One of my favourite away games was at Walsall. Pringles miss is on the above youtube vid at the end but it unfortunately doesn't show the incredible lung bursting sprint he made from our penalty box, overtaking all their players just to get on the end of the cross, in order that he could then make an unbelievable pigs ear of it. It was so ridiculous I don't even think he got a lot of stick, as everyone was pissing themselves laughing, including the players.
We were really good that night, I think no one had any doubt we would win it, even when they got a second goal.
Interestingly there was not a single all League One tie in the first round so all 24 sides faced lower league opposition. Lincoln are still yet to play, but of the other 23:
Won by 2+ (90 mins): 6 Won by 1 (90 mins): 4 Won in extra time: 5 Won on penalties: 2 Lost: 6
Over half the teams either lost or were taken to extra time.
Worth noting that of the 6 teams that won by 2+ in 90 mins, 2 of those increased it to 2+ in injury time, including Exeter who scored their winner, and additional goal both in injury time. Peterborough were 2-0 down at one point, and Mansfield played 74 minutes of their game against 10 men.
OR to look at it the other way 17 (could be 18) league one clubs have progressed, which is pretty good ! Could be 75% through
Yeah I meant it more as though there were only a handful of teams at most that when their games finished walked away thinking they'd had a comfortable day, and easily beaten a team in a lower division to them.
18 of 24 through does feel like more than normal, but I'm not sure how many times there hasn't been at least 1 all League One tie, which has obviously helped.
Most of those who went through had far from a comfortable day, ourselves, Orient and Exeter to name just three.
Don't really understand how anyone can moan about any draw in the first two rounds. It's not as if you can get anyone exciting. You could get a new ground but then it's likely to be a potential upset. At least if we lose at a decent League Two side it will go relatively unnoticed.
The entire draw is quite lacklustre to be honest. The picks are probably Wealdstone v Wycombe and Reading v Harborough. Maybe Kettering and Tamworth matches since they caused the upsets last round. Struggling with the rest.
Walsall ‘Life’ ??? I remember going there in the mid-70s. We arrived around 12ish and for the next 2 hours before kick off kept thinking it was Sunday because the pub and streets were empty and quiet apart from us. Kicked off in the ground though, and not just the game.
If it’s Saturday 3pm I’ll go but can see this being moved, Monday night would be the worst one
I can categorically say that this game will not be moved to satisfy the TV companies. Probably the last match to be considered if I'm being honest
No matter what we might all think about how Charlton can fck if it up I suspect there is zero chance of a cup upset at this game and consequently TV will therefore not be interested in showing Charlton cruising to the next round.
We beat Walsall away on our route Old Trafford so hopefully that's an omen for another good cup run
I was at that game, principally because it wasn’t televised anywhere. Will go to this if the time and date suits. I have a soft spot for Walsall because they keep on keeping on in the shadow of much ‘bigger’ clubs. From the clips I have seen this season Walsall are a front footed and attacking side and we will have to be totally on our game for this match. The stadium is architecturally one of the most curious ever, with the home end being tiered like a stand at the side of a pitch, they have a loyal and passionate support. For road travellers the ground is hard by the motorway.
We beat Walsall away on our route Old Trafford so hopefully that's an omen for another good cup run
I was at that game, principally because it wasn’t televised anywhere. Will go to this if the time and date suits. I have a soft spot for Walsall because they keep on keeping on in the shadow of much ‘bigger’ clubs. From the clips I have seen this season Walsall are a front footed and attacking side and we will have to be totally on our game for this match. The stadium is architecturally one of the most curious ever, with the home end being tiered like a stand at the side of a pitch, they have a loyal and passionate support. For road travellers the ground is hard by the motorway.
I’ve always been fascinated by the way that stand is set up. The theory often put across is they built that stand big enough so that it could carry advertising visible from the motorway, as opposed to thinking they needed it to be that size to fit the home attendance.
After their defeat in the cup some of the Hollywood fans are starting to show discontent. Disrupting a good sleep to watch that game on tv was a waste of time.
Comments
Some of that may or may not be true.
We were really good that night, I think no one had any doubt we would win it, even when they got a second goal.
Solihull vs Bromley is NL vs L2, but Bromley with their 4 months of being in the EFL would hardly be a major scalp.
Our game is a possibility, ex PL side with former PL manager away at a high flying L2 side sounds like a good TV narrative.
At least if we lose at a decent League Two side it will go relatively unnoticed.
on that basis I’ve rearranged to meet friends in a pub and that can not be changed if any tickets become available
A team from a lower division
Easy to get to
Just leave the KO time alone
I have a soft spot for Walsall because they keep on keeping on in the shadow of much ‘bigger’ clubs.
From the clips I have seen this season Walsall are a front footed and attacking side and we will have to be totally on our game for this match.
The stadium is architecturally one of the most curious ever, with the home end being tiered like a stand at the side of a pitch, they have a loyal and passionate support.
For road travellers the ground is hard by the motorway.
If we lose then Walsall get an away day at Manchester United.
If you give them your number, sure they'll give you a call...