Dan has Whitney daring to dream
TWENTY-year-old Daniel Agyei showed he has the chance of creating a big career for himself as he tore into Plymouth on his Walsall debut.
Agyei has been taken by Walsall boss Jon Whitney on loan from Premier League Burnley and celebrated the move with a goal in an impressive performance.
“I felt it in my gut to play Agyei,” said Whitney of his decision to throw in his new boy just two days after his arrival.
“Sometimes, on your debut, you have that energy, that edge.
“We knew he would tire and it was always the plan to bring him off. It was a great thing to bring him off when he’s got his goal, wasn’t it?”
Agyei has three Premier League appearances off the bench to his name, so League One isn’t going to be a problem for him.
He showed he could be dangerous at this level when he went to Coventry and scored five goals in his 19 loan games there when Tony Mowbray was manager.
Agyei was off and running again within minutes, forgetting nothing from being sent to Coventry as he charged at Plymouth with speed, power and intent.
He could have had a hat-trick before half-time but Agyei had to be content with his 23rd-minute goal, headed in superbly from wing-back Luke Leahy’s cross.
A kick on the ankle and a lack of matchfitness meant Agyei was off the field after an hour, leaving Walsall to ensure they did not squander what he had given them.
“As soon as I knew he was available, I was on the phone,” said Whitney. “He was lined up to go somewhere else but I managed to talk him into it.”
If there was a criticism of Walsall in an excellent game it’s that they left the door open for Plymouth to enter.
But despite knocking up double figures in corners, Plymouth were weak when it came to finishing and are on the edge of problems with only one win in five league games following promotion.
Plymouth boss Derek Adams said of Agyei’s opener: “It was a ball into the box and two centre-halves didn’t deal well with it. They struggled and we had to change it.”
Erhun Oztumer got Walsall’s second nine minutes from time with a terrific 20-yarder and a soft penalty allowed Graham Carey to get one back.
“That puts us in the top ten,” said Whitney. “Now let’s see if we can build on it.”