Stockport beaten again as Walsall clinch hard-fought win

By Sports Desk August 12, 2023

Walsall held off late Stockport pressure to leave last season’s beaten play-off finalists without a point after two games with a 2-1 win.

Goals in each half from Danny Johnson and Aramide Oteh earned the Saddlers a first victory of the season, despite Ryan Rydel’s stoppage-time header.

County dominated throughout, with Louie Barry’s cool early finish disallowed for offside and Owen Evans saving from Paddy Madden and Ibou Touray.

Referee Jacob Miles waved County penalty shouts away when Nick Powell went down under Evans’ challenge when clean through.

But Walsall went ahead against the run of play after 24 minutes as debutant Freddie Draper robbed Ethan Pye and crossed for Johnson to slot home from 12 yards.

County almost equalised either side of the break as Barry whistled a 20-yard effort inches over and Will Collar side-footed Madden’s reverse pass wide.

Donervon Daniels’ goal-saving block denied Collar and Powell curled inches wide, but Walsall added a second after 79 minutes as Oteh fired home low from Oisin McEntee’s pull-back.

Ryan Rydel’s bullet header from Madden’s cross seven minutes into 12 added on gave Stockport late hope, but Walsall survived.

Related items

  • Euro 2024 social round-up: Slovenia create history as Maupay pokes fun at England Euro 2024 social round-up: Slovenia create history as Maupay pokes fun at England

    Two more groups at Euro 2024 concluded on Tuesday as the tournament approaches the end of the first round.

    England, Austria, France, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Denmark all confirmed their places in the knockout stage of the competition. 

    Here, we unpack the best of the day's social media clips from the tournament in Germany.

     

    Austria advance as group winners

    Very few gave Austria a chance of emerging from Group D, let alone expected them to finish top ahead of France and the Netherlands. 

    But Ralf Rangnick masterminded a spectacular display against the Oranje in Berlin to ensure their progression as group winners. 

    Having endured a difficult spell with Manchester United, the 65-year-old is showing his class on the international stage, and Austria's official account celebrated along with the coach.

    Maupay pokes fun at England 

    Known for his tormenting antics both on and off the pitch, France's Neal Maupay was at it again following England's goalless draw with Slovenia. 

    The Everton striker was quick to post on social media shortly after full-time in Cologne, posting a GIF of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards to X. 

    That trio of pundits have been the target of some ire from the England camp for their disparaging comments in recent days.

    Ahead of the new Premier League season, this will surely fail to improve Maupay's popularity. 

    Slovenia create history

    England were met with boos when Clement Turpin's final whistle sounded. However, the opposite end of the Cologne Stadium was sheer euphoria. 

    Despite failing to win a game at Euro 2024, Slovenia's three draws in Group C were enough to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the competition. 

    An incredible achievement for a nation with a population of just 2.1 million and the third-lowest ranked team heading into the tournament. 

    'Southgate, Southgate, thank you for the point'

    While Gareth Southgate may not be the most popular among England fans right now, he certainly has the backing of the Slovenian supporters. 

    Presenter and reporter Phil Kitromilides posted to X a video of a Slovenian thanking the Three Lions manager for the point that sent his nation through to the knockout stages. 

    France gaining support from afar

    While Les Bleus prepare for the knockout stages of Euro 2024, France legend Thierry Henry is prepping for an entirely different competition.

    The former Arsenal striker, who won two major honours with his nation, is in charge of France's Olympic team for the Paris games, and is gearing up to win gold next month. 

    Both the men's and women's teams were snapped taking a break from preparations to cheer on Didier Deschamps' side against Poland. That match finished 1-1.

     

    Oranje take over Berlin

    Despite not knowing what was to come at the Olympiastadion, the travelling Netherlands support were in fine voice ahead of their 3-2 defeat to Austria. 

    A sea of orange (Oranje) lined the streets of the German capital, performing some impressively synchronised dance moves. 

    The Dutch fans have been a highlight of the tournament, even if their team have failed to spark.

