Walsall defender Taylor Allen has issued an apology after being sent off during his 100th appearance for the club in their 2-1 defeat at Colchester United.
The Saddlers suffered their third successive away defeat in League Two, with Charlie Lakin’s strike giving them the lead before Teddy Bishop equalised. Owura Edwards then scored a stunning winner for Colchester, while Allen’s dismissal late on compounded Walsall’s frustrations.
Allen takes responsibility
Allen, who was booked in the first half for a foul on Lyle Taylor, received a second yellow card after kicking out at Jack Payne in the closing stages. The 24-year-old did not shy away from facing the media after the game, admitting his emotions got the better of him.
“I’ve shown my frustrations today, and reacting the way that I did, being on a yellow card, was very naive of me,” said Allen.
“When you go 2-1 down, there is still a chance to get the game back. It wasn’t like the game was gone, but I’ve reacted and let my frustrations get the better of me.
“My teammates help me out, and we all help each other out every single day. I feel like I’ve let them down, the staff down, and especially the fans. The fans have travelled a long way, so the least I can do is come out and say I’m sorry for my reaction.”
Walsall’s lead at the top under threat
Allen’s red card means he will be suspended for Walsall’s upcoming home match against Gillingham, with Evan Weir expected to replace him at left centre-back.
His dismissal was the third of his Walsall career, following previous red cards against Newport County in 2022 and AFC Wimbledon last season.
Despite remaining top of League Two, Walsall have seen their lead at the summit cut from 12 points to six in recent weeks, with back-to-back defeats piling pressure on Mat Sadler’s side.
Writer’s view
Allen’s willingness to front up after his costly red card speaks volumes about his character, but Walsall will need to show resilience to recover from this setback. With their once-commanding lead in League Two shrinking, Sadler’s men must quickly rediscover their form to prevent their promotion charge from derailing.
