Walsall’s goal drought deepens in 1-0 Telford loss, Alex Pattison hamstring concern | OneFootball

Walsall’s blunt pre-season continued with a 1-0 defeat at National League North side AFC Telford United, a display short on chances and compounded by an Alex Pattison injury.

A Telford trialist struck on the half-hour at the New Bucks Head. According to ExpressAndStar.com, Grant confirmed Pattison sustained a hamstring issue and will be assessed in the coming days, and he appears poised for another spell on the sidelines.

The Saddlers have now gone 270 minutes without a goal in public friendlies against Leamington, Aston Villa and Telford. While five goals arrived behind closed doors, the performances in front of supporters have not inspired confidence.

In Telford, Albert Adomah hit the post with a free-kick and Lewis Simper fired over, otherwise openings were scarce. The lack of pace out wide was evident, with Courtney Clarke showing bursts but little depth beyond him.

Pattison briefly operated on the right after coming on, and Simper moved from a No 10 role to the left. Summer recruit James Connolly captained on debut and played the first 45 minutes. Academy graduate Ronan Maher returned from an elbow injury from the bench.

Most academy players travelled to Scotland for an under-18s friendly with Kilmarnock, though teenagers Archie Bunn and Will Etheridge stayed with the seniors. Bunn completed 90 minutes, starting in a double pivot before finishing at left-back. Etheridge, who debuted in the league on the final day of last season, featured after the break.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com