Town got off their season off to a winning start as goals from Darren Ambrose and Marcus Bent brought victory against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium. The Blues rarely seemed in trouble despite playing the last 23 minutes with only ten players, Darren Ambrose having gone off with a cut to the mouth.
The Blues started with an attacking line-up, Darren Bent continuing on the right of midfield while Ambrose played on the left. Up front Marcus Stewart was left out and Pablo Couñago partnered Marcus Bent. A late injury picked up by John McGreal saw Thomas Gaardsøe take his place alongside Hermann Hreidarsson with Wilnis and Clapham the full-backs. Andy Marshall was in goal.
Walsall started brightly and Matias had a shot saved by Marshall in the third minute before Town had an appeal for a penalty. Darren Bent ran onto a ball over the top and Aranalde appeared to handle the ball as he bundled it back to keeper Jimmy Walker. Neither referee or linesman saw it.
The Blues began to take the initiative with Magilton and Holland beginning to control the midfield. Referee Mr Webb got his book out for the first time in the seventh minute when Roper fouled Marcus Bent and then kicked the ball away.
Three minutes later Webb's book had the almost unique experience of having Matt Holland's name written in it. The Town skipper threw himself into a challenge rather wildly and caught a Walsall player fairly late. It is doubtful the Town captain will dispute his second booking in a Town shirt.
Pablo Couñago and Matt Holland, watched from the stands by Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor, had a couple of promising efforts as Town began to put a bit of pressure on. Jim Magilton hit a shot which looked on target until it struck Darren Bent
Bent himself had a 20-yard shot tipped over by the excellent Walker on 31 and a minute later Darren Ambrose sent a Darren Bent cross from the right over the bar from six yards, although it came to him awkwardly.
A Town goal looked deserved and on 36 it came. Darren Bent cut in from the right after receiving the ball from Holland who had made a strong run down the middle. Bent hit a shot which Walker saved, but couldn't hold on to and Darren Ambrose tapped in from a few feet out for his first league goal on his first league start.
A minute later Roper had a shot saved by Marshall who had had a largely quiet time of it before Town put together the move of the game. Jamie Clapham and Matt Holland interchanged passes before Jim Magilton clipped a ball into the box for Marcus Bent who took the ball on his chest and hit a shot, which went just by the post.
The Blues made two changes at the break. Off came Couñago and Wilnis and on Tommy Miller and Jermaine Wright who went to right back. Couñago had had a difficult time during some of the half, although much of that was due to balls being played in at his throat by his team-mates. Despite this he held the ball up well on occasion, however, he'll need a little while to adjust to the physical challenges posed by the First Division. Wilnis was presumably carrying an injury.
Walsall came closest to a goal two minutes into the second period. A corner came over from the Walsall right and Roper headed goalwards. Fortunately for Town Jamie Clapham was on the line to clear, although Andy Marshall had appeared to have been impeded as the corner came over.
After Walsall's positive start the half the game eventually reverted to the same pattern as the first half and Darren Ambrose wasn't a million miles away with a shot form distance.
Darren Bent had an effort saved by Walker just before the hour after a fine build-up involving himself, the impressive Tommy Miller and Jermaine Wright. Three minutes later the Blues were further ahead and again Bent was involved.
The Town number 18 made a strong run down the right flank before squaring the ball across the area for Tommy Miller who fell over. The ball ran to Marcus Bent who tried to play in Darren Ambrose but the ball ran too close to the keeper and Walker cleared to Clapham who sent in a deep cross which Darren Bent headed back to Marcus Bent who overhead-kicked Bontcho-style into the corner of the net.
It was a fine goal but not without its negative effects as Marcus Bent seemed to compound an earlier injury to his hamstring and was swiftly replaced with Alun Armstrong.
Walsall came close a couple of times with shots from Herivelto which was tipped over by Marshall, and Sonner who sent his effort well over. The former Town man was generally quiet despite a vocal ‘welcome' from his old fans.
Walker, clearly Walsall's Man of the Match, made more good saves from Darren Bent and Darren Ambrose on 67. In the build-up to his effort Ambrose kicked the ball into his own face. With blood streaming from his mouth he went off for treatment, most fans expecting him to return. However, he was to remain off the field and with all Town's subs already on the Blues played with ten men for the remainder of the game.
That left very few attacking outlets for Town, but they survived with few tricky moments and even went close after Hermann Hreidarsson made a length of the pitch run before playing the ball wide to Alun Armstrong who crossed to Jim Magilton who teed-up the on-running Icelander whose effort was saved by the ever vigilant Walker.
Darren Bent picked up a yellow card in the late stages for a foul on Aranalde but the Blues played out the last few minutes comfortably.
A heartening performance from Town with confidence appearing high and players impressing all over the pitch. Holland and Magilton ran the show in the midfield while Hreidarsson looked a class above at centre-half. Fabian Wilnis and Jamie Clapham looked as good as they have for some while and Marcus Bent did well in attack and scored a fine goal. The continuing good form of Darrens Bent and Ambrose also promises much for the season ahead.