Rory Holden’s golden return to the Banks’s Stadium

Walsall won their first game under boss Brian Dutton with a 2-1 victory against Forest Green Rovers. Goals from Rory Holden and captain James Clarke earned the Saddlers a first win since December.

Prior to Saturday afternoon, the Saddlers had scored just four in their last 11 league games, winless under boss Brian Dutton and had drawn three of their last four games 0-0.

Despite all the doom and gloom at the Banks’s Stadium, there was a different aura around the ground.

The positive energy from the stands was reciprocated by the players – in particular Rory Holden.

On the fifth minute mark, Josh Gordon pressed Forest Green ‘keeper Luke McGee and forced a deflected clearance from the Englishman. Sam Perry collected the ball in midfield before passing it to Emmanuel Osadebe in between the lines. The midfielder linked with Gordon before sliding in Holden.

The forward was left in acres of space but had the on-rushing McGee to beat. He dispatched his left-footed effort with finesse into the bottom corner to put the Saddlers ahead.

The winger’s opener was his fourth of the campaign and his ninth goal contribution in 20 league games this campaign.

Holden’s deadly left-foot caused chaos moments later. Sharp play from teammate Liam Kinsella gave Holden the opportunity to craft a chance from outside the area but his shot sailed over the bar.

Tyreik Wright, Gordon and Holden pressed from the front and forced the ball sideways and backwards, which antagonised the Rovers.

Holden and Wright swapped wings and the former Barrow man created another clear-cut chance. He swapped wings with Wright to confuse Forest Green’s full-backs and moments later delivered a delicious inswinging cross into the six-yard box.

The trajectory of the cross was too tough for McGee to deal and it fell perfectly to winger Wright. The Aston Villa-loanee did Holden no favours, swinging at the ball and completely mistiming his first-time volley.

He continued to torment both of the visitors full-backs throughout his 83 minute cameo.

Holden last featured for the Saddlers in December when his side came from behind to beat Port Vale 4-3. It was Walsall’s last home win, and the Northern Irishman played a pivotal part as he provided three assists.

The 23-year-old was set back for 15 weeks after he sprained his lateral collateral ligament in his knee at the back end of 2020.

Holden said:

“It was tough at the time but now I think it’s made me a better person for it. I’ve realised how mentally strong I actually am.

“Every day I used to think about football and the highs and lows, now I try and keep on this one level the whole time.

“I try not to get too down when football isn’t going the way I want it too.

“If I play one game or two games I’m happy, as I didn’t think I would play any at all.”

He featured for the Saddlers on Good Friday with a 12-minute cameo appearance versus Harrogate Town and was given 45 minutes against Leyton Orient.

After increasing his workload week by week, Holden was granted a first start against Forest Green and looked back to his best.

“Rory is so, so bright. He’s not a player you need to coach. You put him out on the pitch and he makes good decisions.