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They are a side that are now establishing themselves in Division One and after finishing just two points clear of relegation in 2001/02 season they ended last season comfortably clear of the bottom three and were in the end in seventeenth place in the league just one point and one place behind us.
They are an interesting club and one that was not as badly hit as most by the loss of television money. They run in the black and don’t spend money they don’t have. This must be somewhat frustrating at times for the manager but Colin Lee and his predecessor Ray Graydon have done excellent work to get them to where they are now.
Lee made a number of changes to the squad during the summer with room being made with a series of departures that included Martyn O’Connor, a couple of former Clarets in Danny Sonner and Gavin Ward, Fitzroy Simpson, Tony Barrass and David Zdrilic.
They also lost Brazilian striker Junior who had been on a season long loan from Treze although they did make efforts to keep him. He has subsequently joined Derby County.
Neil Emblen had also been on loan from Norwich and the former Wolves defender signed a permanent deal in June. They also signed Gillingham’s Simon Osborn and Stefan Oakes from Leicester during the summer but there was one other signing that captured headline news and that was Paul Merson.
It had become clear that Merson did not want to continue at Portsmouth but Premiership new boys Wolves appeared to be favourites for his signature. But Lee stepped in and pulled off something of a coup for Walsall.
The squad has been further strengthened since the start of the season with the capture of KKMC defender Paul Ritchie along with three loan players all arriving from the south coast.
Both Deon Burton and Gary O’Neil have taken the same route as Merson from Portsmouth whilst Northern Ireland international defender Chris Baird has arrived from Pompey’s local rivals Southampton.
The season got off to a fantastic start with a 4-1 home win on the opening day against promotion favourites West Brom but until last Saturday that’s where the successes came to an end.
But two home wins against Preston and Gillingham, both by 2-1 scorelines, have finally got their season moving.
The Gillingham victory was last Monday in front of the Sky cameras and the winning goal came late via an Andy Hessenthaler own goal. In a less than exciting game Walsall perhaps had the edge and were somewhat unfortunate to concede the penalty from which the Gills had equalised.
Manager Lee was happy enough though and said, "I was pleased with the overall performance, we displayed good character and kept plugging away. We deserved to win the game"
They lined up against Gillingham: James Walker, Zigor Aranalde, Jorge Leitao, Paul Merson (Gary Birch 88), Pedro Matias (Darren Bazeley 72), Jamie Lawrence, Neil Emblen, Vinny Samways (Simon Osborn 80), Paul Ritchie, Chris Baird, Gary O’Neil. Subs not used: Aaron Kerr, Deon Burton.
Burnley will be hoping to win successive home games for the first time since wins against Preston and Gillingham last season.
Click HERE to see Walsall’s results this season.
Past Results in the last 20 years
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
a | |||||
1983/84 | 3 | a | 1-1 | 8,131 | Hamilton |
h | 0-2 | 3,948 | |||
1984/85 | 3 | h | 1-2 | 3,350 | Hird |
a | 3-2 | 8,396 | A Taylor(2) Hird | ||
1990/91 | 4 | a | 0-1 | 5,710 | |
h | 2-0 | 7,883 | Eli Grewcock | ||
1991/92 | 4 | h | 2-0 | 7,289 | Davis(pen) Lancashire |
a | 2-2 | 5,287 | Eli Conroy | ||
1995/96 | 2 | h | 1-1 | 8,778 | Joyce |
FAC | h | 1-3 | 6,525 | Eyres | |
2 | a | 1-3 | 3,411 | Nogan | |
1996/97 | 2 | h | 2-1 | 10,322 | Eyres Nogan |
FAC | a | 1-1 | 5,031 | Eyres | |
FAC | h | 1-1 | 5,799 | Barnes (aet won 4-2 on pens) | |
2 | a | 3-1 | 6,306 | Cooke(2) Barnes | |
1997/98 | 2 | h | 2-1 | 9,293 | Barnes Cooke |
a | 0-0 | 5,212 | |||
1998/99 | 2 | a | 1-3 | 4,599 | Armstrong |
h | 0-0 | 10,892 | |||
2001/02 | 1 | h | 5-2 | 14,019 | Taylor I Moore Briscoe(2) Cook |
a | 0-1 | 5,611 | |||
2002/03 | 1 | h | 2-1 | 12,907 | Blake Davis |
a | 2-3 | 6,327 | Blake(pen) Little |
Click HERE
to see more results against Walsall.One from the past
The job's yours Jimmy
Burnley 2 (Davis(pen) Lancashire) Walsall 0
Barclays League Division 4 – Saturday 19th October 1991
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Jimmy Mullen had been in temporary charge for two games following the resignation of manager Frank Casper. Mullen had been his number two for just over a year and was not originally thought to be a likely candidate to take over.
He’d won the first game at home to Carlisle and then in his caretaker capacity had seen the Clarets beat Wrexham on their own ground by six goals to two. That was the result that clinched it for him and by the time the Walsall game came around Mullen had been appointed manager on a full time basis, the decision made on the Thursday two days before this game.
That Wrexham game that had clinched it for him will be one that Graham Lancashire will be able to tell his grandchildren about in years to come. He’d made his debut at Scarborough in Casper’s last match, and scored, kept his place for the home game against Carlisle, and scored, and then went to Wrexham and grabbed a hat-trick with the third a stunner.
The Walsall game came on the youngster’s 19th birthday and with Mike Conroy still injured and John Francis just returning from injury he was in the side. Already the expectant Turf Moor crowd (don’t anyone ever tell you that we are demanding) were expecting a goal.
Burnley were the better side right from the start and took the game to the west midlands club and we were in front on 19 minutes with Lancashire more than playing his part. He won the ball and played it across for wide man Steve Harper whose shot was stopped on the line by Walsall’s Charlie Ntamark.
Referee Coddington pointed to the spot and then turned to Ntamark waving the red card. Steve Davis, in his first full season at Turf Moor, converted the penalty.
We had been on top against eleven and certainly were against ten and within four minutes it was 2-0 and Lancy had not disappointed. Harper crossed and John Deary latched on to Roger Eli’s knock down to volley at goal. That was blocked but Lancashire made no mistake from the rebound.
That was it as far as the scoring was concerned as Walsall, down to ten men, dropped people back to ensure that they were not hit with a barrage of goals. "Jimmy Mullen’s Claret & Blue Army", I’m sure that was heard for the first time that day were content to retain possession and dictate the game.
Conroy had sat the game out but John Francis returned as a substitute and took up an unfamiliar position on the right wing rather than in his usual striker role. John was to play in that position for much of his time after that at Burnley, in both spells with the club.
Jimmy’s first match as full time manager had ended in victory, as had his two as caretaker. The next six were to all bring us maximum points too.
For Lancashire though the fairy story was soon to end and his last goal for Burnley came just one month after his first. He was left out once all the other players were fit and never established himself as a first team player.
But this was his and Mullen’s day as Burnley moved up within striking distance of the play off positions – and it was to get better than this, much better.
The teams were,
Burnley: Andy Marriott, Paul France, Steve Davis, John Pender, Ian Bray (John Francis 75), Steve Harper, John Deary, Andy Farrell, Joe Jakub, Graham Lancashire, Roger Eli. Sub not used: Mark Monington.
Walsall: Ron Sinclair, Wayne Williams, Derek Statham (Mike Cecere 70), Colin Methven, Colin Anderson, Steve O’Hara, Alan Walsh, Charlie Ntamark, Paul McLoughlin, Chris Marsh, Rod McDonald. Sub not used: Tony Grealish.
Referee: Brian Coddington (Sheffield).
Attendance: 7,289