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Hereford United picked up their fifth point of the season after holding Walsall to a 0-0 draw at Edgar Street this afternoon. The first-half was a scrappy encounter, with Michael Ricketts coming close for the Saddlers, whilst the second period saw an improvement in the quality of football, with The Bulls pushing on and creating some good opportunities in front of 3900 supporters.
Graham Turner made three changes following last weekend's narrow defeat at Elland Road; Richard Rose, Andy Williams and Moses Ashikodi were drafted in with Matty Done, Simon Johnson and Nick Chadwick making the way. The latter wasn't included on the bench against a team he trialled for in the summer. Joining Chadwick out of the side completely was Ben Smith. The visitors included Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool star Steven and they also named Chris Palmer at right-back; the former Notts County man spent a one month loan spell with Hereford in 2004.
The first-half lacked action, with the hosts creating their only chances of the half in the last five minutes. Walsall looked lively up top with Ricketts and Jabo Ibehre using their physical attributes to their advantage. The first two chances for the visitors fell to Alex Nicholls; firstly he sliced wide after being found by a pass from the right, whilst minutes later, Darren Randolph was called upon to comfortably hold Nicholls' low strike. Ricketts nearly opened the scoring mid-way through the half when he expertly took a pass on the chest and went past Karl Broadhurst before firing across Randolph and inches wide. This acted as a wake-up call to United, who were battling well without threatening. They finally mustered up a shot after some neat football saw Kris Taylor cross and Bradley Hudson-Odoi rose to head a foot past the post. Minutes later, Bruno N'Gotty sent a long-ball forward which Williams headed on and Hudson-Odoi raced onto the ball before firing goalwards, but Clayton Ince held at the near-post.
The second-half offered more in the way of goal action, with Hereford showing more quality than had been offered in the first after converting to 4-4-2. However, it was Walsall who started well with Dwayne Mattis heading past the post after his run had been found by a inch-perfect Nicholls cross. Ibehre turned well on the edge of the box before firing over, whilst a Stephen Roberts header from a corner failed to trouble Randolph. The Bulls went close through Williams, after Taylor had found space on the left and drifted inside; the versatile player, facing his former club, picked out Williams with an excellent lobbed pass and the Bristol Rovers loanee headed just past the post although it looked as though he had time to control the ball.
Ashikodi collected a Rose pass, before sending a quick-fire shot into the arms of Ince before a Taylor corner caused havoc in the box. Ince came to claim, but failed to do so and the ball was directed goalwards, before being cleared off the line. Appeals by Williams that the ball had gone over the line were quickly dismissed. Ishamel Demontagnac replaced Nicholls on the left-wing, as United continued to push forward. Taylor linked-up well with O'Leary, before sending a shot into Ince's body, whilst a Williams half-volley failed to trouble the 'keeper. Late on, Troy Deeney replaced Ricketts and Hereford bought on Johnson for Ashikodi, but neither subs had time to change the game.
A draw was the fair result, with both sides creating some decent opportunities. United will be pleased with the clean-sheet, with Randolph rarely tested. N'Gotty made an encouraging home debut, whilst Taylor and Hudson-Odoi also looked in good-form. The change to 4-4-2 in the second-half saw Hereford look more threatening, and fans will be hoping that Turner opts to start with this in the Johnstone Paint Trophy game against Swindon this coming Tuesday.
Hereford: Randolph, Jackson, Broadhurst, N'Gotty, Rose, Diagouraga, O'Leary, Taylor, Hudson-Odoi, Williams, Ashikodi.
Subs: Samson, Beckwith, Easton, Done, Johnson.
Walsall: Ince, Palmer, Roberts, Gerrard, Boertien, Taundry, Hughes, Mattis, Nicholls, Ricketts, Ibehre.
Subs: Gilmartin, Smith, Reich, Demontagnac, Deeney.
