I’m “Back In The Saddle” and hoping to take Walsall to “The Promise Land” of the Premier League as they have never been in the top flight of English football. Also, they were only 90 minutes away from Europe back in the 1983/84 season, so I am hoping that one day, the sounds of the Champions League music will echo around the Poundland Bescot Stadium…
Last episode: (FM23) Back In The Saddle – Introduction #0
ON THE PITCH
AUGUST
I head into my first competitive match in front of our fans at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in the LEAGUE TWO clash against Hartlepool United and in that squad was former Saddlers player Brendan Kiernan who had a game to forget as that Jamile Matt and Taylor Allen both scoring on their debuts are the club in the 2-0 win over the Pools. There could have been another debut goal for Andy Williams too, but he was denied my 12 yards by the Pools keeper.
We traveled to Rodney Parade to face Newport County in my first awayday in charge and super Tommy Knowles scored his first hat-trick for the Saddlers in the 5-0 win over the Welsh team. Jamile Matt made in two goals in two goals getting on the scoresheet and finally veteran forward Andy Williams got his first goal of the campaign too. The back to back wins saw us go top of the table on goal difference.
We take a brief pause from league action as we enter the first round of the CARABAO CUP and traveled to The Memorial Stadium to face League One side Bristol Rovers. Both sides struggled throughout the game to carve any real chances until the 80th when a corner got delivered in and met by the head of on-loanee Douglas James-Taylor to get his first goal for the Saddlers and send us through into the second round in the 1-0 win over The Gas.
Back to LEAGUE TWO, as we welcome Stevenage to the Poundland Bescot Stadium. We are made to rue missed chances in a hard-fought battle as The Boro grab a late winner in the 1-0 game which condemned us to our first league defeat of the season. Jacob Maddox was forced off with an injury in the first half, however it looks like he will only be out for 2-3 weeks. On the road again, on a mild summers evening to face Barrow. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Isaac Hutchinson grabbing his first goal for the club before we were pegged back within minutes as Hayden White’s mistake was seized by one of their forwards.
We move into 5th place in the league following a goal-fest at Priestfield Stadium, home of Gillingham, as the Saddlers came out on top beating them 4-3. A cracking brace from Douglas James-Taylor saw us take an early lead on in this match but The Gills responded and we were level the before the break. Jamile Matt and Andy Williams both scored before they pulled one back in the 95th minute with the last kick of the game.
We get knocked out of the CARABAO CUP second round, losing at Carrow Road to The Canaries. We did take the lead early, thanks to super Tommy Knowles close range finish but the Championship side Norwich were to strong and beat us 2-1. They dominated for most of the game and we were just unlucky at the end of the day.
The Saddlers steal a narrow win over Grimsby Town as we return to LEAGUE TWO action following defeat in the cup. Jamile Matt and Andy Williams were again both on the scoresheet before Jack Earing who has returned from his injury got his first goal of the league campaign to help beat The Mariners 3-2, to send us into 3rd in the league.
Anyone for pizza…I mean, it’s the first game of three in the PAPA JOHNS TROPHY and we met the u21s of Southampton at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. The old boy Andy Williams scoring again, but it was Douglas James-Taylor who stole the show by getting his first hat-trick for the Saddlers in the 4-0 win.
SEPTEMBER
Jamile Matt was on target not once but twice in the LEAGUE ONE match against Bradford City and it was our third straight league win meaning we move up to 2nd place in the table.
From three to four straight wins in the league by Northampton Town at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. It was two second half goals from Jacob Maddox and Andy Williams as we brushed aside the Cobblers in the 2-0 victory in front of over 7K fans. I think the most we have had in real life this season is roughly six half thousand fans in the league.
The winning run is ended but the unbeaten run continues with Colchester United holding us to a 1-1 draw which saw us drop from 2nd to 3rd place in the league. Jamile Matt powerful header rescued a point as we trailed most of this game. However, we do still remind in the automatic promotion places so I am happy.
Top of the league the mighty Saddlers will go with an impressive 2-0 win over one of our promotion chasing rivals Leyton Orient. Stoke on loanee Douglas James-Taylor grabbing a brace for us in this win and it’s seven games now unbeaten in the league too. That’s four out of five aways games we have won.
The second game of the group stages of the PAPA JOHNS TROPHY sees us travel down to the south coast to play league one side Portsmouth. On a wet evening at Fratton Park, which I have been to that stadium a few times over the years when I lived now there, saw Pompey get a 1-0 win over us. They were a little to strong for us, meaning we have to win the final group game to get into the knockout rounds.
Still in 1st place, remain unbeaten and making it eight games without losing in LEAGUE TWO, correct. Andy Williams and Jamile Matt again, both on target in the 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers. Saddlers fans are probably like me wishing these two were banging the goals in week in, week out, lol.
OCTOBER
In LEAGUE TWO, we travel to Edgeley Park, to face Stockport County and it was better late than never for the Saddlers and there were scenes of wild celebrations when Jamile Matt Struck to late goals to secure a point in a 2-2 fixture we should have really lost.
Then again, we count ourselves somewhat lucky to have escaped with a 1-1 draw against AFC Wimbledon at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. Yet again, Jamile Matt with another powerful header in the 51st minute to equalize and give us a point. That’s ten matches unbeaten league run now and remain in 1st place.
We are Walsall, more like Drawsall…We were cruising to all points following thanks to two goals from attacking midfielder Jack Earing, however two late goals from Mansfield Town meaning we share the points but we remain in 1st place after the game finished 2-2. That’s 11 games now in the league unbeaten.
In the final game of the group phase of the PAPA JOHNS TROPHY, Robbie Willmott hobbled off and looks like he maybe out for two months, but lets get back into the action and we secured our place in the knock out rounds by beating Gillingham 2-0 to finish in 2nd place in the group behind Portsmouth. Taylor Allen and Douglas James-Taylor with the goals for the Saddlers.
Walsall dropped of the top of LEAGUE TWO after recording a 1-1 draw against Sutton United with veteran forward Andy Williams scoring with a fluky goal. All goals count, fluky or not.
Owen Evans was definitely earn player of the match award in this game as he was the most busiest out the two, however it was the Saddlers who managed to put the ball into the net to win us and vital 1-0 win over Harrogate Town as Jamile Matt scored from 12 yards following a reckless tackle from one of The Sulphurites defenders.
The Dale lost ground in their race for promotion after losing 2-0 to the Saddlers on a breezy afternoon at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. Of course, veteran forward Andy Williams scored before super Tommy Knowles sealed the three points in the 92nd minutes with a well timed close range finish which leaves Rochdale outside of the playoffs.
LEAGUE TWO TABLE
At the start of the season we were predicted to be around mid-table and we are performing above expectations and currently sitting 2nd place in the league and only a point off top spot after 17 games and only losing once. Can this good run of form continue…
FINAL WORDS
Buzzing to have started off well in this series as Walsall. I normally only play as the club I’ve supported in the BETA versions of this game, but this game, I thought why not and at least we are at the right end of the table, lol…
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See you next time and thank you for reading…
CoxieFM 
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