Walton: Reaction in Training Really Positive Friday, 24th Jan 2025 13:47 by Kallum Brisset Town goalkeeper Christian Walton says the reaction from the Blues’ 6-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday has been ‘really positive’. Pep Guardiola’s side condemned the Blues’ to their heaviest home loss for almost 23 years and also saw Town concede six goals in a game for the first time since November 2012. But despite the defeat and the daunting prospect of a trip to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool on Saturday, Walton says the squad have responded well to the setback with the understanding that the ultimate goal of Premier League survival is still very much on. “Really positive one,” he said of the reaction in training. “As a group we know what we want to achieve this year and we’re not going to get that any other way than being positive. “It was coming in with a positive mindset from everyone, focusing on ourselves and improving this week on the stuff we wanted to work on. We’re looking forward to the game on Saturday. “First and foremost it’s to enjoy it, you’re coming up against the best players in the world and it’s obviously a good test for the team and for myself so you’ve got to enjoy those experiences. “When you are losing a game quite heavily like on Sunday it can be tough, but it’s all part of the Premier League experience I suppose. “It’s about reflecting like we do every game whether we win, lose or draw. Coming in on the Monday, going through my game with the coach and going through the game as a whole team on what went well and what didn’t go so well. “It’s never nice to concede that number of goals and it’s a heavy scoreline but that can happen, it’s making sure we park that and look forward to what’s to come. “It shows the level of quality. There was a few teams on the receiving end of an Ipswich 6-0 in League One so it can happen, it’s just about moving forward and not reflecting on it too much.” On an afternoon of very few positives, Walton did make an excellent save to deny Erling Haaland one-on-one with the deadlock still yet to be broken. “It was 0-0 at the time and it would have been nice if it played a bigger impact on the game,” he said. “It was a nice save and I want to keep doing that.” But perhaps the biggest positive of all was the crowd reaction after the full-time whistle, which saw the Blues players and management warmly welcomed by roars from the North Stand just moments after the heaviest defeat under Kieran McKenna. Walton admitted he was taken aback by that response and showed his appreciation for the Blue Army for sticking behind the team to the very end. He said: “You only have to look at that on Sunday when we’re getting applauded off, after a 6-0 defeat it’s easy for people to not get behind us but I’ve never seen anything like that. “It was really special to get that coming off the pitch after a defeat, I’ve never seen that at any other club and as players we can only thank the fans for stuff like that. “We’ve obviously had really good times at the club and they were always there during those times, when things can get a little bit tough you need the support from the crowd so a big thank you to them.” Town’s trip to Merseyside this weekend marks the reverse of their first Premier League game of the season in August, which ended 2-0 to the Reds thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah. Both goals came in the second half and Town gave as good as they got for the opening hour of the contest before Liverpool’s quality eventually shone through. Aro Muric suffered a calf injury on the eve of the match, meaning Walton came in for his Premier League debut at late notice. “The night before I was pretty relaxed,” the glovesman recalled. “I didn’t know I was playing so that was probably why, it would have been a different case otherwise. I didn’t know I was playing until the morning so it wasn’t too bad for me. “It was a feeling of excitement, I was probably playing in the club’s biggest game for 22 years and to be part of that team was really special. “There was a lot of players in that team that had been here in League One, so to step out there against Liverpool was a really special moment for us players and for everyone at the football club. “I was quite excited, being in the first game was pure excitement. I hadn’t played much last year, it was one where I had to go out and show what I could do and do the best for the team and enjoy it. “It was a late call on the day as Aro was struggling with a knock. The goalie coach [Rene Gilmartin] called me on my way in but we usually know the day before. “That was the first game and it was a massive occasion, but for 60 minutes I thought we were well in the game and probably could have taken the lead in the first half. “We were a good team then but I think we’re better now, we’ve improved and more players have come through the door since then. We’re going up against the best so we need to test ourselves, it’s one we’re all looking forward to.” One of Walton’s more recent appearances came during last Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to his former club Brighton and Hove Albion at Portman Road during which Seagulls striker Joao Pedro avoided a sending off for a heavy collision with Walton. Asked if he was surprised to see the Brazil international only receive a yellow card, Walton said: “I think I was probably. At the time I didn’t know what the ref was going to give, I knew he’d probably book him. “VAR have looked at it and didn’t feel it was enough for a sending off, as players and as a club we have to go off that decision and that was the decision they felt was right at the time. It’s probably not for me to sit here and say it was a red card or whatever. It was painful but it’s one of those things that can go either way I suppose.” During last season’s Championship promotion campaign, Walton did not start a single game for the Blues after suffering a foot injury at the end of pre-season that saw Vaclav Hladky take and keep his place. Walton said: “It was a plantar fascia injury, a really random one that I did in pre-season against Luton at Colchester. I woke up and felt a stone in the shoe sort of sensation, went for a scan and I had a tear. “It wasn’t the best news at the start of the season but it’s part and parcel of the game. It’s one of those things you have to deal with as a player but the timing is never right.” Walton did get to come on late on during the Blues’ final game against Huddersfield Town that confirmed their Premier League return, a gesture from McKenna that will be remembered fondly. “I really appreciated it and said thanks straight away because it meant a lot to me,” the 29-year-old said. “I love playing for this club and didn’t play as much as I’d have liked, so it was nice to step out there. “For the manager to give me the opportunity to get the reception I did was something special and that five minutes will be a memory for life.” Finally, Walton was asked how he relaxes away from football in light of teammate Leif Davis’s exploits on flight simulator. His response was perhaps not as striking. He said: “I’m watching The Traitors at the minute is probably my favourite thing to do. I think a lot of people are watching it, it’s really popular. “Cutting my grass is a big thing through the summer months and is a bit of a hobby of mine now, but I certainly haven’t got anything like Leif!”
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