Organised and potent
Reporter: MARC RAYNER
Date published: 14 September 2011
Walsall 0, Athletic 1
Latics stay solid amid injury crisis
OPTIMISM is a precious commodity in football.
It can be cruelly snatched away by a series of results, injuries or decisions. But after last night’s 1-0 win at Walsall, Athletic have plenty of it.
Both teams on show at the Bescot Stadium have big ambitions with small budgets and both have been burdened by their limitations, on and off the pitch.
Locked on eight points apiece prior to the game and already suffering the same inconsistencies which have hindered their progression, Walsall and Athletic both knew the winner could lay down a marker.
They both eyed the encounter with a sense of eagerness, but only Athletic can look back on it with satisfaction.
Chris Taylor’s winner ensured Paul Dickov’s men have only lost once in their last six games, moving to within two points of the top six in the embryonic npower League One table.
But caution must prevail. Last season’s electric start gave way to a slump which threatened to drag the team into trouble in the latter half of the campaign.
Dickov has seen it before and will no doubt have learned from the mistakes of the past. While he described this as the “perfect” performance, the Scot knows there must be many more for his team to become serious contenders.
A better side than Walsall would have given them a tougher test and Athletic wouldn’t have sat on their one goal advantage so comfortably had the Saddlers, missing the injured Jon Macken, not been so powder-puff.
Beating Walsall, though, is one of the first steps of separating themselves from the harmless teams who are unlikely to threaten this season.
Winning a game devoid of atmosphere can sometimes be difficult than going to Bramall Lane or the Galpharm and pulling off a result.
Athletic had to make the game count. And, with a trip to rock-bottom Leyton Orient on Saturday, the chance is there now to build on it.
Organisation is king in this division and is says much for Dickov’s powers that his charges shrugged off their latest injury crisis.
Zander Diamond and Filipe Morais lost their fitness battles against knee injuries, so Huddersfield loanee Robbie Simpson made his full debut and David Mellor replaced Carl Winchester, who had to settle for a place on the bench.
With injured trio Paul Black, Dean Furman and Josh Parker still missing and Bradley Diallo suspended, Dickov’s patchwork team matched the Saddlers in a low-key opening.
Richard Taundry fired over for the hosts, but Taylor forced David Grof into a fine save 13 minutes in as the visitors threatened.
Walsall, on the back of two straight defeats and nervous in defence, struggled to find any attacking rhythm with promising situations breaking down almost as quickly as they started.
It allowed Athletic to grow, as Taylor curled a free-kick over and Tom Adeyemi fired wide.
And they went ahead after 29 minutes with a goal of sweet simplicity. Simpson’s run opened up the Saddlers and, when the ball found ex-Walsall loanee Reuben Reid, his cross was turned in off Andy Butler by Taylor from 12 yards out.
Comfortable at the back and with a growing threat going forward, Athletic took control and were rarely troubled again.
The impressive Simpson and the dominant Adeyemi ensured Jean Yves Mvoto and Nathan Clarke were limited to clean-up duties.
When they were briefly breached, the woodwork rescued them as Will Grigg’s 57th-minute header bounced off Alex Cisak’s near post.
But an equaliser would have been unjust and Athletic had rightful claim to the points after a display which, while not entirely polished, was extremely organised.
Grof denied Reid a second with a fine stop 10 minutes from time and a muted late rally from Walsall saw Adam Chambers twice shoot wide.
It was Athletic’s night, though, and the time has come to ensure there are many more like it.
