Asa hoping for chance against Walsall on Sunday
By Matt Johnson
Asa Hall is hopeful of forcing his way into Graham Turner’s thoughts for a place in the starting XI after making a galvanising impact as a substitute in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie with Crewe.
Town eventually lost the game 2-1, but at 2-0, Hall’s introduction sparked a lackadaisical performance into life. Albeit with more than a helping hand from the Alex keeper, his 35-yarder pulled one back just minutes after his introduction as he led Town on a late charge in a bid to force the game into penalties, but it wasn’t to be.
“Yeah I’m pleased with my performance,” said Hall. “I’ve just been sitting and waiting to get a chance really and obviously the keeper threw it in for the goal, but I just try to get on the ball and make things happen.
“I think I maybe injected a bit of urgency. When you’re 2-0 down and you’re not getting the luck of the draw, then sometimes it can take a sub to raise to tempo.
“Hopefully I’ll be in consideration and it’s put a bit of pressure on team selection. Maybe I’ll get a start and go from there.”
Despite the positives of his own contribution, Hall was saddened to have lost the match, sighting the competition as a perfect opportunity to play in a showpiece final at Wembley.
“When you lose any game it’s disappointing. It’s a great opportunity to get to Wembley, it’s a brilliant day out and this year we’ve missed out.
“We didn’t start well. They scored early on which always doesn’t help and we were always fighting an uphill battle from then on. But I think we stepped it up in the second half and gave them a good game in the end, but it’s a shame to be knocked out.”
Five games without a win and six shutouts in 13 competitive fixtures makes grim reading, but Hall remains positive and insists a turnaround in form is just around the corner.
“Everyone is really disappointed in the dressing room that we haven’t been winning, but I’m sure we’ll pick it up and we’ll be strong enough to go again.
“I think it is a concern [lack of goals]. You can’t win games if you don’t score goals. But we’ve got goals in the team; it’s just putting them to bed at times. I think we’ve had chances and not quite got there, but we definitely need to put that right – starting with Walsall on Sunday.”
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