    Germany all smiles ahead of knockout stages

    Having secured their qualification to the last 16 with their draw with Switzerland on Sunday, Germany's stars were all smiles in training. 

    Following the conclusion of Group C, Julian Nagelsmann's side will face Denmark in Dortmund this Saturday, and will be hoping to build on their impressive start. 

    Onana's inspirational Belgium team talk

    With Group E finely poised heading into Matchday 3, Belgium's Amadou Onana provided a motivational team talk for the Red Devils ahead of their meeting with Ukraine. 

    The midfielder also managed to squeeze in his own rendition of R.Kelly's 'I Believe I Can Fly', and he will be hoping to soar into the knockout stages with Belgium.

    Last week, Onana hit out at a reporter who repeatedly called him "Andre", so the Belgian social media department had some fun with that, too.

    Spain firing on all cylinders

    After maintaining their unbeaten start to their Euros campaign, Luis de la Fuente's side are showing no signs of slowing down ahead of the knockouts. 

    La Roja posted a video on X showcasing a shooting drill from training, and it looks like they could take some stopping in Germany. 

    Celebrating Van Basten strike

    On this day in 1988, the Netherlands beat the Soviet Union to win the European Championships for the first time in their history. 

    After Ruud Gullit opened the scoring, Marco van Basten secured the victory with one of the most iconic goals ever scored at the tournament.

    And what better way to celebrate it than by recreating the strike with Euro 2024's mascot, Albart. 

  • Euro 2024 data dive: Mbappe finally off the mark, expect (no) goals when England play Euro 2024 data dive: Mbappe finally off the mark, expect (no) goals when England play

    Kylian Mbappe finally got going at Euro 2024, though France could not beat Poland.

    Austria topped Group D, having defeated the Netherlands.

    There was less action in the later matches in Group C, however.

    Here, we round up the best statistics from the penultimate group-stage day of Euro 2024.

    France 1-1 Poland: Masked Mbappe off the mark

    It has been a long time coming, but Mbappe, with what was his 23rd shot, finally scored his first European Championship goal for France, converting a 56th-minute penalty against Poland in Dortmund.

    Mbappe brought up his 13th goal for France at major international tournaments (with the previous 12 having come at the World Cup), with only Michel Platini netting more for Les Bleus in the two competitions combined (14).

    That goal was also the first to be scored by a French player at Euro 2024, with Les Bleus having beaten Austria thanks to an own goal before they drew 0-0 with the Netherlands. 

    Mbappe's maiden Euros strike was not enough to secure a French win, though, with Robert Lewandowski levelling an equaliser from the penalty spot for already-eliminated Poland.

    Lewandowski became just the third player to score in four different editions of the European Championships after Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, while the 35-year-old is the only player to score at each of the last four Euros (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024).

    That being said, Poland have failed to win any of the five games in which Lewandowski has scored at the Euros (drawn four, lost one), the most games a player has scored in while failing to win in the competition's history.

    This is the first time France have failed to win their group at a major international tournament since Euro 2012, with Les Bleus having finished as group winners at each of the previous five such tournaments before Euro 2024.

    Netherlands 2-3 Austria: Wreck it Ralf

    Plumped into a group with the Netherlands and tournament favourites France, Austria weren't fancied by many to come out on top. Well, Ralf Rangnick's side had other ideas.

    Marcel Sabitzer became the first Austrian to play 10 matches at the European Championships, scoring his first goal in the competition from his 22nd shot, to seal a 3-2 victory in Berlin.

    Austria have scored six goals at Euro 2024, their most in any edition of the tournament and their most in a major tournament since the 1978 World Cup (seven).

    It is the first time Austria have won successive Euros matches. They have won four of their last six group stage matches in the competition (lost two), having not won any of their first six such games (drawn two, lost four).

    The Netherlands, meanwhile, lost their first group-stage game at the Euros since 2012 against Portugal (2-1), while they last lost a match in the competition despite scoring two or more goals in 2004, against Czechia (3-2).

    Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay got the goals for Ronald Koeman's team. Liverpool forward Gakpo has scored five of the Netherlands' last eight group-stage goals at major tournaments (World Cup and Euros), with no other Dutch player netting more than once in those matches.

    England 0-0 Slovenia: Expected goals? Forget it

    Another game, another unconvincing display from England, though they still finished top of Group C.

    This was England’s seventh 0-0 draw at the European Championship (41st game), second only to Italy in the history of the competition (eight in 48 games).

    The Three Lions accumulated an expected goals (xG) of just 0.87. Indeed, England's matches at Euro 2024 have produced the fewest xG (2.26 for, 1.13 against).

    England's first shot in this match came via Harry Kane in the 30th minute – it was their longest wait for a shot in a match at the Euros since their meeting with Germany in 2000 (35th minute).

    Gareth Southgate's team had 74% possession, which was the highest figure they have recorded in a major tournament match in which they failed to score.

    Slovenia (57th) are the lowest-ranked side England have ever faced in a match at a major tournament since the FIFA ranking was introduced.

    However, this result ensures Slovenia will be in the last 16 as one of the best third-placed sides.

    Both Slovenia and Denmark drew all three of their Group C games; only once previously had a side drew all three of their group games in a single edition of the Euros, with Portugal doing so in 2016. Could Slovenia go on and replicate the Selecao's triumph? Surely not...

    Denmark 0-0 Serbia: Eriksen's milestone appearance

    Denmark could perhaps have been a tad braver against Serbia, and if they had, then they might have avoided Germany in the last 16.

    As it is, they will play the hosts after a goalless draw with Serbia, who exited the competition in the process.

    Christian Eriksen featured again and, in the process, became Denmark's record appearance maker, with 133 caps.

    Eriksen created another two chances to add to his total haul of 13 at Euro 2024, the most-ever by a Danish player at a major tournament on record.

    Denmark have drawn all three of their group games for the first time ever at a major tournament, while in all competitions, it is the first time the Danes have strung three draws together in a row since a run of four in June 2019.

    Serbia are now without a victory in their last eight major tournament matches, since a 1-0 win over Costa Rica at the 2018 World Cup, their joint longest winless run at major tournaments.

    They mustered just one shot on target, with their total haul of six shots on target at Euro 2024 their lowest-ever figure as an independent nation at a major tournament.

  • Scotland denied '100% penalty' against Hungary, says Clarke Scotland denied '100% penalty' against Hungary, says Clarke

    Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was adamant his side should have been awarded a penalty as their Euro 2024 campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Hungary in Stuttgart. 

    Kevin Csoboth scored the winning goal in the 10th minute of injury-time to put Scotland out of another major tournament in the group stages. 

    However, things could have been much different for Clarke's side.

    Stuart Armstrong looked to have skipped beyond Hungary's Willi Orban in the 80th minute, before the RB Leipzig defender grappled across the midfielder, with both tumbling inside the area. 

    Referee Facundo Tello waved away Scotland's appeals, and a subsequent check by VAR deemed the challenge not worthy of awarding a spot-kick. 

    “It was 100% a penalty," Clarke said. "Somebody, somewhere has to explain to me why that's not a penalty. It’s a one goal game, we get the penalty and it could have been a different night.

    “I've got other words, but I'm not going to use them. I don't understand how VAR can look at that and say it's not a penalty.

    “In a European competition, it may have been better to have a European referee but we had European VAR and maybe a referee didn't see the challenge clearly on the pitch, so what's the purpose of VAR if they are not going to come in on something like that. It was a penalty.”

    Having qualified for successive European Championships, this was Scotland’s 12th major tournament group stage, and in 50% of those they have failed to win a single match – at the 1954, 1958, 1986, and 1998 World Cups and EURO 2020 and 2024.

    “We gave everything, there’s nothing you can fault there. It was a very tough game against a good opponent," said Clarke. "A very close game that was always going to be decided by the first goal. You could tell that after half an hour.

    “Unfortunately for us when we opened up towards the end of the game to try and chase the winner, that we felt we needed to get to the next stage, we got caught on the counter.”

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.