Walsall’s Automatic Promotion Hopes Hit as Harrogate Secure Draw
Walsall’s aspirations for automatic promotion in League Two took a hit on Saturday, April 18, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Harrogate Town. The result sees Walsall drop out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since September 7. According to a report by the Express & Star, Walsall manager Mat Sadler responded to the boos from the home crowd after the final whistle, highlighting the team’s frustration with their recent form.
The match at Harrogate’s LNER Community Stadium began positively for Walsall, with Connor Barrett’s low finish being diverted beyond Harrogate goalkeeper James Belshaw by defender Anthony O’Connor, who was awarded an own goal. However, Harrogate equalised midway through the first half when Josh March struck a sweet volley into the far corner from an acute angle. As the Express & Star reports, Walsall’s confidence levels crumbled after conceding, and they were punished for a sloppy performance in the first 30 minutes of the second half.
Ellis Taylor’s low effort deflected beyond the reach of Walsall goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, giving Harrogate the lead. However, Walsall salvaged a point thanks to an 87th-minute equaliser from Liam Gordon. Despite the draw, Walsall extended their winless run to 11 games and have collected just two wins from their last 18 in League Two. The Express & Star notes that Walsall’s recent form has been a concern, with manager Mat Sadler coming under pressure from the home crowd.
In response to the boos from the home crowd, Mat Sadler said, as quoted by the Express & Star: “I don’t blame the fans for being frustrated. We haven’t been good enough, and we need to take responsibility for that. We’ve got to keep working, keep pushing, and try to get the best out of the players.” Sadler’s side has struggled to find form in recent weeks, and the draw with Harrogate has piled further pressure on the manager.
The result sees Walsall drop out of the automatic promotion places, and they now face a tough run-in to secure a top-seven finish. As the Express & Star reports, Walsall’s next match is against [insert next opponent], and Sadler will be looking to get his side back on track. The manager added, as quoted by the Express & Star: “We’re not in the position we want to be, but we’ve got to keep fighting. We’ve got to keep pushing, and we’ve got to try to get the best out of the players.”
The draw with Harrogate was a fair result, with both teams creating chances throughout the match. However, Walsall’s recent form has been a concern, and the team will need to improve if they are to secure a promotion spot. As the Express & Star notes, Walsall’s winless run has now extended to 11 games, and the team will need to find a way to turn their form around quickly. With the season entering its final stages, Walsall will be looking to secure a top-seven finish and push for promotion.
The Express & Star reports that Walsall’s manager, Mat Sadler, is under pressure to turn the team’s form around. With a difficult run-in ahead, Sadler will be looking to get his side back on track and secure a promotion spot. As the source notes, Walsall’s recent performance has been a concern, and the team will need to improve if they are to achieve their goals.
The draw with Harrogate has piled further pressure on Walsall manager Mat Sadler, but he remains committed to turning the team’s form around. As quoted by the Express & Star, Sadler said: “I’m committed to this club, and I’m committed to getting the best out of the players. We’ve got to keep working, keep pushing, and try to get the best out of the players.” With the season entering its final stages, Walsall will be looking to secure a top-seven finish and push for promotion.
Source: Express & Star
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