our play and a bit too much keenness to just pass the ball back to where it came from - at times that looked like passing the buck! Not enough running with the ball, it wasn't often that anyone tried to go past a defender at pace, and much of the dribbling was sideways. We were always the better team, but at 0-0 you feared that a pretty toothless Walsall could have got a lucky one.

Beano was in the crowd behind the goal. I happened to be walking down the steps at the same time as him on the way out and we had a little chat. His verdict was 'They made hard work of that'! Too true.

The stewards jumping on and off the pitch perimeter every time there was a corner was a bit odd - did the really think a goal was going to spark a pitch invasion?

The locals were friendly, the stadium woefully underpopulated in the home areas and it was bloody cold. Not one that will live long in the memory, but we got through and let's hope for an exciting draw. Away to a London Prem club would be fun!

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Analysis:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1201040413655785472

 

[Big Ronaldo]

This game had the potential for a slip-up but lately we seem to be able to find a way through.
Another competition we are rolling deeper into.
Where is this season headed?
How many more big games could we rack up?
This group of players are busy writing their own story, and in that, who knows what is possible?
It is worth noting though how divergent the journeys are of these two clubs of late.
Walsall languishing in league two, drained of all momentum while we stride strongly towards huge goals of greatness.
Football is a cruel mistress at times.

We must all try to enjoy these moments as we break all manner of records.
Success comes calling so very rarely that you must grab it and hold on to it for as long as possible as for every winner there are fifty losers.
But I imagine that it feels pretty dammed good to be in that squad at the moment.

 

[Oldham]

Great result today - keep the run going, and avoid the replay!

As to the next round? I'm not greedy - I'll be happy if we just win the League Cup this season......could do without the fixture congestion of two Wembley runs (Tinpot trophy we can do without full stop).

So let's have our big payday in Round 3. At Old Trafford should do it.....they're always on TV, and should be a hefty crowd - with the only danger being that we might beat them there in their current state.

And we could race their fans home down the M6 ?

 

[NottsYellow]

This game had the potential for a slip-up but lately we seem to be able to find a way through.
Another competition we are rolling deeper into.
Where is this season headed?
How many more big games could we rack up?
This group of players are busy writing their own story, and in that, who knows what is possible?
It is worth noting though how divergent the journeys are of these two clubs of late.
Walsall languishing in league two, drained of all momentum while we stride strongly towards huge goals of greatness.
Football is a cruel mistress at times.

We must all try to enjoy these moments as we break all manner of records.
Success comes calling so very rarely that you must grab it and hold on to it for as long as possible as for every winner there are fifty losers.
But I imagine that it feels pretty dammed good to be in that squad at the moment.

Yes, 6 months ago the teams were on par, both battling out relegation at bottom of League 1. The game at their place, whilst we won 3-1 there was not a huge difference between the teams but yesterday there was a huge gulf between the quality of the two teams.
At start of last season, Sept 18, just 15 months ago, they were near the top and we were rock bottom.

 

[Marked Ox]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1200840667167174658

That was a fair summary.

 

[behindthegoal]

If we could shoot and cross better today, we'd have won comfortably.

James Clarke was fortunate not to find himself in the book today.

Were Walsall fans boycotting today's game? It was sparse to say the least.

Was there a boycott a season or so ago when we played them there?

 

[ttg17]

Highlights on youtube.

Have to say, Taylor looks on to me for the offside 'goal'. The player behind their 21 surely playing him on.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Very difficult indeed to say from that angle (or indeed from the away end yesterday!). Since the lino was in a better position to see and was up with play, I'd be tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[chuckbert]

Just got to see the highlights. That was a cracking goal.

 

[Oufcrealist]

Good win even though it could have been a bigger score. But we are through so lets hope for a money spinner in R3!!
Hope Cam is back soon. Evident again yesterday that we miss him in the middle. Bit worried tbh about the Shrews game without him and Gorrin, Baptiste won't be fit for that either.

 

[Marked Ox]

Very difficult indeed to say from that angle (or indeed from the away end yesterday!). Since the lino was in a better position to see and was up with play, I'd be tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Agreed. I think the Lino got that right, Taylor didn't need to be that advanced. I just don't think it was Taylor's day yesterday, almost there a few times to score but it either hit him, was just too far away or it was blocked.

 

[Leysboy]

Coventry and Ipswich replay great for us. They must have an extra fixture during a busy period.

 

[Marked Ox]

Coventry and Ipswich replay great for us. They must have an extra fixture during a busy period.

Indeed and Bristol Rovers have a replay as well.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

1,375 U’s fans at the Banks’s Stadium:

 

[Mellowyellow]

Good win even though it could have been a bigger score. But we are through so lets hope for a money spinner in R3!!
Hope Cam is back soon. Evident again yesterday that we miss him in the middle. Bit worried tbh about the Shrews game without him and Gorrin, Baptiste won't be fit for that either.

Possibility that both Baptiste and Brannigan will be back in some capacity.

 

[Sarge]

Possibility that both Baptiste and Brannigan will be back in some capacity.

heres hoping

 

[Oufcrealist]

Possibility that both Baptiste and Brannigan will be back in some capacity.

That would be good!

 

[dabigfella]

at home to Exeter or Hartlepool. Not the most glamorous of ties.