David Artell believes Town can take plenty of positives from Saturday’s goalless draw at Walsall, with the Head Coach pleased with another strong defensive display.
Town were forced to settle for a point at the Bescot Stadium in their first away league game of the 2026/27 season, with both sides unable to find a breakthrough despite an entertaining contest.
Artell felt the result was a fair reflection of the afternoon, while highlighting the defensive work of his side and the platform provided by the front four.
Here’s everything our Head Coach had to say after the game…
On whether a draw was a fair result
David felt neither side did enough to claim all three points, although he was pleased with the Mariners’ defensive performance.
“Yeah, I think so. I don’t think we did enough to win it,” he said.
“We’ve had a blatant penalty not given, but I don’t think either team did enough.
“They had a lot of the play in their own half. I can’t remember a real clear-cut chance for them.
“I thought we defended very well. They’re a good team, by the way. A real good team. You can see that. I can see why they’ve won a couple of games already this season.
“But I thought we defended really well and we didn’t do enough to win the game.”
Despite having to settle for a singular point on the day, Artell was satisfied with the overall performance.
“It was a really good game. Two good teams, two competitive teams.
“Slightly different styles on the day, but probably not much between us overall.
“Yeah, I thought it was a good game.”
On an entertaining goalless draw
While 0-0 draws can often lack excitement, Artell felt there was plenty for both sets of coaches and supporters to take from the contest.
“I thought it was a good game to watch,” he said.
“There was plenty to get your teeth into, if you like, as coaches.
“We could have and should have done better in lots of instances. It’s a bit like I said after last week.
“Lots to work on. We won last week, deservedly so, and we’ve got a point this week, deservedly so.
“Still points to work on. That’s where we’re at.”
On another point and clean sheet
The result saw Town record another clean sheet, with Artell emphasising the potential importance of picking up points throughout the campaign.
“We just said to them, that point could be a big point come May 5th or whatever it is,” he explained.
“You just don’t know.
“And the good thing is you don’t lose. If you don’t win, you don’t lose.”
Artell also acknowledged the current injury situation within his squad, while refusing to use it as an excuse.
“We are where we are with the squad at the minute. We haven’t got another fit player to choose from. We’ve got so many injuries, but I don’t comment on them because I’ve never been one to moan about injuries.
“That’s just occupational hazards, if you like.
“Hopefully we’ll have a few back for next week.”
On Josh Andrews and Jamie Walker
Artell confirmed that both Josh Andrews and Jamie Walker were absent through injury.
Asked about the pair following their omission from the starting line-up, he simply said: “They’re injured.”
On the defensive performance
The Head Coach was particularly pleased with the work of his front four, who he believes laid the foundations for another impressive defensive display.
“I thought the vast majority of it was done by the front four,” he said.
“I thought Justin was outstanding today. Outstanding. Brilliantly good.
“Iwan, when he came on, was very good. He got it. In possession and out into transitions to out of possession.
“And the others, Greeny and Chaz, will always run around and do it.
“I thought those four set the platform for the rest.”
Artell also praised Geza David Turi and Cian Doyle for their contributions.
“I thought Geza was very good again. Cian just keeps getting better literally every minute of the games.
“We’re in that stage where it’s like, come on, we’ve got to get a bit more cohesive, new relationships.
“Not many, but some new ones.”
On Cian Doyle and Geza David Turi
Artell believes Doyle and Turi can complement each other in midfield, while also learning from the strengths of the other’s game.
“Geza’s next bit is to make sure he’s much more progressive with the ball. That’s Geza’s big thing,” he explained.
“He’s very good at the end. Cian’s more progressive, but he’s got to learn the other side.
“So they complement each other really well at the minute, but we hope that we both learn the best bits of the other person’s game, if you like.”
The Head Coach believes their development will be aided by working alongside each other.
“They’ve got a peer to learn off, you learn much quicker off your peers than you do off your bosses, if you like.
“When you can see it in others, so that’ll help.”
On creating chances
While Town did not create enough clear-cut opportunities to win the game, Artell pointed to a number of promising moments.
“I think, yeah, is the answer,” he said when asked if Town could have done more creatively.
“We haven’t created enough to score a goal.
“But at the same time, you have to understand you’re coming to a team, first home game of the season, they’ve got two wins, one at a Championship [club], all that.
“New manager, they’ve got that exuberance and confidence that a new manager sometimes brings, and a new way, especially if you’ve been playing very direct before and they’re teaching you a different way.”
Artell highlighted Charles Vernam’s first-half opportunity as arguably the best chance of the game.
“That was the best chance of the whole game,” he said.
“It was unbelievable play.
“We kept the ball for, whatever it was, a minute, two minutes, whatever it was.
“We’ve actually created a real good chance for ourselves, and the truth is Chaz will be really disappointed he hasn’t scored.
“So we’ve created the best chance, but sometimes you’ve got to accept that if you’re defending and you’re still trying to probe.”
On trying to find a winner
Artell stressed that Town were still looking for all three points late in the game, with substitutions made with an attacking intent.
“We’re never content with it,” he said.
“We brought Andy Cook off and put Iwan on. We’re not trying to just settle for a point.
“We brought Ryley on, who’s a much more attacking midfielder than Cian.
“We’re trying to get a goal. But at the same time, like I said, we still settle for a point really.”
On Christy Pym’s performance
Artell was delighted with another impressive showing from goalkeeper Christy Pym, who helped Town secure their second consecutive clean sheet.
“I thought he was very good,” he said.
“There was a take in the second half, diving out into the area. I think somebody had fouled one of our lads beforehand.
“Outstanding take. You won’t see a better take than that.
“Yeah, I’m delighted for him. Really delighted for him.”
On the travelling support
Artell once again paid tribute to the Mariners supporters, with around 1,200-1,300 Town fans making the trip to the Bescot Stadium.
“It’s just brilliant, isn’t it?” he said.
“The new lads have commented on it and the old lads, the lads who have been here last season, just go, ‘That’s what you get.’
“It’s what you get. You don’t take it for granted because they are special. Like, very special.
“They’re very good.
“We didn’t give them a goal to cheer, but they certainly helped us, for sure.”
On looking ahead
With another point secured and a clean sheet recorded, Artell knows there is plenty to build on during the week ahead.
“Regardless of the result, we’ll always do that,” he said.
“And we’ve got to keep doing that.”
Town now turn their attention to next Saturday’s home fixture against Fleetwood Town at Blundell Park, with the Mariners looking to build on their unbeaten start to the league campaign.
You can watch David Artell’s full post-match interview here:
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