‘Furious’ Mike Flynn left ‘absolutely gobsmacked’ by last-gasp Walsall collapse

Posted Sunday, February 26, 2023 by PA

Walsall manager Mike Flynn vented his fury at his players after seeing them concede twice in added time to throw away victory in a 3-3 draw at Hartlepool.

The Saddlers were coasting at 3-1 up before Dan Kemp’s second penalty of the match and a Connor Jennings header rescued an unlikely point for the hosts under new boss John Askey.

The collapse made it six draws in a row for the Saddlers and left Flynn fuming.

“I’m furious and I’m absolutely gobsmacked at that, individual errors cost us,” he raged.

“The irony is we are struggling to score goals and we score three today. Senior players have an off-moment and it costs us – Hayden (White) shirt pull in the area, no need to do it; (Liam) Kinsella wrong side of his man and Donervon (Daniels) not putting the ball out of play when that was all he had to do.

“I can’t believe we haven’t got three points.

“It’s six draws in a row and we could have won them all. It’s the first time we have concede three all season and it’s a funny moment we are in, they have to snap out of it.

“Look, that’s poor. The defenders have had a lot of accolades this season and rightly so. But they have just had some home truths, that is inexcusable. The decision making…The ball was in our goalkeeper’s hands for each of the penalties.

“It could be Jurgen Klopp stood here and he wouldn’t have an answer for that.”

Walsall had gone in front in the 34th minute when Tom Knowles found space and fired a low drive into the corner.

Isaac Hutchinson made it two after 48 minutes, cracking in a fine, rising shot from 20 yards after defender Tyler Foran slipped.

Pools got one back in the 56th minute, loan signing Kemp rolling in a low penalty.

But substitute Mouhamed Niang’s slip in the area allowed Mathew Stevens to pick his spot and put the visitors 3-1 up.

Kemp then converted a second penalty in added time before a long free-kick was not cleared and Jennings headed home from close range.

New boss Askey said: “The game had gone from us and to come back as we did in my first game is great. We all want wins and there’s lots to improve on, but the players kept going and that will always give you a chance.

“The spirit is vital and it’s not all about ability. They could have fallen apart but didn’t. The most blatant penalty of the day wasn’t given, we got a second and hoped to get one more chance.

“It’s one step closer and we are trying to win games, we set up to be more attacking and had more shots on goal than previously.”