Stoke hang on as Walsall misfire

Goodman left his shooting boots at home

Stoke 0-0 Walsall

Walsall failed to capitalise on a wealth of chances to bury Stoke in their first leg play-off semi-final.

Striker Don Goodman was the main culprit of the Saddlers' wasteful finishing and should have bagged a hat-trick.

England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks was unveiled as Stoke's new club president shortly before kick-off and he could not have been impressed by his side's performance in the first half.

Ben (Petty) didn't have any clear opportunity to do anything about the situation - It is better that he was sent off than we lose 1-0

Stoke boss
Gudjon Thordarson

They offered little in attack and were forced to fight a desperate rearguard action for much of the period as the inventive Saddlers surged forward at every opportunity.

Stoke were more creative after the interval in what was a pulsating 45 minutes but they could not break the deadlock as both goals came under attack.

Walsall enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as they swept deep into Stoke's half but they were kept at bay by some committed home defending.

However, it was the Potters who fashioned the first real chance when the pacey Andy Cooke gathered up a perfectly-timed through ball before crossing to Peter Thorne who fired wide.

Play switched to the other end in the 14th minute where Walsall briefly threatened only for striker Goodman to nod over the crossbar.

Defender Zigor Arandale took advantage of a mix-up in the Stoke defence to try his luck from long range but his floating shot drifted over with Potters keeper Gavin Ward well off his line.

Stoke's Gunnarsson,left, and Walsall's Simpson

Two fine chances then fell to Goodman in quick succession but the Saddlers marksman failed to convert thanks to some sloppy finishing and good defending from Frode Kippe.

It was proving a dismal afternoon for Goodman who was put through on goal with just Ward to beat in the 31st minute but he blasted his shot wide of the left post.

Stoke finally wrestled their way from Walsall's grip in the 40th minute when a marauding Bjarni Gudjonsson fed Graham Kavanagh who crossed to Thorne but the burly striker could only head across the face of goal.

Whatever Potters chief Gudjon Thordarson said at half-time it had some effect as Stoke emerged a more determined side after the break with Kavanagh blasting inches wide following some fine build-up.

But the visitors stuck to their task with skipper Tom Bennett firing over from a Paul Hall cross.

Play-off games can end up a stalemate and although it's finished 0-0, this match certainly wasn't a stalemate

Walsall boss
Ray Graydon

Thorne produced a fine save from Saddlers stopper James Walker in the 71st minute after gathering up a Kavanagh pass before Walker was forced to deal with a powerful Gudjonsson effort.

Stoke substitute Ben Petty was sent off in the 84th minute for pulling down Pedro Matias when he was clear through on goal.

Some desperate defending followed at both ends but the game remained goalless.

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Stoke: Ward, Hansson, Clarke, Gunnarsson, Thomas, Kavanagh, Kippe, O'Connor, Gudjonsson, Thorne, Cooke. Subs: Dadason, Dorigo, Petty, Thordarson, Kristinsson.

Walsall: Walker, Brightwell, Aranalde, Tillson, Barras, Bennett, Simpson, Hall, Matias, Leitao, Goodman. Subs: Angell, Emberson, Keates, Bukran, Gadsby.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)