Disappointed to throw away the lead but really don't think our season is now a lost cause like some people are making out. Before the match I would have taken 4 points from both the Walsall and Burton games if somebody would have offered them to me, just means now we really could do with a win on Saturday and then both of those teams are out of the way. I'm confident we will do this.
I thought we were excellent in the first half in poor conditions, Walsall looked average at best. On another day Armstrongs chance would have gone in and would have wrapped the game up, that's football I guess.
Romaine Sawyers looked okay for them but I can't believe how much room we gave him, almost like we invited him to always cut in from the left hand side.
My ratings.
RCC - 7. Good save to tip onto the post and was impressed how often he quickly he came off his line
Phillips - 5. Was an easy target for Walsall, no wonder they put two men on him. Easy pickings for them.
Haynes - 6. Did okay but didn't seem on the same wavelength as the rest of the defense, should have been quicker to ask for the ball from RCC.
Ricketts - 6 Solid enough
Stokes - 8 Excellent game, won every header. Need him back at LB in place of Haynes but think he could be a good CB in the making
Fleck - 7 Tried to grab the game at the scruff of the neck in the second half, had more urgency then everyone else.
Vincelot 8 Superb, I think he's a real asset when he tries to get forward. Some great touches which I've not seen from him before
Cole - 6 Did okay, played some nice balls, good assist for the goal but think he played it a bit too safe.
JOB - 6 Lots of running, some nice touches but no real impact.
Murphy - 7 Excellent to have someone run at the defense and mostly he had the beating of the fullbacks, think he suffered from having a lack of options when he had the ball. Tired in the second half
Armstrong - 7 unlucky to not score a superb goal in the second half. Did well enough.
Subs
Maddison - 6 didn't see enough of the ball to make a real impact
MAF - 5 I understand TM's desire to want a big strong forward as an option but MAF unfortunately is that. Made no impact at all.